NEW YORK — Michael Pineda retired his first 20 batters before Evan Longoria lined a double down the left-field line, and he wound up pitching two-hit ball over 7 2/3 innings Monday in the New York Yankees’ home opener, an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Pineda (1-1) dominated like the pitcher the Yankees have always hoped he would become. He struck out 11, walked none and threw 67 of 93 pitches for strikes. Tampa Bay’s Logan Morrison homered with one out in the eighth, a ball that hit off the top of the wall in right-center and deflected off a fan before bouncing back onto the field. A video review was needed to determine it was a home run.
Pineda started 15 of his first 18 batters with strikes and didn’t fall behind 2-0 in a count until the sixth inning. His slider had a sharp downward break, and fans started sensing the occasion in the sixth, cheering on every strike and rising for every out.
Longoria reached on a first-pitch hanging slider and tipped his helmet to Pineda after reaching second. Leading 2-0 at the time, Pineda then fanned Brad Miller.
Aaron Judge, Chase Headley and Starlin Castro homered for the Yankees, who broke open the game with a five-run eighth inning.
TIGERS 2, RED SOX 1 Justin Verlander and Chris Sale dominated in a matchup of ace pitchers before Nicholas Castellanos singled in the go-ahead run off Sale in the eighth inning lift host Detroit to a victory. Verlander gave up an unearned run, 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4 over 7 innings. Sale (0-1) struck out 10 and gave up 2 runs and 5 hits over 7 2/3 innings. Ian Kinsler homered off Sale in the sixth.
ATHLETICS 2, ROYALS 0 Khris Davis hit a two-run home run, Jharel Cotton shut down host Kansas City’s anemic offense and Oakland held on to spoil the Royals’ home opener. Cotton (1-1) gave up a single in the first and another in the sixth, but otherwise befuddled a Royals lineup that hasn’t shown much punch.
MARINERS 6, ASTROS 0 James Paxton shut down Houston for the second time in a week, pitching seven innings of four-hit ball and leading host Seattle to a victory in its home opener. The Mariners rebounded nicely from Sunday’s ugly ninth-inning meltdown against the Angels when they gave up seven runs and lost 10-9. Paxton struck out eight and walked two while pitching in Seattle’s home opener for the second time in his career.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
GIANTS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1 Giants catcher Buster Posey was doing well after being struck in the helmet by a 94 mph fastball in the first inning and forced out of the game, a frightening moment in host San Francisco’s victory against Arizona in its home opener. Posey will be re-evaluated today but, “He’s doing good, he’s doing fine,” Manager Bruce Bochy said. Posey is likely to sit out today’s game. Taijuan Walker’s 0-1 fastball with two out in the first inning sent the Gold Glove catcher immediately to ground. Athletic trainer Dave Groeschner sprinted toward the plate and Bochy was right behind. Posey got up on his own but exited the game.
PADRES 5, ROCKIES 3 Wil Myers hit a leadoff triple in the eighth inning to complete the first cycle of his career, and visiting San Diego beat Colorado. Myers singled in the first, doubled in the third and homered in the sixth to help the Padres win for the third time in four games. Miguel Diaz (1-0) and five other pitchers combined to keep Colorado in check.
NATIONALS 14, CARDINALS 6 Bryce Harper tied a career high with four hits and reached base in all six plate appearances as host Washington routed St. Louis. Harper drove in three runs during his first four-hit game since April 17, 2013. Stephen Drew, Adam Eaton and Ryan Zimmerman each had three of Washington’s 19 hits, and the Nationals overcame four errors by breaking open the game in a seven-run eighth inning.
METS 4, PHILLIES 3 Jay Bruce homered twice, including the tie-breaking shot in the eighth inning, to lead visiting New York over Philadelphia. Recently bumped up to the cleanup spot, Bruce put the Mets in front 4-2 with a towering, two-run drive off his own digital image on the videoboard in right field on a 1-2 pitch from Joely Rodriguez.
REDS 7, PIRATES 1 Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett hit solo home runs and visiting Cincinnati pounced on a wild night by Pittsburgh’s Tyler Glasnow.
Sports on 04/11/2017