ST. LOUIS -- Albert Almora Jr. robbed Matt Adams of a home run and Javier Baez made a terrific sliding stop on Kolten Wong's game-ending grounder, sending Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs to a 2-1 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.
It looked as if the Cardinals had tied the game in the seventh, but Almora tracked Adams' deep fly ball to the wall and hauled it in with a leaping grab at the top of the fence in center. A pumped-up Almora then celebrated with left fielder Kyle Schwarber as Adams tipped his batting helmet in appreciation of the catch.
St. Louis had a runner on first in the ninth when Baez went into short right field to take a hit away from Wong. The Cardinals challenged the call on the bang-bang play, but it was allowed to stand.
Arrieta pitched six innings of one-run ball, helping the World Series champions bounce back from a wild 4-3 loss to St. Louis on Sunday night. Willson Contreras hit a tying three-run home run in the ninth inning of the opener, but the Cardinals won it in the bottom half on Randal Grichuk's game-ending single.
Arrieta improved to 8-2 in 14 career starts against St. Louis. Koji Uehara then worked the seventh and Pedro Strop got three outs before Wade Davis finished for his first save since he was acquired in an offseason trade with Kansas City.
Adam Wainwright allowed 2 runs and 3 hits in 5 innings for St. Louis. The right-hander is hoping to bounce back this season after recording a 4.62 ERA last year.
The Cardinals also lost Stephen Piscotty to a head contusion in the fifth, part of a rough inning for the outfielder. He will be evaluated again today.
Piscotty reached when he was hit by a pitch from Arrieta. He was hit again by Contreras' throw when he stole second. He then scored from second on Wong's infield hit to the right side of the mound, but he was hit in the head by Baez's throw home.
Piscotty, who agreed to a $33.5 million, six-year contract a day earlier, was flat on the ground for several minutes. He eventually walked off.
ROCKIES 6, BREWERS 5 New closer Greg Holland earned his second save in two days, Gerardo Parra hit a three-run double and Colorado outlasted Milwaukee. Holland tossed a perfect ninth for the Rockies, who have opened the season with 81/3 scoreless innings from their bullpen.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
TIGERS 6, WHITE SOX 3 Justin Verlander struck out 10 to match the most by a Detroit pitcher on opening day since Mickey Lolich in 1970, and Detroit backed him with three home runs in a victory over Chicago. JaCoby Jones hit his first career home run, Nick Castellanos and Ian Kinsler also went deep against Jose Quintana (0-1), and the Tigers sent Rick Renteria to a loss in his debut as White Sox manager. Verlander (1-0), the AL Cy Young Award runner-up last season, gave up 2 runs and 6 hits while walking 2 in 61/3 innings. Francisco Rodriguez relieved with two on in the ninth and retired three consecutive batters for the save.
YANKEES 5, RAYS 0 CC Sabathia, 36, was sharp in his first start, Ronald Torreyes and Chase Headley homered and New York beat Tampa Bay for its first victory this season. Sabathia (1-0) limited the team he has faced more than any other to 3 singles and 2 walks in 5 innings. Five relievers finished the five-hitter.
ASTROS 2, MARINERS 1 Brian McCann and Marwin Gonzalez homered to back a solid start by Lance McCullers and help Houston to a victory over Seattle. McCann's home run off Hisashi Iwakuma (0-1) put Houston up 1-0 in the third inning, and Gonzalez broke a 1-1 tie with his solo shot to left-center in the sixth inning. McCullers (1-0), slowed by injuries for chunks of last season, allowed 1 run and 5 hits while fanning 7 in 6 innings.
INDIANS 4, RANGERS 3 Carlos Santana led off with a home run, Carlos Carrasco struck out seven in his first start since breaking a bone in his right hand last season and Cleveland held on for a victory over Texas in Arlington. Carrasco (1-0) limited Texas to 2 runs and had 1 walk on 78 pitches over 52/3 innings. Cody Allen allowed consecutive doubles by Nomar Mazara and Mike Napoli, starting a 25-pitch ninth inning before striking out Rougned Odor, pinch-hitter Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo for his second save.
Sports on 04/05/2017