MLB roundup: Bryce Harper blasts 3 HRs (6 RBIs) in Phillies' win

 

[April 03, 2024]  Bryce Harper hit three home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-best six runs to lift the host Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

It was the second career three-homer game for Harper and his first since 2015. Brandon Marsh added a solo home run and two singles for the Phillies.

Philadelphia starter Spencer Turnbull (1-0) tossed five innings and allowed three hits and one unearned run to go along with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Philadelphia went ahead 1-0 in the first inning when Harper snapped an 0-for-11 skid by launching a solo shot to center field. In the fourth, Harper hit his second home run, this time to right, for a 2-1 advantage. It was also his 1,000th career run. His grand slam in the seventh turned a 4-1 game into an 8-1 blowout.

Dodgers 5, Giants 4

Mookie Betts hit his major-league-leading fifth home run and Los Angeles continued to lean on a consistent offense in a victory over visiting San Francisco.

Enrique Hernandez drove in two runs and Freddie Freeman had three hits for the Dodgers, who have scored at least five runs in all eight games. In a bullpen game, left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (1-0) gave up four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, while Evan Phillips recorded the last four outs for his third save.

Jorge Soler hit his first home run as a member of the Giants and Michael Conforto had two hits and an RBI as San Francisco lost for the fourth time in six games to open the season. Giants starter Logan Webb lasted just 3 2/3 innings in his second start. He gave up five runs on seven hits, with two walks and five strikeouts.

Diamondbacks 7, Yankees 0

Zac Gallen pitched six shutout innings and Christian Walker slugged a three-run homer as Arizona handed visiting New York its first loss of the season.

Blaze Alexander went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, and Ketel Marte went 2-for-5 with two runs for Arizona. Gallen (2-0) gave up three hits and three walks and struck out six in his second career start against New York. He also blanked the Yankees on three hits over six innings in a win last September. Eugenio Suarez and Gabriel Moreno also had run-scoring singles for Arizona. Walker, Jake McCarthy and Geraldo Perdomo also had two hits apiece as the Diamondbacks racked up 12 overall.

Nestor Cortes (0-1) allowed three runs and eight hits over five innings for New York, which had started 5-0 for the first time since 1992. Cortes struck out two and walked two. New York had three hits and only one runner reached second base -- Anthony Volpe in the second inning.

Blue Jays 2, Astros 1

Davis Schneider belted a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning as Toronto rallied to stun host Houston.

Schneider launched a 1-1 slider from Astros closer Josh Hader 423 feet and out to left-center field, plating pinch runner Daulton Varsho with his second home run. Varsho ran for Justin Turner, who finished 3-for-3 and worked a two-out walk against Hader (0-2) to initiate the rally.

Astros left-hander Framber Valdez carried a shutout into the eighth, bouncing back from an uneven Opening Day start against the New York Yankees when he issued six walks and failed to escape the fifth. He flexed far superior control against Toronto, retiring the Blue Jays in order twice and getting double-play grounders twice more.

Cubs 12, Rockies 2

Garrett Cooper went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run as Chicago beat Colorado at Wrigley Field.

Chicago starting pitcher Javier Assad (1-0) threw six shutout innings, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out five batters. Nick Madrigal drove in three runs for the Cubs, who have won three straight games. Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger each hit a two-run shot, and Christopher Morel also homered.

Michael Toglia hit a two-run homer for Colorado.

White Sox 3, Braves 2

Garrett Crochet pitched seven sharp innings and Gavin Sheets, Paul DeJong and Andrew Vaughn drove in runs as host Chicago beat Atlanta for its first victory this season.

Relievers John Brebbia and Michael Kopech preserved the Chicago lead in a tight finish. Kopech navigated Marcell Ozuna's ninth-inning home run, his second solo shot of the game, as well as a walk and a single to notch a five-out save.

Crochet (1-1) limited a potent Braves lineup, which entered the night averaging nearly nine runs over its first four games. The Chicago left-hander, who shifted from the bullpen during spring training, gave up one run on three hits and one walk. He struck out eight, throwing 63 of his 93 pitches for strikes.

