Matt Vierling had four hits, including a two-run home run in the 11th inning, to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 7-6 win over the host Houston Astros on Monday.
Vierling broke a 5-5 tie with a blast to center off Houston reliever Hector Neris (0-1). The Astros scored a run in the bottom of the 11th on a fielder's choice groundout by Yordan Alvarez, but Detroit reliever Garrett Hill got Jose Abreu to pop out to end the game with a runner on first. It was Hill's first save of the season. Trey Wingenter (1-0) earned the win.
Detroit led 5-4 going into the ninth but Houston rallied. Alex Bregman reached on a one-out single off Detroit closer Alex Lange. Alvarez then hit a ground ball directly to Detroit first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who quickly touched first to retire Alvarez.
But Torkelson's throw to second in an attempt to double up Bregman and end the game hit Bregman in his back, allowing him to reach second. Abreu then evened things at 5-5 with an RBI double. Houston trailed 4-0 earlier in the game, but came back, scoring four runs in the fifth thanks in large part to Alvarez's three-run homer.
Orioles 2, Rangers 0
Gunnar Henderson and Jorge Mateo delivered solo home runs, four pitchers combined to throw a one-hitter and Baltimore blanked Texas in the opener of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.
Baltimore's bullpen had to step up after starter Kyle Bradish exited in the second inning due to a foot injury. A trio of relievers picked up the slack, with Orioles pitchers retiring the final 14 batters of the game. Tyler Wells, who was scheduled to start on Tuesday night, pitched five innings and retired the final 11 batters he faced before closer Felix Bautista had a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Baltimore turned to left-hander Danny Coulombe (1-0) to replace Bradish. Coulombe went 1 1/3 innings, although a scary moment unfolded when he hit Rangers left fielder Josh H. Smith in the face with an 88.5-mph pitch. Smith, who walked off under his own power, went to an area hospital for further scans and testing on his face and jaw, the Rangers announced.
Giants 12, White Sox 3
David Villar had a grand slam among two home runs, and visiting San Francisco hit four of its seven homers during a five-batter span in the fifth inning to run away with a victory over host Chicago.
Michael Conforto, Thairo Estrada and Mike Yastrzemski joined Villar in the home run parade in the fifth against White Sox starter Michael Kopech (0-1). Joc Pederson and Bryce Johnson also went deep for the Giants, who overpowered the White Sox after totaling just two homers in their season-opening, three-game series at the New York Yankees.
Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (1-0) was the beneficiary of the powerful support, coasting through six shutout innings and allowing three hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. Kopech was pulled two outs into the fifth, having allowed seven runs and eight hits. He walked three and struck out five.
Brewers 10, Mets 0
Rookie Brice Turang had a grand slam for his first career home run and a healthy Freddy Peralta tossed six scoreless innings to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting New York in the Brewers' home opener.
Turang's slam capped a seven-run fifth inning that put the Brewers in front 10-0 as Milwaukee won its third straight after a season-opening loss.
Turang has four hits and eight total bases plus three walks in his past eight plate appearances. The Mets' Carlos Carrasco (0-1), a 15-game winner last season, allowed five runs on four hits in four innings, walking four and striking out four in his season debut.
Reds 7, Cubs 6
Jason Vosler, who began the night on the bench, delivered a clutch three-run homer and made a game-saving stab of a line drive to lead Cincinnati past visiting Chicago.
Alex Young (1-0) finished the fifth inning to earn the win. Derek Law pitched out of a two-out jam in the ninth to earn his first major league save since 2019.
Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer for the Cubs. Drew Smyly (0-1) took his first loss in six career decisions against the Reds, allowing seven runs (six earned) over 4 2/3 innings.
Twins 11, Marlins 1
Joey Gallo slugged a three-run homer and Tyler Mahle struck out seven batters, leading Minnesota over host Miami.
Max Kepler also homered for the Twins, but he was removed in the fourth inning due to soreness in his right knee. Trevor Larnach also had a big game for the Twins, going 2-for-5 with a homer, a triple and three RBIs. Mahle (1-0) allowed five hits, one walk and one run in five innings, earning his first win since Aug. 12, 2022.
Johnny Cueto (0-1) made his Marlins debut, retiring just three batters and allowing three hits, one walk and four runs. He was removed three batters into the second inning due to tightness in his right biceps.
Yankees 8, Phillies 1
Anthony Rizzo ignited a five-run fifth inning with a two-run homer, and host New York cruised to victory over Philadelphia.
Gleyber Torres hit his 100th career homer and drove in a run with an infield single early in the game before the Yankees produced their biggest inning of the young season.
Rizzo's drive off Yunior Marte stayed just fair and reached the second deck down the right field line. Franchy Cordero hit a two-run double, and Jose Trevino added an RBI single later in the inning as the Yankees sent the Phillies to their first 0-4 start since 2016. Edmundo Sosa drove in Philadelphia's only run.
Rays 6, Nationals 2
Luke Raley homered twice, and Tampa Bay remained perfect through four games by defeating host Washington.
Drew Rasmussen threw six shutout innings in what became a combined four-hitter among four pitchers for the Rays, who have allowed a total of five runs this season. Both of Raley's homers came with two outs, a two-run blast in the first inning off Washington starter Trevor Williams and a solo shot in the eighth off reliever Mason Thompson.
Williams (0-1) lasted five innings, dinged for four runs (three earned) on six hits. He walked one and struck out three. Rasmussen (1-0) fanned seven without a walk, delivering only 16 balls among 66 pitches. He yielded two hits. Washington's Jeimer Candelario smacked a solo home run in the ninth inning.
Pirates 7, Red Sox 6
Center fielder Bryan Reynolds hit two home runs to help Pittsburgh end a two-game losing streak with a victory over host Boston.
Reynolds hit solo homers in the second and fourth innings. He collected three hits in the win. Rafael Devers, Masataka Yoshida and Triston Casas homered for the Red Sox.
Neither starting pitcher had much success. Boston's Kutter Crawford (0-1) allowed eight hits and seven runs in four innings. He struck out six, walked two and allowed three home runs. Pittsburgh's Johan Oviedo was pulled with two outs in the fifth after he gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits, walked four and struck out four.
Royals 9, Blue Jays 5
MJ Melendez had a double and a two-home run as Kansas City defeated visiting Toronto for its first win of the season.
Bo Bichette hit the first homer of the season for the Blue Jays, who have lost three straight after winning on Opening Day.
Royals starter Brady Singer (1-0) allowed one run, two hits and three walks while striking out three in five innings. His counterpart, Jose Berrios (0-1), allowed eight runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings.
Braves 8, Cardinals 4
Ronald Acuna Jr. went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and two runs to power visiting Atlanta past St. Louis.
Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer and Austin Riley had a solo shot for the Braves, who have won three of four games to start the season. Atlanta starter Charlie Morton (1-0) allowed three runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out one.
St. Louis starter Jake Woodford (0-1) gave up six runs on seven hits, including three homers, in 4 1/3 innings. Paul Goldschmidt went 2-for-4 with a walk and a solo homer for the Cardinals.
--Field Level Media