DETROIT (AP) — Jonathan Schoop and Christin Stewart each hit a two-run homer in the third inning to lift Detroit over Kansas City, 4-3.
Whit Merrifield hit a three-run shot in the top of the third for Kansas City, but the Tigers answered quickly and held on from there. Tyler Alexander (1-0) and four other relievers kept the Royals scoreless for the final six innings, with Joe Jimenez pitching the ninth for his third save.
Kansas City starter Kyle Zimmer pitched two scoreless innings, then hit JaCoby Jones with a pitch to start the Detroit third. Tyler Zuber (0-1) relieved and allowed the homers to Schoop and Stewart.
CUBS 8, REDS 5
CINCINNATI (AP) — Javier Báez homered twice, doubled and scored on a deft dive to the plate as Chicago extended its opening surge by beating Cincinnati.
Alec Mills pitched six solid innings for the Cubs, who have won four of their first five games and scored first in each one. Jason Kipnis’ triple — Shogo Akiyama lost it in the sun — got Chicago going again.
Mills (1-0) added to Chicago’s stretch of impressive starts, holding the Reds to two hits in six innings. Cubs starters have a 1.80 ERA and a .131 opponent batting average this season.
The Reds got two-run homers by Nick Castellanos — his first since signing a $64 million deal — and Freddy Galvis but fell to 1-4, tied for the worst start in the majors.
Cody Reed (0-1) allowed two runs in the fifth after relieving starter Tyler Mahle.
DODGERS, 5,
ASTROS 2
HOUSTON (AP) — Benches cleared Tuesday night during the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory over the Astros in the first game between the teams since it was revealed that Houston illegally stole signs en route to a 2017 chamspionship that came at Los Angeles’ expense in the World Series.
The fracas occurred after Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw high-and-tight pitches to Astros stars Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa in the sixth inning.
Kelly threw an errant breaking ball over Correa’s head. Correa, who homered and finished with three hits, took off his batting helmet and stared Kelly down before continuing the at-bat.
Kelly struck out Correa, then stuck out his tongue and made a face in his direction. Correa started walking toward him and the players exchanged words, prompting the benches to clear in the first such incident of this pandemic-delayed season. There was plenty of yelling and crowding — outlawed as MLB tries to play a 60-game season amid the pandemic — but no pushing or punches thrown.
Order was restored after a couple of minutes and there were no ejections, but Houston manager Dusty Baker was still upset before play resumed and got in the face of an umpire.
Brusdar Graterol (1-1) worked a scoreless fifth and Kenley Jansen earned the save.
Astros starter Framber Valdez (0-1) permitted three runs — two earned — in 4 1/3 innings.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, RANGERS 1
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Merrill Kelly took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a home run as Arizona beat Texas.
