Maeda homers in debut
Maeda homers in debut
April 8, 2016 | 12:01 AM
Kenta Maeda of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run during the foufth inning of their MLB game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park in San Diego, California, Wednesday. — AFP
April 8, 2016 | 12:01 AM
Last Updated: April 8, 2016 | 12:01 AM
3 minute read
AA
ResizeLOS ANGELES — Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda hit a home run — and tossed six solid innings — to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-0 victory over the Padres in San Diego in his Major League Baseball debut Wednesday.
Maeda, who inked an eight-year, $25 million deal in January after spending eight seasons with the Hiroshima Carp, homered in his second at-bat, driving an 0-2 pitch from Andrew Cashner into the left field seats with one out in the fourth inning to put the Dodgers up 5-0.
He was just as effective on the mound, scattering five hits and striking out four without issuing a walk.
He allowed multiple runners on base in just two innings, keeping the Padres off balance with his fastball, curve and changeup.
His exploits insured the Padres became the first team to open a season with three straight shutout defeats.
Their 27 scoreless innings to start the season are a record, breaking the previous mark of 26 set by the 1943 St. Louis Cardinals.
Tigers 7, Marlins 3
Detroit ended Jose Fernandez’s major league-record home winning streak, beating Miami and its ace at Marlins Park.
Detroit generated five hits, one walk and five runs in 5 2/3 innings against Fernandez, who struck out 13, one short of his career high. He had never lost a home game in his career before Wednesday, going 17-0 with a 1.40 ERA in 26 starts.
His 17 consecutive wins without a loss are an MLB record for the modern era.
Yankees 16, Astros 6
Starlin Castro fell a triple shy of the cycle and drove in five runs as the New York Yankees scored 12 times in the first three innings of a 16-6 victory over the Houston Astros Wednesday night.
After getting a two-run double off Dallas Keuchel Tuesday, Castro singled during New York’s six-run first inning and added a three-run home run in the second. He doubled in the sixth and then added an RBI single in the seventh.
Rockies 4, Diamondbacks 3
Rookie shortstop Trevor Story set a major league record with home runs in his first three games and DJ LeMahieu and Ryan Raburn also homered in the Colorado Rockies’ 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Story has four homers in his first three games, another record in the modern era (since 1900).
Mariners 9, Rangers 5
Robinson Cano had two home runs and four RBIs, including a two-run blast in Seattle’s decisive five-run ninth inning against Texas.
Kyle Seager also had a two-run single in the ninth against Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson, who failed to get an out against five hitters. The Mariners overcame a one-run deficit by sending nine hitters to the plate in the ninth and scoring five runs.
Rays 5, Blue Jays 3
For the second day in a row, Tampa Bay got a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, with Steven Souza hitting a three-run shot for his second homer of the game, against Toronto at Tropicana Field.
Souza, who had the first multi-homer game of his career, matched a personal best with four hits, having also doubled off the wall in the second inning and singled in the fourth. His solo home run in the sixth extended the Rays’ streak to 18 games with at least one homer, a franchise record that started in September 2015. The previous mark was set in April-May 2013.
Brewers 4, Giants 3
Chris Carter hit his first home run as a Brewer and drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly as Milwaukee avoided a season-opening sweep at Miller Park.
Jeff Smardzija gave up three runs and eight hits in five innings to remain winless in his career against the Brewers but turned things over to the bullpen with the game knotted at 3.
Reds 3, Phillies 2
Scott Schebler’s two-run double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted Cincinnati over Philadelphia at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati’s rally wasted a two-run homer by Philadelphia’s Maikel Franco and a solid start by Aaron Nola, who allowed one run through seven innings.
Indians 7, Reds 6
Mike Napoli’s home run in the bottom of the seventh inning broke a 6-6 tie and lifted Cleveland over Boston at Progressive Field.
Napoli, who played for the Red Sox from 2013 to 2015 before signing with Cleveland as a free agent during the winter, belted a 2-2 pitch from reliever Junichi Tazawa over the left-field wall for his first home run.
Other results: Nationals 3, Braves 1; Orioles 4, Twins 2; Pirates 5, Cardinals 1; Athletics 2, White Sox 1.