Bobby Witt Jr. fell short of a cycle by one double, while Kyle Isbel and Maikel Garcia hit consecutive home runs as the Kansas City Royals secured an 11-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, avoiding a second consecutive season-opening sweep.
Salvador Perez’s three-run homer contributed to his four RBIs, and Nelson Velázquez added another home run for the Royals, providing ample run support for pitcher Brady Singer (1-0), who rebounded from a challenging 2023 season with a seven-inning, three-hit, 10-strikeout performance.
The Royals matched a franchise record by hitting homers from five different players, last achieved on July 27, 2020, and enjoyed their largest victory margin since defeating Pittsburgh 11-0 on Sept. 13, 2020.
Twins starter Bailey Ober (0-1) lasted just four batters, conceding eight runs on nine hits and a walk. Royals manager Matt Quatraro appreciated the early lead, reminiscent of their previous two games.
“Ober had a great spring,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said, emphasizing Ober’s significance to the rotation, especially after the loss of Anthony DeSclafani to season-ending surgery.
Despite strong performances by pitchers Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan in the prior games, the Twins couldn’t contain the Royals’ offense, which rebounded after scoring only two runs in the first two games.
Perez’s three-run homer in the first inning set the tone, followed by a six-run second inning featuring back-to-back homers from Isbel and Garcia. Witt’s triple in the first inning and subsequent home run in the third further propelled the Royals.
Witt’s pursuit of a cycle ended in the seventh inning, as he struck out against Daniel Duarte. The Royals’ dominance secured a comfortable lead, with Adam Frazier’s two-run double extending it to 9-0.
Minnesota will have a day off before facing Milwaukee, while the Royals will debut Michael Wacha on Monday night against Baltimore.
Max Muncy’s pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth inning propelled the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-4 comeback victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.
Teoscar Hernández contributed two hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as the Dodgers clinched three wins out of four in the series.
St. Louis rookie Victor Scott II reached base three times and scored twice, while Paul Goldschmidt and Brendan Donovan each notched two RBIs.
Trailing 4-2 in the eighth inning, the Dodgers staged a rally. Hernández narrowed the deficit with his third homer of the season, a solo shot to left-center off Andre Pallante. Chris Taylor’s walk set the stage for Muncy’s decisive blow, a two-run blast to right-center off John King, who was called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier that day.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commended the team’s resilience, emphasizing the impact of players coming off the bench to influence the game.
Nabil Crismatt earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, while Daniel Hudson secured his first save with a perfect ninth inning.
Scott, registering his first major league hit with an infield single in the third inning, showcased his potential by scoring twice for the Cardinals.
Steven Matz delivered a solid performance for St. Louis, allowing two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings before the Dodgers’ late surge.
In the next matchups, the Cardinals will face the San Diego Padres, with Kyle Gibson making his season debut, while the Dodgers will rely on James Paxton in their series opener against the San Francisco Giants.
Other final scores from Sunday, March 31, 2024:
Angels 4, Orioles 1
Phillies 5, Braves 4
Pirates 9, Marlins 7
Blue Jays 9, Rays 2
Reds 6, Nationals 5
Brewers 4, Mets 1
Tigers 3, White Sox 2
Yankees 4, Astros 3
Cubs 9, Rangers 5
Athletics 4, Guardians 3
Red Sox 5, Mariners 1
Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 1
Padres 13, Giants 4
