MLB roundup: Dodgers walk off on Shohei Ohtani’s HR

Shohei Ohtani flipped a game-ending home run to left-center field in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers kept their season-opening win streak alive by rallying from an early five-run deficit to earn a 6-5 victory over the visiting Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

Max Muncy had a game-tying two-run double in the eighth to atone for two early errors as the Dodgers became the first defending champion to open a season 8-0. Tommy Edman and Michael Conforto homered for the Dodgers to help Blake Snell overcome a rocky outing. All five runs Snell allowed over four innings were unearned while he walked four with two strikeouts.

Ohtani’s home run, his third of the season, came on the first pitch from right-hander Raisel Iglesias (0-1) and sent a near sold-out crowd into a frenzy on the star’s first of four bobblehead nights of the season. Rookie Jack Dreyer (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for his first career win.

The Braves dropped to 0-7 as they head toward their home opener Friday. Nick Allen, Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson delivered run-scoring doubles for Atlanta, whose season-opening losing streak is its worst since an 0-9 start in 2016.

Brewers 3, Royals 2 (11 innings)

Brice Turang laid down a suicide squeeze in the 11th inning to lift Milwaukee to a win against visiting Kansas City in the rubber game of their three-game series.

Kansas City reliever Sam Long (0-2) came in for the 11th and Garrett Mitchell moved designated runner Oliver Dunn to third with a grounder to second. Joey Ortiz then drew a walk, bringing up Turang, who had struck out three times in the game, but he bunted the first pitch up the first-base line for the walk-off win.

Brewers starter Freddy Peralta allowed one run and two hits over eight innings, striking out eight without walking a batter. Jared Koenig (1-0) pitched a scoreless 11th inning for Milwaukee. Jackson Chourio had three hits, including a solo home run for the Brewers. Royals left-hander Cole Ragans struck out 10 batters over five innings of one-run ball.

Cardinals 12, Angels 5

Ivan Herrera hit three home runs to lift host St. Louis to a victory over Los Angeles, avoiding a sweep by winning the finale of the three-game series.

Herrera hit a solo homer in the fourth inning, a two-run homer in the sixth, and his three-run homer in the eighth capped a seven-run outburst that broke open a close game. It was the first three-homer game by a Cardinal since Paul Goldschmidt hit three in May of 2023.

Logan O’Hoppe’s grand slam in the seventh inning gave the Angels a 5-3 lead, but the Cardinals rallied against the Angels’ bullpen with two runs in the seventh to tie the game and seven in the eighth.

Padres 5, Guardians 2

Jackson Merrill and Luis Arraez homered as San Diego extended its franchise-record season-opening winning streak to seven games with a win over visiting Cleveland.

Dylan Cease (1-0) worked 6 1/3 solid innings for the win, allowing just four hits and a run with a walk and seven strikeouts. Three relievers got the final eight outs, with Robert Suarez pitching the ninth for his third save in as many chances.

Ben Lively (0-1) absorbed the loss for Cleveland, lasting just 4 1/3 innings and permitting four runs off seven hits. Lane Thomas and Kyle Manzardo notched RBI shits for the Guardians, who have lost three in a row and four out of five.

Pirates 4, Rays 2

Ace Paul Skenes gave Pittsburgh a much-needed boost with seven quality innings, Oneil Cruz homered and visiting Pittsburgh salvaged a win in its three-game series against Tampa Bay.

In a strong start, Skenes (1-0) allowed just one unearned run on three singles, lowering his ERA to 1.46. He struck out six without a walk over 102 pitches (72 for strikes). Cruz was 2-for-4 with a solo homer, two RBIs and a stolen base, while Adam Frazier had two hits, an RBI and was hit by a pitch.

In his second start, Ryan Pepiot (0-1) had to battle, yielding two runs on five hits over five innings in 88 pitches (56 strikes). The right-hander struck out three and walked three. Jonny DeLuca went 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI and stolen base, but the Rays managed only four singles.

Red Sox 3, Orioles 0

Garrett Crochet pitched eight shutout innings, and Boston beat host Baltimore Orioles to snap a four-game losing streak.

Trevor Story homered and had three hits and Rafael Devers ended a horrid season-beginning slump with an RBI double and later added a single. Devers broke a 0-for-21 stretch. Crochet (1-0) allowed four hits and one walk while striking out eight on 102 pitches.

Orioles starter Zach Eflin (0-2) lasted six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. He has surrendered a home run in both of his outings this season. Baltimore managed four singles and two walks. Tyler O’Neill struck out three times.

Rangers 1, Reds 0

Jack Leiter allowed one hit over five scoreless innings and four relievers combined for four scoreless innings to lead visiting Texas to its second straight 1-0 win over Cincinnati.

Leiter (2-0) struck out six before the right-hander was pulled after just 70 pitches as a precaution with a finger blister on his pitching hand. Luke Jackson pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save as Elly De La Cruz made the game’s last out for the second straight game.

Hunter Greene (0-1) nearly matched Leiter out for out, allowing just one run on three hits, throwing 94 pitches through seven innings, striking out eight. The Rangers broke through in the fourth when Joc Pederson opened with a single. After Greene retired the next two batters, Josh Smith doubled to score Pederson with the game’s only run.

Diamondbacks 4, Yankees 3

Zac Gallen tied a career high with 13 strikeouts without a walk in 6 2/3 dominating innings as Arizona took an early lead and hung on for a victory over host New York.

