Michael Busch inaugurated Sutter Health Park as a major league venue with a first-inning home run, while Carson Kelly hit for the cycle, leading the Chicago Cubs to an 18-3 rout over the Athletics in their debut at their new home in West Sacramento, Calif., on Monday.
Kelly drove in five runs, Busch added four, and Dansby Swanson and Kyle Tucker (both of whom also homered) contributed three RBIs each for the Cubs. Chicago amassed 21 hits, including 11 for extra bases. Kelly became just the 17th catcher in MLB history to hit for the cycle and the first since J.T. Realmuto in June 2023.
Making his season debut, Ben Brown (1-1) benefited from the Cubs’ offensive explosion, earning the win after allowing three runs and six hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out five. Nico Hoerner (3-for-4), Seiya Suzuki (2-for-5), and Pete Crow-Armstrong (2-for-5) also had multiple hits.
For the A’s, Jacob Wilson, a day after his 23rd birthday, launched his first major league home run in the third inning. Brent Rooker and Miguel Andujar each tallied two singles. Starter Joey Estes (0-1) surrendered six runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out two over four-plus innings.
Reds 14, Rangers 3
Elly De La Cruz delivered a dominant performance, belting two long home runs, adding a double and a single, and driving in a career-high seven runs to power the Cincinnati Reds to a blowout win over the visiting Texas Rangers.
De La Cruz matched Javier Valentin’s franchise record for most RBIs in a game by a switch-hitter, set on July 17, 2005. Matt McLain also homered, his third of the season, and knocked in three runs as Cincinnati cruised after scoring three runs in each of the first two innings.
Making his Reds debut, right-hander Brady Singer (1-0) threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out eight and walking two. Rangers starter Kumar Rocker (0-1) was tagged for six runs on seven hits over three innings, issuing two walks and surrendering two home runs.
White Sox 9, Twins 0
Martin Perez dominated with six no-hit innings, while Andrew Vaughn, Andrew Benintendi, and Michael A. Taylor each homered as the Chicago White Sox shut out the visiting Minnesota Twins.
Perez (1-0) retired the first 11 batters he faced before issuing a walk to Ryan Jeffers in the fourth. He exited after six innings, having thrown 93 pitches, 54 for strikes, striking out nine, walking three, and hitting a batter. Rookie Mike Vasil took over in the seventh.
Chris Paddack (0-1) suffered the loss, giving up nine earned runs—tying a career high—on six hits over 3 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out two.
Padres 7, Guardians 2
Gavin Sheets drove in four runs, and Kyle Hart earned his first major league win as the San Diego Padres remained unbeaten, securing their first-ever 5-0 start with a victory over the Cleveland Guardians.
Making his first MLB appearance in five years, Hart (1-0) pitched five innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out four and walking one. Luis L. Ortiz (0-1) took the loss after surrendering seven runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Jose Ramirez homered in the first, and Austin Hedges added a solo shot in the third for Cleveland. However, Sheets proved too much, delivering two-run doubles in both the second and fifth innings.
Dodgers 6, Braves 1
Teoscar Hernandez launched a two-run homer in the first inning, Tyler Glasnow tossed five scoreless innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers remained unbeaten with a home win over the struggling Atlanta Braves.
Hernandez, filling in at the No. 3 spot for Freddie Freeman—who sat out after aggravating his surgically repaired ankle—collected two hits and scored three runs. Enrique Hernandez also homered for Los Angeles.
Michael Conforto and Will Smith added RBI hits as the Dodgers improved to 6-0. The Braves, meanwhile, dropped their fifth straight game and saw their scoreless streak stretch to 29 innings before Michael Harris II broke the drought with a home run in the eighth.
Royals 11, Brewers 1
In his first start in nearly two years, Kris Bubic (1-0) delivered six shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight, as the Kansas City Royals spoiled Milwaukee’s home opener.
Jonathan India went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, Salvador Perez added a solo homer, and Kansas City exploded for six runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach. Maikal Garcia contributed a two-run homer in the second.
Milwaukee’s Elvin Rodriguez (0-1) made a spot start on his 27th birthday, giving up four runs on six hits in four innings. Jackson Chourio provided the Brewers’ lone run with an RBI double in the seventh.
Orioles 8, Red Sox 5
Cedric Mullins smacked a two-run double as part of a four-run first inning and later drove in two more runs, helping the Baltimore Orioles secure a home-opening victory over the Boston Red Sox.
Tyler O’Neill, facing his former team, notched four hits and scored twice in his first home game for Baltimore. The Orioles’ offense racked up 15 hits, with Mullins, Ramon Urias, Ryan Mountcastle, and Jackson Holliday each collecting two.
Seranthony Dominguez (1-0) earned the win in relief as the second of six Baltimore pitchers.
