Harper homers deep for 1st Phils hit, 8-6 win over Braves
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper homered deep into the second deck in right-center field for his first hit with Philadelphia and celebrated with an emphatic curtain call, highlighting the Phillies‘ 8-6 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.
Hitless over five at-bats this season after signing a $330 million, 13-year deal, Harper crushed Jesse Biddle’s fastball 465 feet with two outs in the seventh. Fans gave Harper a standing ovation and chanted “MVP! MVP!”
After getting high fives in the dugout, Harper climbed out for a curtain call, throwing both fists in the air and shouting “Let’s go!”
Maikel Franco and J.T. Realmuto also went deep for Philadelphia. The game was tied at 4 in the fifth when Realmuto lined a two-run drive off Wes Parsons (0-1).
Adam Morgan (1-0) faced one batter in the fifth inning.
Dansby Swanson and Charlie Culberson homered, and Freddie Freeman had four hits and drove in two for the Braves.
NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Hyde earned his first win as Baltimore’s manager when slow-footed catcher Jesus Sucre was aggressive on the bases to score the go-ahead run, then added three late RBIs.
Jimmy Yacabonis (1-0) allowed one run over three innings for his first win since September 2017. Mike Wright struck out Miguel Andujar with two on for his first pro save in nine seasons.
James Paxton (0-1) gave up one earned run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings of his Yankees debut.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Greg Allen hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning, then Cleveland reliever Brad Hand escaped a bases-loaded jam. It was 34 degrees for the start at Target Field.
Hand retired C.J. Cron on a flyball to end it for a save, completing a combined two-hitter.
Jon Edwards (1-0) got two outs for his first career victory. Blake Parker (0-1) threw two wild pitches that set up Allen’s fly.
TORONTO (AP) — Aaron Sanchez and four relievers combined to pitch Toronto’s second straight shutout.
The Blue Jays threw just three shutouts all of last season, the second fewest in the majors. Detroit was last with two.
The Tigers were blanked an MLB-leading 18 times in 2018. They’ve scored in only one of 28 innings so far this season.
Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera left after being hit on the right hand by a pitch from Sanchez to begin the sixth. X-rays were negative.
Sanchez (1-0) allowed three singles, struck out six and walked three. Ken Giles got his first save.
Justin Smoak homered off Spencer Turnbull (0-1).
WASHINGTON (AP) — J.D. Davis delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning and rookie Pete Alonso contributed three hits and two RBIs for the new-look Mets.
Jeff McNeil had four hits for the visitors. Alonso doubled twice and also had a couple of nice stretch plays at first base in the second game of his major league career. He is one of the young components of a reconstructed roster under agent-turned-GM Brodie Van Wagenen.
Another offseason acquisition, former Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, added two hits and two RBIs and scored three runs. And to top it off, new closer Edwin Diaz picked up his second save with one pitch.
Justin Wilson (1-0) threw a perfect seventh for the win. Washington reliever Trevor Rosenthal (0-1) was booed off the mound after entering a 4-all game in the eighth and allowing all four batters he faced to reach base in his return from Tommy John surgery.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jorge Soler had three hits and three RBIs, Alex Gordon scored three runs despite not getting a hit and Kansas City used its speed to win.
Billy Hamilton got three hits and scored twice for the speedy Royals, off to a 2-0 start for the first time since their World Series-winning season in 2015.
The first pitch was delayed 30 minutes because of rain. When the game began, it was 38 degrees and felt like 28, whipped by 18 mph winds.
Jakob Junis (1-0) gave up Jose Abreu’s three-run homer. Ian Kennedy pitched the ninth for the first save of his career.
Reynaldo Lopez (0-1) took the loss. Prized Chicago rookie Eloy Jimenez got his first two big league hits.
