MLB roundup: Astros’ Ronel Blanco no-hits Jays

Apr 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco (56) reacts after pitching a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays during an MLB game at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Ronel Blanco pitched the 17th no-hitter in Astros history while Kyle Tucker and Yainer Diaz recorded multi-homer games as Houston pounded out a 10-0 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the MLB on Monday.

Blanco (1-0) issued a leadoff walk to George Springer in the first inning before retiring 26 consecutive batters. Springer walked with two outs in the ninth, but Blanco recovered to induce a game-ending groundout from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., completing the first no-hitter in the majors this season.

Making just his eighth career start and 25th appearance, Blanco handcuffed the Blue Jays with a three-pitch mix of sliders, changeups and four-seam fastballs. He finished with seven strikeouts against the two walks to Springer.

READ; MLB: Braves rally in seventh inning to defeat Mets

The Astros last had two players record multi-homer games in the same contest on Sept. 5, 2023, at Texas when Altuve slugged three homers and Martin Maldonado went deep twice against the Rangers.

Orioles 6, Royals 4

Jordan Westburg hit a two-run, walk-off homer in the ninth inning to lift Baltimore to a win over visiting Kansas City.

Cedric Mullins singled with one out against Nick Anderson (0-1). Westburg followed with an opposite-field shot, sending an 0-2 fastball just beyond the scoreboard in right for his first career walk-off homer.

Ryan Mountcastle homered, singled and drove in three runs for the Orioles. Craig Kimbrel (1-0) gave up a run to blow a save in the top of the ninth, but he emerged with the win. Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits, including a homer, while Salvador Perez also went deep for the Royals.

Rangers 9, Rays 3

Josh Jung hit a three-run home run in the first inning and Adolis Garcia added a solo shot in the eighth — his 100th career homer — as Texas beat Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla.

After going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, Jung exited in the ninth inning after being hit in the hand with an 87 mph sinker on a swing attempt. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters after the game Jung sustained a broken right wrist.

Jose Siri and Richie Palacios each homered for Tampa Bay, which managed five hits and lost its sixth straight to Texas, including a two-game sweep in the wild-card round last season.

Tigers 5, Mets 0 (10 innings)

Spencer Torkelson scored the tiebreaking run on a 10th-inning fielder’s choice as Detroit continued its perfect start to the season with a win at New York.

The Tigers tacked on four more runs, getting a two-run homer from Carson Kelly, as they improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2015. Detroit starter Reese Olson threw 5 2/3 innings to begin a combined five-hitter, and Jason Foley (1-0) got the win.

Michael Tonkin (0-1) allowed the five 10th-inning runs, all of which were unearned. Sean Manaea, making his Mets debut, tossed six innings of one-hit ball. New York fell to 0-4 for the first time since 2005.

Mariners 5, Guardians 4

Apr 1, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Tyler Beede (46) pitches to the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Emerson Hancock pitched 5 1/3 innings for his first major league victory as host Seattle defeated Cleveland.

Dominic Canzone hit a three-run homer for the Mariners, while Tyler Freeman and Josh Naylor had solo shots for the Guardians. Hancock (1-0) allowed three runs on four hits. Ryne Stanek pitched the ninth to earn his first save with Seattle.

Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie (0-1) gave up five runs (four earned) on four hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Red Sox 9, Athletics 0

Tanner Houck continued Boston’s strong starting pitching, Trevor Story capped a five-run third inning with a two-run double and the visiting Red Sox scored early and often en route to a shellacking of Oakland.

Jarren Duran collected three hits and scored twice for the Red Sox, who won their second straight game. Houck (1-0) struck out 10 in six innings of three-hit ball, and Chase Anderson followed with three innings of one-hit ball to get a save.

JJ Bleday had a double and a single for the A’s, who hurt their own cause by committing five errors, all in the first three innings.

Dodgers 8, Giants 3

Apr 1, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) bats in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium in an MLB game. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Teoscar Hernandez hit a three-run home run and Los Angeles registered a victory over visiting San Francisco in the first meeting of the season between the longtime rivals.

READ; MLB: Shohei Ohtani delivers for Dodgers in home opener

Freddie Freeman and Will Smith each drove in two runs and James Paxton (1-0) went five scoreless innings in his Dodgers debut.

