Cubs Dominate Angels, MLB Scores

Thousands of Chicago Cubs fans filled the stands at Angel Stadium with raucous chants and cheers, the usual optimism of opening day compounded by unusual excitement for their talent-laden team.

Jake Arrieta and his lineup of heavy hitters gave those fans every reason to hope they had just watched the start of something special.

Arrieta yielded two hits over seven dominant innings, Miguel Montero homered and drove in three runs, and the Cubs began a season of high expectations with a 9-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.

"I think we set the tone pretty nicely for ourselves," Arrieta said.

Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler drove in early runs and Villanova product Matt Szczur added a three-run double in the ninth for the Cubs, who excelled in every area. Chicago couldn't wait to get going again after an exciting 97-win season ended with a dismal four-game loss to the Mets in the NL Championship Series last fall.

"We've prepared for this for a long time," said Arrieta, who has a 29-inning scoreless streak stretching to last season. "The last game we played was in the NLCS. We were ready for this moment. Guys came into camp ready, with a game plan. Everybody executed appropriately."

Chicago's anguished fans believe this team really might end the franchise's 108-year championship drought this season, and they packed the seats in Orange County to herald an auspicious start to the quest.

White Sox 4, Athletics 4

Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox might have lost this kind of game last season. There were many close ones they couldn't quite pull out.

"It's refreshing, isn't it?" quipped Adam Eaton, a fresh mark on his right elbow from being hit by the first pitch on opening night. "I'm just ecstatic for us to get a win. The year we had last year starting off, it's good to get a `W' right off the bat."

Sale struck out eight in a solid season debut to build off his franchise record last year, and the White Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Monday.

Eaton hit an RBI triple and Jimmy Rollins drove in a run during a four-run third inning in his first game with the White Sox playing back home in the East Bay.

What had been planned as a marquee matchup between two American League aces never happened. Oakland right-hander Sonny Gray was scratched because of food poisoning that sent him to the emergency room.

Sale didn't get his opening day start last season, when Jeff Samardzija took the ball after Sale was slowed by a broken right foot. The left-hander went on to finish 13-11 with a team-record 274 strikeouts.

Monday, April 4 Scoreboard

Houston at New York, Postponed            

San Francisco 12, Milwaukee 3
    
Baltimore 3, Minnesota 2

Texas 3, Seattle 2

Boston at Cleveland, Postponed
        
Washington 4, Atlanta 3 (F/10)
    
Cincinnati 6, Philadelphia 2

Los Angeles Dodgers 15, San Diego 0

Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 3

Colorado 10, Arizona 5

Chicago Cubs 9, Los Angeles Angels 0
    
Chicago White Sox 4, Oakland 3    

Tuesday, April 5 Schedule (All Times Central)

Houston at New York, 11:00 a.m.

Boston at Cleveland, 11:10 a.m.

New York at Kansas City, 2:15 p.m.

St. Louis at Pittsburgh, 5:05 p.m.

Detroit at Miami, 5:10 p.m.

Toronto at Tampa Bay, 5:10 p.m.

Seattle at Texas, 6:05 p.m.

San Francisco at Milwaukee, 6:10 p.m.

Colorado at Arizona, 7:40 p.m.

Chicago at Los Angeles, 8:05 p.m.

Chicago at Oakland, 8:05 p.m.

Los Angeles at San Diego, 8:10 p.m.