Major League Baseball returned for 2023 with a variety of Opening Day highlights, upsets and impressive performances.
Oneil Cruz homered shortly after a shot clock violation helped him out and then hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning as Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati 4-3.
There were two shot clock violations, committed by Reds starter Hunter Greene in the third and Pirates starter Mitch Keller in the fourth. Both at bats ended with home runs.
Greene committed the Reds’ first clock violation, turning an 0-2 count into 1-2 against Cruz leading off the third. Cruz hit a tying solo home run on a 3-2 pitch.
Rob Zastryzny (1-0) was the winner and David Bednar made the save. Buck Farmer (0-1) took the loss.
Oneil Cruz starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a road win over the long-suffering Cincy Reds.
RANGERS 11, PHILLIES 7
Robbie Grossman and Brad Miller homered in a huge comeback after Jacob deGrom struggled in his debut as Texas beat 2022 National League champion Philadelphia.
Grossman hit a three-run home run that tied the game at 5–5 amid a nine-run explosion in the fourth inning. An inning later, Miller became the first Rangers player in 11 years to homer in back-to-back season openers: his two-run homer made it 11-6.
While deGrom struck out seven without walking, the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner allowed five runs and six extra-base hits in his 3 2-3 innings.
The Phillies’ Aaron Nola also allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings. Cole Ragans (1-0) faced three batters, allowed one walk and an RBI single but earned the win. Gregory Soto (0-1) took the loss.
New Rangers recruit Jacob deGrom was unable to star in the team’s comeback victory in Arlington
ORIOLES 10, RED SOX 9
Adley Rutschman became the first catcher in major league history with five opening-day hits as Baltimore survived a wild ninth inning to beat Boston.
Rutschman homered in his first at-bat and finished 5-for-5 with a career-high four RBIs and a walk on a chilly day at Fenway Park. Ramón Urías hit a two-run home run for Baltimore, who finished with 15 hits, nine walks and five stolen bases.
Kyle Gibson (1-0) allowed four runs and six hits over five innings. Leading off the eighth, Boston’s Rafael Devers became the first player in major league history to be called out for a shot clock violation.
Orioles reliever Bryan Baker still allowed three runs in the eighth and closer Félix Bautista allowed two more, one unearned, in the ninth before striking out Adam Duvall for the save.
Corey Kluber (0-1) struggled in his Fenway debut, allowing five runs, six hits and four walks in 3 1-3 innings.
Adley Rutschman made history for the Orioles as they held on to win in Boston on Thursday
METS 5, MARLINS 3
Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo broke a seventh-inning tiebreaker with a two-run double, sending Max Scherzer and New York past Miami.
Scherzer (1-0) blew away a three-run lead but pitched six solid innings in a matchup with National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara. New York improved to 41-21 on opening day, the best record in baseball.
Garrett Cooper tied it 3-3 in the sixth with a two-run homer off Scherzer. Marlins newcomer Luis Arraez hit an RBI double.
Nimmo had three RBIs from the leadoff spot after re-signing with the Mets in the offseason for $162 million over eight years. His double off reliever Tanner Scott (0-1) put the Mets ahead 5-3 in the seventh, leading them to their 41st win in the last 53 openers.
David Robertson, filling in for injured closer Edwin Diaz, got three outs for the save.
The New York Mets continued their strong record of winning Opening Day games in Miami
BLUE JES 10, CARDINAL 9
George Springer had five hits and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three RBIs as Toronto won its fourth straight season opener despite the Cardinals’ Tyler O’Neill tying a major league record with opening day home runs for the fourth straight season.
Making his Cardinals debut, catcher Willson Contreras left after the eighth inning with a knee injury sustained when he was hit by a 102.7 mph Jordan Hicks pitch.
Springer combined with Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman to become the first pair of players with five hits apiece on opening day since at least 1901.
Bo Bichette had four hits and Matt Chapman three for the Blue Jays, who outhited the Cardinals 19-15 and set a team record for hits in an opener.
Toronto overcame a 9-8 deficit against Ryan Helsley (0-1) in the ninth. Springer tied the score with an RBI single and Guerrero followed with a sacrifice fly.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three RBIs as the Blue Jays won their fourth straight season opener
CUBS 4, BREWERS 0
Dansby Swanson had three hits in his Chicago debut and Marcus Stroman pitched six shutout innings, quickly passing baseball’s first shot clock violation.
Swanson’s first hit with his new team was an RBI single that sparked a four-run third run. He added two more singles and played his usual solid defense at shortstop.
Swanson signed a seven-year, $177 million contract with Chicago in free agency, leaving the Atlanta Braves after seven seasons.
Stroman (1-0) struck out eight and walked three. Milwaukee ace Corbin Burnes (0-1) allowed four runs, four hits and three walks in five innings.
Marcus Stroman shined during his Chicago debut despite falling victim to the shot clock
BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 2
Travis d’Arnaud had four hits as Atlanta beat the error-prone Washington Nationals.
Braves starter Max Fried started in the fourth inning with a strained left hamstring. He allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings. Lucas Luetge (1-0), one of five Braves relievers, was credited with the win.
Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams committed three errors. Washington left-hander Patrick Corbin (0-1) picked up right where he left off the past two seasons, holding off just one batter until the fourth and coming off with a 6.00 ERA after giving up four runs, two earned.
Victor Robles went down in the ninth inning on what was a tough day for the Nationals team.
TWINS 2, ROYAL 0
Pablo Lopez and four Minnesota relievers combined on a two-hitter to beat Kansas City at cheery Kauffman Stadium.
Trevor Larnach and pinch hitter Donovan Solano each drove in a run.
Lopez (1-0) allowed both Royals hits and struck out eight in 5 1-3 innings, outpointing former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke (0-1). Jhoan Duran worked the ninth to save.
The Minnesota Twins didn’t have their most convincing performance, but they still got the win
RAYS 4, TIGERS 0
Shane McClanahan pitched six solid innings, José Siri and Wander Franco homered and Tampa Bay opened its silver anniversary season with a win.
Miguel Cabrera, beginning what he has said will be his final season, had a double for Detroit that tied him with Ichiro Suzuki for 23rd on the all-time hit list with 3,089.
McClanahan (1-0) allowed four hits, struck out six and walked one. Randy Arozarena and Luke Raley drove in charged runs from Eduardo Rodríguez (0-1).
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan stole the show during his six innings on the mound.
YANKEES 5, GIANTS 0
Aaron Judge followed up his 2022 record with a home run on his first swing as Yankees captain, starting New York to a 5-0 opening day win over the San Francisco Giants.
Aaron Judge picked up where he left off last regular season, hitting the first home run of the season
WHITE SOCKS 3, ASTROS 2
White Sox outfielder Andrew Vaughn hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the ninth inning to lift Chicago past the defending World Series champion Astros.
Andrew Vaughn (R) and Reynaldo Lopez managed to wrap up the Opening Day win for CHI