Michael Conforto hit a home run and Jung Hoo Lee had two hits for the Giants. Keaton Winn (0-1) gave up three runs on four hits over five innings.

Reds 6, Phillies 3 (10 innings)

Spencer Steer drilled his first career grand slam to break a 10th-inning tie and lead visiting Cincinnati to a win over Philadelphia.

Steer’s home run came off reliever Connor Brogdon (0-1), who walked Will Benson and Jonathan India to open the 10th before serving up the homer on a 2-1 fastball. Brogdon threw 37 pitches and recorded just two outs.

Alexis Diaz (1-1) rebounded from a blown save on Saturday to record five outs and the win. He entered with two on and one out in the eighth and escaped the jam. Alec Bohm drove in two runs for Philadelphia, which lost for the third time in four games to open the season.

Angels 7, Marlins 4

Mike Trout hit two home runs, including a mammoth 473-foot blast, to lead Los Angeles to a win over host Miami.

Trout recorded the fifth-longest homer hit at Miami’s loanDepot Park since the Statcast era started in 2015. The Angels also got a home run from Nolan Schanuel. Five Angels relievers combined to pitch six scoreless innings as Los Angeles won its second straight game since an 0-2 start to the new season that triggered a team meeting.

The Marlins, off to an 0-5 start for the first time in franchise history, blew an early 4-0 lead. Miami’s Max Meyer, pitching in his first game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2022, allowed two hits and two runs in five innings. He left with a 4-2 lead and was in line for his first major league win before the Angels rallied.

Pirates 8, Nationals 4

Bryan Reynolds collected two hits and drove in three runs, helping lead undefeated Pittsburgh to a win at Washington.

Michael Taylor went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs and Connor Joe added two hits and two RBIs for the Pirates, who are 5-0 to start the season for the first time since 1983.

Washington starter MacKenzie Gore pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three runs. Riley Adams hit a two-run homer for the Nationals.

Cubs 5, Rockies 0

Shota Imanaga struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter in his six-inning major league debut as host Chicago shut out Colorado.

Imanaga (1-0), who signed a four-year deal with the Cubs in January, didn’t allow a hit for the first 5 2/3 innings. Christopher Morel had two hits and Cody Bellinger had a two-run single to help Chicago win its home opener.

Dakota Hudson (0-1) was strong in his Rockies debut but was victimized by two errors on one play in the sixth inning. Hudson allowed three runs — all unearned — on four hits and struck out two. Colorado has lost four of five road games to begin the season.

Braves 9, White Sox 0 (8 innings)

Austin Riley went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and four RBIs and Charlie Morton pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning to help visiting Atlanta defeat Chicago in a game shortened to eight innings due to rain.

Morton (1-0) scattered three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings to improve to 5-0 against Chicago in five starts. The Braves saw each member of the starting lineup collect at least one hit. Ozzie Albies had two hits and an RBI.

Chris Flexen (0-1) took the loss in his White Sox debut, allowing four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. Chicago managed just three hits, two from Yoan Moncada, while losing for the fourth time in as many games this season.

Yankees 5, Diamondbacks 2

Anthony Volpe went 4-for-4 with two runs and one RBI and New York started the season 5-0 for the first time in 32 years by beating Arizona at Phoenix.

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Gleyber Torres and Oswaldo Cabrera also had run-scoring hits to help New York achieve its best start since the 1992 squad went 6-0. The Yankees’ Luis Gil gave up one run and one hit in 4 2/3 innings. Luke Weaver (2-0) replaced Gil and gave up one run and two hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Ketel Marte hit two sacrifice flies for Arizona, which had just four hits and finished hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Cardinals 6, Padres 2

Kyle Gibson pitched seven strong innings in his St. Louis debut and Brendan Donovan came within a triple of the cycle in a win over host San Diego.

Gibson (1-0) gave up just four hits and two runs while posting the first quality start for a St. Louis pitcher this season. Donovan paced St. Louis’ offense, going 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs.

Matt Waldron (0-1) became the third straight San Diego starter to fail to make it through five innings, lasting only four-plus. Waldron permitted nine hits and four runs. Fernando Tatis Jr. cracked a solo shot for the Padres. –Field Level Media