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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, top, celebrates with Miguel Rojas after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a home-opening baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The New York Yankees showed they can still win with a little scruff on their chins while Baltimore’s Tyler O’Neill might be the best player on Earth during the first game of the season.
And to no one’s surprise, Japanese star Shohei Ohtani delivered more big hits for the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers as Major League Baseball celebrated its domestic opening day with 14 games on Thursday.
New York’s Carlos Rodón — sporting a well-kept short beard — gave up just one run over 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven, leading the Yankees to a 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. In February, the Yankees announced that they were ending their 49-year ban on beards.
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O’Neill went deep for a sixth straight opening day to extend his own record, connecting for a three-run homer in the Orioles’ 12-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. He finished 3 for 3 with two walks and three runs scored.
Even more special, the Canadian was able to play in his home country for the first time on opening day.
Ohtani hit a solo homer and scored twice for the Dodgers, who improved to 3-0 this season with a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers beat the Cubs twice in Tokyo to open the season on March 18 and 19.
Here are a few more highlights from the first day of the six-month MLB season:
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Yankees shake rough spring, get win
Austin Wells became the first catcher to hit a leadoff homer on opening day, sparking the Yankees to their win over the Brewers.
It was a good day in New York after a rough spring in Florida.
The Yankees were hit hard with injuries during Grapefruit League play, losing ace Gerrit Cole for the season after learning he needed Tommy John surgery. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton (sore elbows), reigning AL Rookie of the Year pitcher Luis Gil (lat strain), right-hander Clarke Schmidt (shoulder fatigue) and infielder DJ LeMahieu (left calf strain) also start the season on the injured list.
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None of that mattered against the Brewers. New closer Devin Williams — an All-Star acquired from the Brewers in a December trade — worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam to seal the win.
Orioles muscle up
O’Neill’s record-extending homer was just one facet of Baltimore’s potent offense. The Orioles went deep six times in their lopsided win over the Blue Jays, including two homers for both catcher Adley Rutschman and center fielder Cedric Mullins.
Rutschman’s power display is a good indicator that he’s ready to bounce back from a slightly disappointing 2024 season when he hit .250 with 19 homers. The two-time All-Star and former No. 1 overall pick finished with three hits.
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Winning White Sox
The Chicago White Sox took advantage of a much-needed fresh start, beating the Los Angeles Angels 8-1.
The White Sox were coming off a 41-121 record last season, which set the post-1900 major league record for losses in a season. Chicago’s still expected to be in rebuilding mode this summer, but at least for one day, the White Sox looked like an improved bunch.
Sean Burke threw six scoreless innings, Andrew Benintendi, Lenyn Sosa and Austin Slater all hit homers and Will Venable won his MLB managerial debut.
For the Angels, it was their 11th opening day loss in 12 years.
Arenado goes deep
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Nolan Arenado is still in St. Louis and still a very good baseball player.
Arenado hit a solo homer in the Cardinals’ 5-3 win over the Minnesota Twins, saluting the home crowd with a curtain call.
The Cardinals tried to trade the eight-time All-Star third baseman during the offseason, but nothing worked out, so the 33-year-old is back at Busch Stadium’s hot corner — at least for the time being.
Dodgers keep winning
There’s no way the Los Angeles Dodgers go 162-0 this season, right?
Right?
Well, they’re 159 wins away after beating the Tigers on Thursday. The big-budget Dodgers have delivered so far in the early season, looking every bit the favorite to win back-to-back World Series titles for the first time since the Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000.
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Ohtani hit his second homer of the season, going deep in the seventh. Teoscar Hernández hit a three-run homer and two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell pitched well in his Dodgers debut, giving up two runs over five innings after signing a $182 million, five-year deal during the offseason.
Quick hits
Miami’s Sandy Alcántara gave up two runs over 4 2/3 innings in a 5-4 win against the Pirates in a solid return after missing the entire 2024 season after Tommy John surgery. Alcántara was the 2022 NL Cy Young award winner. Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, who won the NL Rookie of the Year award last season, countered by giving up two runs over 5 1/3 innings. … Fernando Tatis Jr. had three hits and Manny Machado added two doubles as the Padres beat the Braves 7-4. … Wilmer Flores hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, and the San Francisco Giants rallied for a 6-4 victory over Cincinnati, spoiling Terry Francona’s debut as Reds manager. … New Mets star Juan Soto struck out with two on base in the ninth to end New York’s 3-1 loss to Houston. Soto signed a record $765 million, 15-year deal during the offseason. … Washington’s MacKenzie Gore struck out a career high 13 batters against Philadelphia, but the Phillies rallied for a 7-3 win. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber went deep for the Phillies. … Boston’s Wilyer Abreu dedicated a two-homer game to his newborn twin boys. Abreu went deep twice in Boston’s season-opening 5-2 win at Texas, including a tiebreaking three-run shot in the ninth. … Catcher Miguel Amaya had two doubles and five RBIs to lead the Cubs past the Diamondbacks 10-6.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
