Alec Bohm hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, Zach Eflin gave Philadelphia another strong start and the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the defending NL East champion Atlanta Braves with a 2-1 win Sunday.
Philadelphia’s starting trio of Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Eflin (1-0) surrendered three runs, 11 hits and one walk in 20 2/3 innings against an Atlanta lineup that led the majors in 2020 with 556 hits.
The Phillies bullpen, which posted a 7.06 ERA in 2020, didn’t yield a run in 7 1/3 innings in the set.
Philadelphia regained the lead in the eighth as Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper and Bohm hit consecutive singles off Chris Martin (0-1).
Hector Neris got his first save.
REDS 12, CARDINALS 1
Nick Castellanos came out swinging with his bat a day after being ejected for inciting a bench-clearing melee, hitting a three-run homer off Carlos Martinez (0-1) and triple to finish the series 6 for 11 with five RBIs.
Tyler Naquin also a three-run shot for the Reds, who won two in a row to take the opening matchup of NL Central teams that earned wild-card spots last season.
Jeff Hoffman (1-0), acquired from the Colorado Rockies in an off-season trade, gave up a just run and three hits through five innings with six strikeouts.
INDIANS 9, TIGERS 3
Jordan Luplow hit a two-run homer to cap a four-run seventh, and Cleveland overcame a home run by Akil Baddoo on the first pitch of his first major league at-bat.
Cleveland avoided a sweep in Detroit after falling behind 3-1 in the third. Yu Chang put the Indians up 4-3 with a two-run single off Daniel Norris (0-1) in the seventh, and Luplow added his homer one out later.
Baddoo was taken by the Tigers with the third pick of the 2020 winter meeting draft of unprotected players. The 22-year-old, who had never played above Class A, gave his bat a little flip after hitting an opposite-field drive to left in the third off Aaron Civale (1-0).
ORIOLES 11, RED SOX 3
Boston dropped to 0-3 at Fenway Park for the first time since 1948 and the second time ever as Trey Mancini and Austin Hays hit two-run doubles during a seven-run third inning.
Cedric Mullins went 5 for 5 with three doubles and walk for the Orioles, collecting four of hits in the initial four innings. Maikel Franco added a first-inning, two-run double, helping Baltimore to its first three-game sweep at Fenway since Aug. 25-27, 2017.
Boston is coming off a 24-36 record that was its worst winning percentage since 1965.
Baltimore left-hander Bruce Zimmerman (1-0) gave up three runs and four hits in six innings with five strikeouts and one walk for his first victory.
Boston starter Garrett Richards (0-1) was chased with no outs and after loading the bases in the third. He allowed six runs and seven hits.
BLUE JAYS 3, YANKEES 1
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Randal Grichuk homered off Domingo Germán (0-1). who allowed three runs over three innings in his first appearance since Sept. 18, 2019, after serving a suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. Toronto won two of three.
T.J. Zeuch pitched four scoreless innings, left-hander Ryan Borucki (1-0) got two outs to escape a jam in the sixth and Julian Merryweather got his second save with a perfect ninth.
CUBS 4, PIRATES 4
Zach Davies (1-0) permitted two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings in his Chicago debut against short-handed Pittsburgh.
Ian Happ homered and Kris Bryant reached three times as Chicago earned its second straight win after losing on opening day.
Pittsburgh played without third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left wrist.
Mitch Keller (0-1) allowed three runs, two hits and four walks over three innings on his 25th birthday.
RANGERS 7, ROYALS 3
Nate Lowe three-run homer in the third for Texas, which avoided a sweep, and a team-record nine RBIs in the first three games of the season, a Texas record.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa also drove in three runs.
Jordan Lyles (1-0) gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings, struck out eight and allowed five hits.
Brady Singer (0-1) gave up five earned runs, five hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings.
TWINS 8, BREWERS 2
Miguel Sanó and Mitch Garver homered to back up Michael Pineda (1-0), who gave up just one unearned run and four hits in five innings.
Luis Arraez went 3 of 3 with a pair of walks as the Twins took two of three. Max Kepler and Sanó each drove in three runs.
Adrian Houser (0-1) struck out four while allowing two runs, four hits and two walks in five innings.
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