Yelich powers Brewers to dramatic win over Cardinals
Christian Yelich hit his fourth homer in the first inning and a two-run double in the ninth, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a dramatic 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.
Ben Gamel led off the ninth with a pinch-hit double and advanced on Lorenzo Cain’s infield single off reliever Jordan Hicks’ glove. Yelich then hit a liner into the gap in left-center, driving in Gamel and Cain.
Yelich tossed his helmet in the air in celebration as Cain slid face first across the plate, giving Milwaukee three wins in its opening four-game set against rival St. Louis. Yelich’s teammates rushed the field and doused the reigning NL MVP with Gatorade in a raucous celebration at second.
Yelich began his day with a long drive into the second deck in right against Michael Wacha, tying the major league record for homers in consecutive games to start a season. He also became the first player to win the MVP award and then homer in his first four games of the next season.
Paul Goldschmidt, Matt Carpenter and Paul DeJong homered for St. Louis, but Hicks (0-1) blew his first save opportunity of the season. Wacha struck out seven while pitching six innings of one-run ball.
Jacob Barnes (1-0) worked the ninth for the win.
Washington 6, N.Y. Mets 5: Trea Turner homered twice, including a game-ending solo shot in the ninth inning, and Washington beat New York for its first win of the season.
Turner earlier hit a three-run homer and also scored in the fifth to put the Nationals up 4-1. They let a 5-2 lead evaporate in the eighth before Turner ended it with a drive off Justin Wilson (0-1).
Sean Doolittle (1-0) got the win despite allowing successive RBI singles in the Mets eighth.
Tampa Bay 3, Houston 1: Yonny Chirinos covered splendidly for a taxed bullpen, Austin Meadows hit his second homer and Tampa Bay took three of four games from Houston to open the regular season.
The Rays had planned to use an opener for the first time this season, but manager Kevin Cash instead turned to the 25-year-old Chirinos (1-0) rather than push his fatigued relievers. Chirinos pitched seven innings, allowing one run, two hits and no walks while striking out six. The only run came on Jake Marisnick’s homer in the sixth.
Chicago White Sox 6, Kansas City 3: Lucas Giolito took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning in his first start of the season, and Chicago beat Kansas City to avoid a three-game sweep in the season-opening series.
Giolito (1-0) walked Whit Merrifield on four pitches to begin the game, but then retired 19 straight before Alex Gordon’s single with one out in the seventh. Gordon fouled off four consecutive pitches before lining a curveball into center field.
Yonder Alonso preserved the no-hitter with a diving stop in the sixth, and he and Jose Abreu homered on consecutive pitches in the fourth off starter Jorge Lopez (0-1).
Minnesota 9, Cleveland 3: Nelson Cruz hit his first homer with Minnesota, and Michael Pineda was stellar in his first pitching appearance since 2017.
Pineda had Tommy John surgery after his previous start July 5, 2017 while with the New York Yankees, and this was his first time back on a big league mound. Pineda pitched four scoreless innings, striking out five with one hit and one walk. Martin Perez (1-0) followed with 3 2/3 innings of three-run ball.
Cruz, Byron Buxton and Willians Astudillo each drove in two runs for the Twins.
Carlos Santana had four hits for the Indians, including a three-run double. Cleveland hitters struck out 39 times in the three-game series. Carlos Carrasco (0-1) allowed six runs and struck out four in 4 1/3 innings.
Detroit 4, Toronto 3, 11 inn.: Nicholas Castellanos singled home the go-ahead run in the 11th inning, Jeimer Candelario had five hits and Detroit defeated Toronto after blowing a late lead.
Castellanos’ decisive hit came off Thomas Pannone (0-1), the eighth Blue Jays pitcher, and the Tigers salvaged a split of the four-game series.
Florida 3, Colorado 0: Sandy Alcantara pitched eight crisp innings, Jorge Alfaro drove in two and Miami beat Colorado.
Alcantara (1-0) allowed four hits, struck out six and walked none in his longest outing in 15 major league appearances. The 23-year-old right-hander retired 14 straight before Ryan McMahon reached on a two-out infield single in the seventh.