On a frigid 42-degree night, the Diamondbacks won their third straight by getting a four-run lead in the opening two innings against New York’s Carlos Rodon (1-1) and an overpowering outing by Gallen, who has pitched 18 2/3 scoreless innings in three career starts against the Yankees.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. blasted a two-run homer three batters into the game. Geraldo Perdomo lifted a sacrifice fly and Ketel Marte hit an RBI single after signing a six-year contract earlier in the day. A.J. Puk allowed Anthony Volpe’s three-run homer in the ninth, then finished off his second save by retiring Austin Wells and Jasson Dominguez.

Cubs 10, Athletics 2

Chicago completed a three-game demolition of the Athletics’ new home in Sacramento, Calif., riding two home runs from Seiya Suzuki to a victory and a sweep of the interleague series.

Suzuki smacked a three-run homer in the second inning, a solo shot in the fourth and added a run-scoring single in the seventh, driving in five runs and accounting for half the scoring in Chicago’s second double-digit output in three days. The Cubs bombarded A’s pitching in the series for 35 runs and 41 hits, eight of which were home runs.

Jameson Taillon (1-1) benefited from Wednesday’s attack, coasting through six innings while allowing two runs and four hits. A’s starter Jeffrey Springs (1-1) was pulled after three innings and was charged with five runs (four earned) on five hits. Brent Rooker hit a two-run homer in the third.

Phillies 5, Rockies 1

Zack Wheeler struck out 10 over seven strong innings as Philadelphia topped visiting Colorado.

Edmundo Sosa (two RBIs) and Trea Turner each recorded three hits in support of Wheeler (1-0), who allowed one run and three hits without a walk. Sosa has been hot, in particular, as the utilityman is 9-for-15 with four straight multi-hit games to begin the season.

Hunter Goodman homered for the second straight game for Colorado, which will look to avoid a three-game sweep on Thursday afternoon. Kyle Freeland (0-1) absorbed the defeat while allowing three runs and nine hits over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out three and didn’t issue a walk.

Twins 6, White Sox 1

Byron Buxton homered, doubled and drove in two runs and Harrison Bader hit a three-run homer to lead visiting Minnesota to a victory over Chicago in a rain-delayed rubber game of their three-game series.

Pablo Lopez (1-1) picked up the win, allowing one run on four hits over seven sharp innings. He walked one and struck out five. Jhoan Duran and Danny Coulombe each threw a scoreless inning of relief. Buxton, Carlos Correa – who snapped a season-opening 0-for-18 streak – and Ty France each had two hits for Minnesota, which won its second straight game following an 0-4 start.

Brooks Baldwin homered for Chicago, which lost for the fourth time in five games. Sean Burke (1-1) picked up the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out one and hit a batter.

Mariners 3, Tigers 2

Dylan Moore homered, Luis Castillo pitched seven strong innings and Andres Munoz got out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth as Seattle defeated visiting Detroit.

The Mariners topped reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal (0-2) to avoid being swept in the three-game series. Castillo (1-1) gave up two runs on five hits over seven innings. The veteran right-hander walked two and struck out five.

Skubal, a lefty who starred at nearby Seattle University, gave up three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings with three walks and eight strikeouts.

Giants 6, Astros 3

Wilmer Flores slugged his fourth home run of the season, Heliot Ramos extended his extra-base hit streak and visiting San Francisco completed a three-game interleague sweep of Houston.

Flores belted the first of three homers by the Giants and ignited an early ambush of Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (1-1), who gave up five runs on four hits and four walks with nine strikeouts in five innings. Luis Matos and LaMonte Wade Jr. also went deep for San Francisco.

In the fifth, Yordan Alvarez greeted Giants reliever Randy Rodriguez (1-0) with a two-run single. But Rodriguez held the line there, notching strikeouts of Yainer Diaz and Jeremy Pena to preserve the lead. Zach Dezenzo hit an RBI single for Houston.

Mets 6, Marlins 5 (11 innings)

Jesse Winker drew a bases-loaded walk to force home the go-ahead run in the 11th inning for visiting New York, which overcame a late three-run deficit to earn a win over Miami in the rubber game of a three-game series.

After Winker worked the walk against Xzavion Curry (0-1), Pete Alonso (3-for-4, 3-run HR, four RBIs) scored a vital insurance run when Xavier Edwards misplayed Mark Vientos’ grounder to short. Jose Butto (1-0) threw two perfect innings for the Mets, who have split their first six games. Huascar Brazoban earned his first career save.

Griffin Conine finished 3-for-6 for the Marlins, who went 4-3 with three walk-off wins during a season-opening homestand. Matt Mervis, Lopez and Nick Fortes had an RBI apiece. Alonso’s blast cost Connor Gillispie a chance at his first major league win. Gillispie allowed one run on four hits and no walks while striking out six in five innings.

Blue Jays 4, Nationals 2

Left-hander Easton Lucas pitched five scoreless innings in his first major-league start as Toronto defeated visiting Washington.

George Springer had a solo home run and Myles Straw had three hits for the Blue Jays, who swept the three-game series over the Nationals and won their fourth straight overall. Lucas (1-0), making his 15th major-league appearance, allowed one hit and two walks with three strikeouts.

CJ Abrams homered for the Nationals. Washington left-hander MacKenzie Gore (0-1), who allowed one hit and no runs in six innings on Opening Day, allowed three runs, nine hits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media