Brewers remain undefeated to start season, beat Twins 3-2.

未分類

Brewers remain undefeated to start season, beat Twins 3-2.

2024-04-03 13:27 Last Updated At：13:51

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Chourio singled in a run in his first American Family Field plate appearance, Christian Yelich homered and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Tuesday to open a season with four straight wins for the first time since 2006.

Chourio stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the third inning after consecutive one-out singles by Rhys Hoskins, Oliver Dunn and Turang. The 20-year-old followed with an RBI single into shallow right field.

Chourio, who signed an $82 million, eight-year contract in the offseason before making his big league debut, is hitting .400 (6 for 15).

Home after a three-game sweep at the New York Mets, the Brewers never trailed in front of a sellout crowd of 41,659 that saved its biggest cheers for the introduction of Bob Uecker as he began his 54th season of broadcasting Brewers baseball.

Brice Turang went 2 for 3 with an RBI single, improving his batting average to .500 (7 for 14).

Milwaukee is 4-0 for the fourth time after winning its first 13 games in 1987 and its first five in 1978 and 2006.

METS VS. TIGERS ppd.

NEW YORK (AP) — The scheduled game between the unbeaten Detroit Tigers and winless New York Mets was postponed by rain.

The game will be made up at 1:10 p.m. on Thursday, originally an off day for both teams.

ROYALS 4, ORIOLES 1

BALTIMORE (AP) — Alec Marsh pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, Maikel Garcia drove in three runs and Kansas City breezed past Baltimore.

Marsh (1-0) turned in the best performance of his budding career, dominating the defending AL East champions with an exceptional display of control. He struck out five, walked one and retired the side in order five times.

The Orioles gave their supporters little reason to stand up and cheer. Baltimore’s only run came in the third inning on successive doubles by Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser, but that only served to cut their deficit to 3-1.

ANGELS 3, MARLINS 1

MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Anderson pitched seven scoreless innings, Aaron Hicks homered and the Los Angeles Angeles beat Miami.

Anderson (1-0) scattered four hits, walked two and struck out five. The left-hander was lifted after 83 pitches.

Hicks’ solo blast in the fourth put the Angels ahead 1-0. He drove a fastball from Miami starter Jesús Luzardo inside the foul pole in right for his first homer with Los Angeles.

The Angels increased their lead on run-scoring singles from Hicks and Taylor Ward in the sixth.

Bryan De La Cruz homered in the ninth inning for the Marlins, who lost their sixth straight game to start the season.

RAYS 5, RANGERS 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Zach Eflin took a shutout into the seventh inning, Isaac Paredes hit a three-run homer in a four-run fifth and Tampa Bay beat Texas.

Eflin (1-1) allowed three of his five hits and lone run in the seventh, then was removed after Jonah Heim’s one-out RBI single. Heim also had a two-out run-scoring single in the ninth off Pete Fairbanks, who retired Leody Tavares on a game-ending flyout with with two on.

Tampa Bay has a home run and stolen base in each of its first six games, matching Cleveland in 1998 as the only teams since 1901 to accomplish the feat.

Yandy Díaz, hitless in his previous 11 at-bats, put the Rays up 1-0 with a third-inning RBI single that deflected off pitcher Andrew Heaney’s glove and into right field.

Randy Arozarena hit a two-out, run-scoring single on a 3-2 pitch off Yerry Rodríguez and Paredes drove the next pitch into left-field seats.

PHILLIES 9, REDS 4

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper homered for his first three hits of the season, including a grand slam, and Philadelphia beat Cincinnati.

Brandon Marsh also connected for Philadelphia, which bounced back nicely after dropping the series opener on Monday. Spencer Turnbull struck out seven in five effective innings.

The two-time NL MVP hit a solo shot in the first and fourth innings against Graham Ashcraft. He capped Philadelphia’s five-run seventh against Brent Suter with his seventh career grand slam, a 422-foot drive to right-center.

WHITE SOX 3, BRAVES 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Garrett Crochet pitched seven sparkling innings, pinch-hitter Paul DeJong had a tiebreaking homer and the Chicago White Sox got their first win by beating Atlanta.

