PHILADELphia (AP) — Nick Castellanos smashed a grand slam, and the Philadelphia Phillies mounted a comeback with two crucial runs in the seventh frame to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 on Sunday.
The Phillies won two out of three games against the World Series champions, the Dodgers. This series may not have significant implications by October, but it added some excitement to a sluggish early April weekend.
Teoscar Hernández homered twice and had five RBIs for the Dodgers, whose only two losses this season came in this three-game series.
Castellanos smashed his eighth career grand slam off reliever Alex Vesia’s initial pitch during the third inning. The Phillies plated six runs in the third frame and held a 6-4 lead heading into the seventh.
The Dodgers took the lead with a three-run seventh inning against Philadelphia’s relief pitching. An RBI double by Mookie Betts set things up, followed by Hernández driving in his fifth RBI via a tie-breaking sacrifice fly. Finally, Will Smith gave them a 7-6 advantage with a run-scoring double that sailed into the right-field wall.
Bryson Stott equalized the game at 7-7 in the seventh inning with an RBI single against Blake Treinen (0-1), and Edmundo Sosa barely made it to first base when his potential double-play grounder was fielded shortstop, scoring the lead-run.
Hernández smashed a two-run home run in the first inning and then drove his second blast off the right-field foul pole in the fourth, marking his 19th career game with multiple homers.
Orion Kerkering (1-0) secured the victory. José Alvarado pitched the ninth inning for his second save.
RED SOX 5, CARDINALS 4, AFTER 10 INNINGS, FIRST GAME
RED SOX 18, CARDINALS 7, SECOND GAME
BOSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman smashed a three-run Homer. homer Rafael Devers matched his career-high with six RBIs, contributed four hits, and scored three runs as the Boston Red Sox secured a victory and swept the doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Abreu contributed two doubles and three RBIs for Boston, who concluded the match with their highest hit count of the season at 22. This marked Devers' 14th professional game where he recorded four hits. Similarly, Bregman achieved his 10th career game featuring four hits.
The strong offensive performance led to a smooth evening for Hunter Dobbins (1-0). He allowed just five hits and conceded two runs across five innings, securing his victory in his maiden Major League game. Despite giving up four runs in the ninth inning, Cooper Criswell pitched three innings for his inaugural save.
Miles Mikolas of the St. Louis starting lineup began with a record of 0-1 after allowing nine runs and eleven hits within just 2⅔ innings. In the ninth inning, Thomas Sagasee smashed a three-run home run, while Brendan Donovan contributed two RBIs for the Cardinals. The team surpassed their own mark by recording their ninth consecutive game with at least ten hits.
During Saturday's rain delay, Abreu hit a single off the Green Monster, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, helping the Red Sox come back for a 5-4 win in the series starter. Devers, who started the season 0 for 21 with 15 strikeouts, also smashed his first home run of the year during this initial match.
Pedro Pagés took over as the catcher for St. Louis. In the initial match following his departure due to left knee inflammation, Iván Herrera played.
NATIONALS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Call and Paul DeJong both recorded two hits and brought home one run each, while Trevor Williams fanned six batters over five innings as Washington defeated Arizona, marking Diamondbacks star pitcher Corbin Burnes’s first defeat.
Washington won two out of three games against Arizona, securing their first series win against the Diamondbacks since 2021. This also marked the Nationals' first home series triumph over Arizona since 2017.
Burnes (0-1) allowed four runs after throwing 89 pitches across five innings in his second outing since securing a six-year, $210 million contract in January. In the first inning, he conceded an RBI double to Nathaniel Lowe and a run-scoring hit from Call. Then came CJ Abrams' sac fly in the second frame followed by DeJong's two-out RBI double in the third, which pushed his ERA to 5.79.
Williams (1-0) conceded three runs and has maintained at least five innings in 14 out of his 15 appearances since linking up with the Nationals prior to the previous season.
METS 2, BLUE JAYS 1
NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso secured a lead with a timely single during the third inning, helping New York defeat Toronto and achieve their first series sweep against the Blue Jays in 24 years.
The New York team extended their winning run to four games by securing three consecutive victories against the Blue Jays. The Mets previously achieved a sweep of Toronto from July 15-17, 2001, at Shea Stadium.
In the third inning, Bowden Francis (1-1) issued walks to newcomer Hayden Senger and Juan Soto. Alonso then hit a single, and Brandon Nimmo contributed with a sacrifice fly afterward. This season, Alonso has accumulated 11 RBIs.
David Peterson, along with contributions from Max Kranick (who pitched a complete game shutout, recording the 1-0 victory), Reed Garrett, A.J. Minter, and Edwin Diaz, led to a four-hit effort against the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays managed zero hits when they had runners in scoring position and only mustered up three runs throughout the entire series. Just one day following his initial win of the season, Diaz secured his second save.
Tigers 4, White Sox 3
DETROIT (AP) — Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double to conclude Detroit’s three-run comeback in the ninth frame, leading the Tigers to victory against Chicago.
After Andy Ibáñez drew a bases-loaded walk, Torkelson scored with a single off Jordan Leasure (0-1). John Brebbia (1-0) secured the victory with a scoreless inning of relief pitching.
