MICHAEL Busch christened Sutter Health Park as a major league stadium with a first-inning home run, Carson Kelly hit for the cycle, and the Chicago Cubs spoiled the Athletics’ debut at their new home in West Sacramento, California with an 18-3 shellacking on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Kelly drove in five runs, Busch four, and Dansby Swanson and Kyle Tucker (both of whom also homered) three apiece for the Cubs. Chicago banged out 21 hits, including 11 for extra-bases. Kelly became just the 17th catcher in major league history to hit for the cycle – and the first since J.T. Realmuto in June of 2023.
Making his first start of the season, Ben Brown (1-1) benefitted from the big-time offensive support to get the win, limiting the A’s to three runs and six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five. Nico Hoerner (3-for-4), Suzuki (2-for-5) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (2-for-5) also collected multiple hits for the Cubs.
Jacob Wilson, playing one day after his 23rd birthday, belted his first major league home run for the A’s, a solo shot in the third. Brent Rooker and Miguel Andujar each had a pair of singles for the A’s, who collected 10 hits. Starter Joey Estes (0-1) was charged with six runs on nine hits and four walks with two strikeouts in four-plus innings.
In other games, it was the Reds 14, Rangers 3; White Sox 9, Twins 0; Padres 7, Guardians 2; Dodgers 6, Braves 1; Royals 11, Brewers 1; Orioles 8, Red Sox 5; Phillies 6, Rockies 1; Tigers 9, Mariners 6; Mets 10, Marlins 4; Rays 6, Pirates 1; Giants 7, Astros 2; Angels 5, Cardinals 4 (10 innings); and Blue Jays 5, Nationals 2.
Reds 14, Rangers 3
Elly De La Cruz hit two tape-measure home runs, doubled, singled and drove in a career-high seven runs to lead Cincinnati Reds to a rout of visiting Texas.
De La Cruz matched Javier Valentin on July 17, 2005 for the most runs driven in by a switch-hitter in a single game in club history. Matt McLain added his third homer of the season and drove in three runs for the Reds, who scored three runs in each of the first two innings to coast to the win.
Making his Cincinnati debut, right-hander Brady Singer (1-0) fired seven shutout innings of one-hit ball. He walked two and struck out eight. Texas starter Kumar Rocker (0-1) was charged with six runs and seven hits over three innings, striking out three, walking two and giving up two home runs.
White Sox 9, Twins 0
Martin Perez threw six no-hit innings, and Andrew Vaughn, Andrew Benintendi, and Michael A. Taylor each homered to lead Chicago to a victory over visiting Minnesota.
Perez (1-0) retired the first 11 batters he faced before walking Ryan Jeffers with two outs in the fourth. He gave way to rookie right-hander Mike Vasil in the top of the seventh after striking out nine, walking three, and hitting a batter. Perez threw 93 pitches, 54 for strikes.