Michael Kopech pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and gave up a solo drive to Marcell Ozuna with one out in the ninth. He walked Michael Harris II with two outs and gave up a single to Orlando Arcia, putting runners on first and second, before retiring Travis d’Arnaud on a pop fly for the save.

Gavin Sheets and Andrew Vaughn hit RBI singles, and the White Sox overcame two home runs by Ozuna to win after an 0-4 start.

CUBS 12, ROCKIES 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, Christopher Morel and Garrett Cooper homered, and the Chicago Cubs pounded Colorado.

Bellinger’s two-run drive off the right-field scoreboard at Wrigley Field was his first homer of the season..

Cooper hit a three-run shot in the sixth that gave Chicago a 10-0 lead. He also doubled and tripled in his first home start with the Cubs.

Nick Madrigal added two hits and three RBIs on a chilly, breezy night at Wrigley Field. Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson each had two of the Cubs’ 14 hits.

Michael Toglia hit a two-run homer for Colorado in the seventh against Jose Cuas. Charlie Blackmon had three of the Rockies’ seven hits.

BLUE JAYS 2, ASTROS 1

HOUSTON (AP) — Davis Schneider’s two-run homer off closer Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth inning lifted Toronto over Houston.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled starting the inning, but Bo Bichette grounded into a double play. Hader (0-2), signed by the Astros to a $95 million, five-year contract this offseason, walked Justin Turner to bring up Schneider.

Schneider’s soaring shot sailed to center field to put the Blue Jays on top 2-1 and set off a celebration in the Toronto dugout.

Toronto starter José Berríos yielded six hits and one run in six innings in another solid start after getting the win on opening day. Chad Green (1-0) got the final four outs for the win.

Jose Altuve had two hits, and his solo homer in the fourth was all the offense the Astros could muster.

DIAMONDBACKS 7, YANKEES 0

PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Walker hit a three-run homer, Zac Gallen pitched six scoreless innings and the Arizona beat the New York Yankees.

Defending NL champion Arizona is off to a 4-2 start. The D-backs took a 3-0 lead in the first after five of the first six batters reached base on Nestor Cortes. Blaze Alexander, Eugenio Suárez and Gabriel Moreno all had RBI singles.

CARDINALS 5, PADRES 2

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, and St. Louis beat San Diego to win the first two of a three-game series.

Miles Mikolas (1-1), who broke into the majors with San Diego in 2012, improved to 3-2 against his old squad. He allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings.

Ryan Helsley worked the ninth for his first save in two chances.

GUARDIANS 5, Mariners 2

SEATTLE (AP) — Shane Bieber pitched six scoreless innings for the second straight start, leading Cleveland over Seattle.

Bieber (2-0), the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner, struck out nine, walked none and threw 55 of 83 pitches for strikes. He allowed six hits and didn’t permit a runner past second base.

Emmanuel Clase pitched a one-hit ninth for his second save.

RED SOX 5, ATHLETICS 4, 11 INNINGS

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Trevor Story had three hits and two RBIs and Wilyer Abreu scored the go-ahead run on a double-play grounder in the 11th inning, sending Boston to a victory over Oakland.

Abreu began the 11th on second as the automatic runner. He advanced on Reese McGuire’s single and scampered home on Tyler O’Neill’s 5-4-3 double play off Mitch Spence (0-1).

Ceddanne Rafaela made a great running catch in center with one out in the bottom half, robbing Shea Langeliers of extra bases. Josh Winckowski (1-0) then fanned Lawrence Butler for the final out.

Winckowski struck out three in two innings. Five Red Sox relievers allowed two hits in six scoreless innings.

Langeliers and JJ Bleday homered for Oakland.

DODGERS 5, GIANTS 4

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts hit his major league-leading fifth home run, Freddie Freeman had three hits and Los Angeles beat the San Francisco for their third straight victory.

Betts lifted a hanging changeup from Giants starter Logan Webb into the left-center field bleachers in the third inning for a game-tying solo home run and the 1,500th hit of his career.

Betts finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored and a stolen base. He is batting .500 and has reached base in 23 of 38 plate appearances to open the season.