Rays 5, Rangers 2

Starter Zach Eflin was strong in his first win of the season, Isaac Paredes rocked a three-run homer and Tampa wrangled Texas in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Eflin (1-1), the Opening Day starter, made his second start and allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander fanned five, walked one and threw 56 of his 83 pitches for strikes. Paredes provided the big blow in a four-run fifth inning to help the Rays even their mark through six games.

In his season debut, Andrew Heaney (0-1) tossed 4 2/3 innings for the Rangers. The left-hander yielded four hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out seven with no walks.

Apr 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) prepares to bat during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Angels 3, Marlins 1

Left-hander Tyler Anderson pitched seven scoreless innings, and Aaron Hicks homered and drove in two runs, leading Los Angeles past host Miami.

Anderson held the Marlins to just four hits and two walks. He struck out five batters in his season debut. Hicks went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth. Rookie shortstop Zach Neto -- who is a native of Miami -- had a good night, going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Miami, which has started the season 0-6, got a solo homer from Bryan De La Cruz in the ninth. Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo (0-1) allowed four hits, two walks and three runs in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five.

Royals 4, Orioles 1

Alec Marsh held host Baltimore to two hits and one run across a career-high seven innings as Kansas City picked up their first road victory of the season.

Maikel Garcia knocked in three runs with a double and a triple for the Royals. Marsh struck out five and walked one. Salvador Perez and Nick Loftin both joined Garcia with two hits for Kansas City.

Baltimore starter Cole Irvin (0-1) lasted five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits in his season debut. He walked two and fanned three. Colton Cowser had two of the Orioles' three hits.

Brewers 3, Twins 2

Christian Yelich homered and Rhys Hoskins scored twice as Milwaukee held on for a home-opener victory over Minnesota for its first 4-0 start in 18 years.

Elvis Peguero (2-0) got the win with two innings of relief. Abner Uribe pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save. Brewers starter Jakob Junis allowed one run on three hits in four innings.

Twins starter Louie Varland (0-1) needed 89 pitches to get through four innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Matt Wallner and Christian Vazquez had sacrifice flies for Minnesota.

Red Sox 5, Athletics 4 (11 innings)

Boston pushed across the game-winning run on a double play in the 11th inning to edge host Oakland on a night both teams squandered prime scoring chances in extra innings.

With Mitch Spence (0-1) on the mound and runners on first and third with no outs, Tyler O'Neill then hit a sharp grounder to Oakland third baseman J.D. Davis, who opted to turn an around-the-horn double play that scored automatic runner Wilyer Abreu for what turned out to be the winning run.

Both teams squandered chances to win in the 10th. The Athletics' automatic runner, Ryan Noda, reached third on Zack Gelof's sacrifice bunt, but he was later caught in a rundown after a comebacker by Davis. In the top of the frame, Mason Miller had struck out Abreu and Connor Wong with two runners on.

Cardinals 5, Padres 2

Willson Contreras belted a two-run homer to put St. Louis ahead for good and Miles Mikolas tossed six solid innings as the Cardinals won at San Diego.

San Diego starter Yu Darvish was pitching a strong game and had a 2-1 lead with two outs in the top of the sixth after slipping a called third strike past Paul Goldschmidt. But Contreras drilled a down-and-away splitter 420 feet to deep right-center for his second homer in as many nights.

Mikolas (1-1) scattered seven hits and allowed two runs, walking one and fanning four. Three relievers pitched an inning apiece, with Ryan Helsley working the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

Guardians 5, Mariners 2

Shane Bieber pitched six scoreless innings for the second time in as many starts this season as Cleveland defeated host Seattle.

Bo Naylor hit a two-run homer for the Guardians, who evened the three-game series at one victory apiece.

Bieber (2-0) up six hits to Seattle, didn't walk a batter and fanned nine. Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his second save of the season. Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (0-2) took the loss. He allowed four runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

--Field Level Media

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