Javier Báez recorded three base hits and brought home one run for the Tigers. In his second major league appearance, Jackson Jobe conceded three runs, with two being earned, and registered four strikeouts over five innings pitched.
Chicago White Sox pitcher Martín Pérez restricted the Detroit Tigers to just one run and four hits over 6 1/3 innings. After being signed as a free agent in January, Pérez pitched a no-hitter against Minnesota for six innings in his first game with the White Sox last week.
ROYALS 4, ORIOLES 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kris Bubic maintained a shutout through the sixth innings as Kansas City secured its first series win of the season against Baltimore.
Bubic (2-0) gave up five hits, issued one walk, and recorded eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. His run of 12 consecutive scoreless innings ended when Ryan Mountcastle hit a triple leading off the seventh inning and came home to score on a wild pitch thrown by Bubic two batters later.
Bobby Witt Jr. contributed three of the Royals' 13 hits, narrowly missing out on completing a cycle as he was just one home run short. Salvador Perez, Mark Canha, and Maikel Garcia each recorded two hits and also crossed the plate once.
Carlos Estévez secured his second save with a clean ninth inning for the Royals. Last year, Kansas City had swept Baltimore in the wildcard round, and this win marked their first regular-season series victory over the Orioles since August 30 to September 1, 2019, following a stretch where they had lost six out of their previous eight series, including two ties.
Jorge Mateo – making his debut as the center fielder since April 20, 2024 – botched Witt’s fading line drive, allowing it to turn into a triple, which set off Kansas City’s three-run first frame.
BREWERS 8, REDS 2
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Chourio hit two home runs and tied his career best with five RBIs as Milwaukee defeated Cincinnati.
Chad Patrick (1-0) conceded one run and two hits across 5 1/3 scoreless innings for his inaugural Major League victory. After beginning the season with a 0-4 record, the Brewers have now secured wins in five out of their last six games.
Spencer Steer hit a long shot for the Reds, who have lost five out of their last six games.
Chourio initiated the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, followed by Christian Yelich driving in a run with a single. In the fourth, which saw five runs scored, Chourio sealed the deal with a three-run home run, bringing the score to 7-0.
He hit a solo home run in the seventh inning.
Brice Turang recorded two hits, extending his hit streak to nine games, and Sal Frelick's impressive start to the season carried on as he got a single and crossed home plate in the fourth inning.
The strong supporting offense made things easier for Patrick, who recorded four strikeouts in his second major league appearance. The sole run he conceded was due to Steer hitting his inaugural home run of the season to lead off the fifth inning.
Pirates 5, Yankees 4, After 11 Innings
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tommy Pham's run-scoring single in the bottom of the 11th inning helped Pittsburgh secure a win against New York, marking their second victory in eight games.
The Yankees scored three times in the ninth off Ryan Borucki to tie the game at 4. Oswald Peraza doubled in a run with two outs and Trent Grisham followed with a two-run single after hitting two homers in Saturday’s 10-4 win .
Borucki was attempting to secure his inaugural save during an eight-season span.
Jack Suwinski started the 11th inning as the automatic runner at second base and proceeded to steal third with one out. Following this, Pham launched a ball off the left-field wall against Devin Williams (0-1), scoring his fifth career walk-off hit.
Andrew Heaney, the starting pitcher for the Pirates, allowed just one run over seven innings and recorded 10 strikeouts.
Joey Wentz (1-1) threw a scoreless 11th inning to secure the victory.
ASTROS 9, TWINS 7, GAME GOES TO 10 innings
MINNEAPOLis (AP) — Jose Altuve secured the winning run with a base hit in the 10th frame following Yordan Alvarez’s equalizing two-run home run in the ninth. The Astros mounted a comeback from an initial six-run shortfall to triumph over Minnesota.
Altuve's hit off Twins relief pitcher Louis Varland (1-1) brought home the automatic runner Brendan Rogers from third base. Subsequently, Jake Meyers stole home during a double-steal attempt, making the score 9-7.
Josh Hader (1-0) got all six batters out to secure the win.
After leading 7-1 through four innings, the Twins saw the Astros mount an impressive comeback by scoring two runs in the ninth inning against Twins relief pitcher Griffin Jax, tying the game at seven. Kicking things off was Isaac Paredes with his fourth hit of the night, followed immediately by Yordan Álvarez hitting his first homerun of the season off Jax’s subsequent pitch.
Matt Wallner recorded four hits, and Trevor Larnach contributed with three RBIs for Minnesota.
ROCKIES 12, ATHLETICS 5
DENVER (AP) — Chase Dollander excelled in his first Major League game, pitching for five strong innings, as Colorado defeated the Athletics, ending their six-game losing streak.
Dollander (1-0), selected as the ninth overall pick in the 2023 draft, allowed a two-run home run to Tyler Soderstrom in the first inning but managed to escape a difficult situation in the fourth. His efforts were aided by Colorado’s strongest offensive performance of the year.
Brenton Doyle hit a home run, recorded a double, added a single, and brought in four runs, while Ezequiel Tovar equaled his career best with four hits and contributed three RBIs, helping the Rockies secure victory in the final game of their three-part series.