Jorge Soler led off the sixth with his first home run as a Giant and Michael Conforto singled and scored on a fielder’s choice to bring San Francisco within a run, but the back of the Dodgers’ bullpen held on.

Towns relishes an enjoyable return to Minnesota, from the roar of the crowd to a blowout win

2024-12-20 14:41 Last Updated At：14:51

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns took some time to reflect on nine formative NBA seasons in Minnesota, arriving to the arena early for the morning shootaround before the rest of the New York Knicks.

Playing against a team he always figured he'd be with his whole career was such a surreal experience that he needed some extra time to prepare.

“All these moments that I've been blessed to have here in a Timberwolves jersey, it meant a lot that I was given the chance," Towns said at the end of an emotional night that turned exhilarating for him and the Knicks in a 133-107 romp Thursday.

There was no sense in trying to downplay the significance of this reunion. Minnesota still means a lot to Towns. Despite some difficult years, he made quite an impact on the organization and the community.

“Just a shoutout to my teammates for empowering me and putting me in a spot to succeed. I think everyone saw it: They understood the game was a big game for me, personally,” said Towns, who had 32 points, 20 rebounds and six assists.

“What could you say? It was just a monster game,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Towns became the first player in NBA history to hit these benchmarks in a game: 30 points, 20 rebounds, five 3-pointers and 80% shooting. He went 10 for 12 from the floor.

“I was super happy for him, man. That’s everything you dream of. Get traded, come back, beat your team by 30,” Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards said. “I’m mad that we lost, but on the inside we're super happy for him. That’s my dog.”

Edwards struggled to find his edge all night, going 7 for 16 for 17 points with seven assists.

“He knows he’s got a big bro in me. I’ve only ever wanted to amplify him and give him nothing but the best experience being in the NBA and guide him through this whirlwind of being a pro,” Towns said. “I’m just honored that I was able to be a part of his journey.”

When Towns jogged onto the court in his unfamiliar blue and orange warmups, the crowd immediately roared upon recognition of his arrival as he flashed a familiar smile. He watched a two-minute tribute video from the bench, then waved to the fans after he was formally introduced.

As strange as this experience was for everyone inside the arena, there was also an unmistakable presence of gratitude in the air.

“Whether it was basketball, off the court, family issues, whatever the case may be, KAT was there for you. He always will be,” Timberwolves center Naz Reid said this week.

Towns made his first appearance in Minnesota since he was traded three days before training camp began to New York, in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and the future salary cap flexibility that came with the unloading of his contract.

“Usually, I’m the one in the Timberwolves jersey, looking at the tribute videos. But it’s kind of weird being on the other side now,” Towns said in the morning before the game, towering over the same interview room podium he'd spoken to reporters on for so many seasons.

Just a few months ago, a large framed print of him hung on the wall behind the riser along with images of other stars playing at Target Center. Now Edwards is unquestionably the main attraction in Minnesota.

After staying so loyal to a long-languishing franchise, Towns figured he’d be playing for them as long as he was in the league, but it's a cutthroat $11 billion business that leaves little time for nostalgia.

As attached as he was to the organization and the community, adjusting to the new place was made easier by the fact he was born and raised nearby in New Jersey. Returning to the center position was a smoother transition because he'd just spent the previous two years acclimating to the power forward spot to accommodate the acquisition of Rudy Gobert. With a default position of deference toward his teammates, switching teams midcareer becomes a bit less daunting.

By all accounts, the adjustment has gone well.

The Knicks (17-10) are in third place in the Eastern Conference, with 12 wins in their last 16 games. Towns is leading the league in rebounding. He's averaging nearly 25 points, his most in four years.

Randle had 15 of his 24 points in the first quarter for the Timberwolves (14-12), who were a mess on offense and outscored 37-8 over the first nine minutes of the second quarter. The energy in the crowd was gone by that point, and the Timberwolves never recovered theirs. Knicks superfan Spike Lee kept his up throughout the game, wearing a Jalen Brunson jersey and a blue and orange Knicks stocking hat.

“You know this game wasn’t just another game,” Towns said. “If anyone told you otherwise, that’s a lie.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA