Torres sparks Yankees comeback against champs, Angels star Trout manages career first
The New York Yankees claimed their season-opening series against the Washington Nationals after Gleyber Torres sparked a comeback in MLB action on Sunday.
Torres smashed a seventh-inning home run and delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth as the Yankees topped World Series champions the Nationals 3-2 in Washington.
With the win, the Yankees earned a 2-1 series victory to open the 2020 campaign, which has been reduced to 60 regular-season games amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin had retired 18 of 19 batters through six innings before his shut-out bid was ended by Torres' homer to left field.
Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout, meanwhile, homered on a 3-0 pitch for the first time in his 10-year career.
Trout – a three-time American League MVP – blasted a three-run homer off Mike Fiers in the Angels' 6-4 defeat against the Oakland Athletics, his 286th career home run.
Rojas flirts with cycle, Carrasco completes inspirational return
Miguel Rojas almost hit for the cycle as the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-6. Since their inaugural season in 1993, no Marlins player has reached the feat, despite the franchise celebrating two World Series championships among other honours. But Rojas came close, finishing a double shy after going three-for-four. The 31-year-old hit the game-tying three-run homer, an RBI triple and a single, and scored three times.
Carlos Carrasco completed an inspiring comeback. Following his leukemia diagnosis more than a year ago, the Cleveland Indians pitcher – who had not featured since May 2019 – struck out 10 batters in a 9-2 rout of the Kansas City Royals.
Kevin Kiermaier's two-run triple in the 10th inning lifted the Tampa Bay Rays past the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5. The Blue Jays had led 4-2 in the ninth and 5-4 again in the 10th, but the Rays rallied both times.
The Minnesota Twins crushed the Chicago White Sox 14-2 thanks to Jake Cave's grand slam and a pair of home runs from Nelson Cruz.
Trevor Story's two homers inspired the Colorado Rockies to a 5-2 victory at the Texas Rangers, who lost debutant Corey Kluber to shoulder tightness after just one inning.
Ohtani fails to record out
Angels star Shohei Ohtani endured a difficult return to the mound. Following an 18-month recovery after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in 2018, Ohtani did not record an out. The 26-year-old walked three batters, gave up three singles from 30 pitches and was charged with five earned runs. He left the game with the Angels trailing 4-0.
For the first time since 1954 when there were only eight clubs in each league, no team have started the season 3-0. All 30 franchises have a loss this term.
Riley goes long, very long
Austin Riley blasted a home run off the third deck as the Atlanta Braves crushed the New York Mets 14-1.
Braves team-mate Ronald Acuna Jr. produced a highlight of his own with a stunning catch.
Sunday's results
New York Yankees 3-2 Washington Nationals
Blue Jays at Nationals
The Blue Jays (1-2), displaced from Toronto due to the COVID-19 crisis, will not start playing at their temporary home in Buffalo until August 11. Until then, the Jays will continue to be on the road as they visit World Series champions the Nationals (1-2) on Monday.