Doyle started the bottom of the first with a home run and added two more runs with a double in the second inning against Joey Estes (0-2). Kris Bryant contributed with a double, a single, and scored his first run of the season, helping Colorado take a 6-2 lead after three innings.
Lawrence Butler started the fifth inning with a home run against Dollander, but the right-handed pitcher then struck out the following three batters to conclude his outing.
RANGERS 4, RAYS 3
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jonah Heim hit a walk-off single to center field, driving in Josh Smith and securing Texas' fifth straight victory over Tampa Bay.
Smith recorded a two-out double along the left-field line for his third hit of the game, tying his personal best, against Edwin Uceta (0-1).
In the lineup, Smith and Heim batted seventh and eighth respectively, contributing five out of Texas' total seven hits.
Jacob Webb (1-0), who was the final out of three relief pitchers for the Rangers, left the possible tying run stuck at second base during the ninth inning.
Neither of Texas' key late-game relief pitchers, Luke Jackson (who has five saves) or Chris Martin (with one save), were able to play due to their recent usage.
ANGELS 6, GUARDIANS 2
Anaheim, California (AP) - Logan O'Hoppe extended his home run streak to four games with another homer, while Jorge Soler broke the tie with a go-ahead blast in the sixth inning as Los Angeles defeated Cleveland.
Kyren Paris also hit a home run for the Angels, who have won six out of their last eight games. securing two out of three games against Cleveland During the initial three weeks of the season, they have just one home series. For their first 18 games, Los Angeles will play 15 on the road.
O'Hoppe made history as the first catcher for the Angels to hit a home run in four consecutive games when he led off with a homer in the second inning. Prior to this game, he had gone yard against St. Louis last Wednesday and then homered in each of the three contests against Cleveland.
Kyle Manzardo hit a home run for the Guardians, who ended their season-opening road trip with a 3-6 record following losses in five out of their last six games in Southern California.
Tyler Anderson allowed two runs across five innings for the Angels, giving up just one hit along with four walks. Ryan Zeferjahn (1-0) took care of the sixth inning.
PADRES 8, CUBS 7
CHICAGO (AP) — Luis Arraez recorded four hits, Fernando Tatis Jr. secured the winning run in the ninth inning as first baseman Justin Turner failed to complete a double play with an errant catch, leading San Diego to victory over Chicago.
The Padres' Gavin Sheets hit a single against Porter Hodge, tying the game in the eighth inning.
Jackson Merrill hit a home run for the Padres, who had dropped their previous two games following an impressive streak of seven straight wins to begin the season, marking the best start in franchise history.
Kyle Tucker hit a home run and contributed three RBIs, with Nico Hoerner adding three hits for the Cubs, as their five-game winning streak came to an end.
Ryan Pressly (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up one hit and walking a batter in the ninth inning. Robert Suarez pitched a flawless ninth frame for his fourth save.
The Padres took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Ben Brown issued two walks and surrendered a sacrifice bunt single prior to hitting Jake Cronenworth with a pitch, which plated one run. Xander Bogaerts managed an infield hit, and Jason Heyward drew a walk to drive in the remaining runs.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Cubs managed to score five runs. Following two walks by pitcher Kyle Hart, Tucker got a single hit, Justin Turner contributed with a sacrifice fly, and Hoerner tied the game with a double. Logan Gillaspie, who was promoted from Triple-A El Paso prior to the match, came in as a replacement for Hart and ended up committing two balks during his pitch sequence against Carson Kelly, which resulted in an additional two runs being scored.
Tucker smashed a two-run home run in the second inning, marking his fifth of the season, which places him at the top alongside others leading in the National League.
GIANTS 5, MARINERS 4
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — With two outs in the ninth inning, Wilmer Flores delivered an RBI single, leading San Francisco to victory over the Seattle Mariners and completing a sweep of their three-game series.
Mike Yastrzemski smashed a three-run home run for the Giants, who have started with an impressive 8-1 record, marking their strongest beginning since 2003.
Randy Arozarena equalized the score at 4 for the Mariners in the ninth inning with an RBI double after Seattle found themselves one strike away from defeat against Giants' closer Camilo Doval (1-0).
However, Flores hit a single off Gregory Santos (0-2), driving in Luis Matos with two outs on the very first pitch he faced, securing the victory for the Giants.
Flores' hit followed closely after the Seattle Mariners' right fielder, Victor Robles, had taken his turn at bat. a lengthy dash for an impressive grab in the webbing in the foul area By reaching over the short fence to secure a fly ball, as described by Patrick Bailey, Robles seemed to injure his arm during this action and had to be carried from the field. San Francisco questioned whether Robles actually caught the ball, but their challenge was denied.
After falling behind 2-0, the Giants rallied with four runs in the fourth inning, culminating in Yastrzemski’s opposite-field home run.
Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh both hit solo home runs, giving Seattle a 2-0 lead.
The starting pitcher for the Giants, Jordan Hicks, conceded three runs over 5.1 innings. In contrast, Seattle's Bryan Woo permitted four runs across six innings.
The Associated Press