Cubs, White Sox Win, Cardinals Lose

Print

Published on April 3 2013 6:42 am
Last Updated on April 3 2013 6:42 am
Written by Millie Lange

Chicago Cubs 3, Pittsburgh 1

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Jeff Samardzija began the season as the Chicago Cubs ' No. 1 starter practically by default thanks to injuries to veterans Matt Garza and Scott Baker .

Don't expect the quickly improving Samardzija to give up the spot anytime soon.

The lanky right-hander allowed just two hits and struck out nine over eight nearly flawless innings as the Cubs held off the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 Monday for their first opening day victory in four years.

"He stuck to his game plan," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said. "That was probably as good of a game that he's pitched in his starting career."

Samardzija's only real issue came in the first, when a walk and an error put two runners on with nobody out. A fielder's choice and two strikeouts later Samardzija was out of the jam. At one point he retired 14 straight batters, almost all of them on strikeouts or routine groundballs.

"When they're making plays behind you it gives you the confidence to really kind of make stuff up out there, keep the ball down in the zone and you know they're going to make some plays for me like they did all day for me," Samardzija said.

And the Pirates were only too happy to oblige Samardzija as he worked both sides of the plate and kept the Pirates off-balance with a two-seam fastball clocked in the mid-90s and a changeup that didn't break 80.

Pittsburgh only managed two balls out of the infield while Samardzija was on the hill as he improved to 4-0 in his short career against the Pirates.


Arizona 6, St. Louis 2

PHOENIX (AP) — Ian Kennedy struck out eight in seven strong innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks used 15 hits to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2 in their season opener Monday night.

Kennedy (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits with one walk.

St. Louis' Adam Wainwright (0-1) went six innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on 11 hits. He struck out six with no walks.

Arizona's Gerardo Parra matched his career best with four hits, three of them doubles. Rookie A.J. Pollock was 3 for 4, including a two-run double, and Martin Prado doubled twice with an RBI and two runs scored for the Diamondbacks.

Matt Holliday had an RBI double and Daniel Descalso a run-scoring single for St. Louis.


Chicago White Sox 1, Kansas City 0

CHICAGO — Chris Sale outpitched James Shields, Tyler Flowers homered and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 1-0 in the season opener on Monday.

The White Sox believe they're in position to make a run at the AL Central title even though they made no splashy additions while the rest of the division loaded up. They're off to a good start after a late fade left them three games behind Detroit a year ago.

A dominant performance by Sale and Flowers' drive leading off the fifth against Shields were just enough to beat a team that's trying to make a big jump after finishing with a losing record 17 of the past 18 seasons. It also gave the White Sox a rare win over the Royals, who took 12 of 18 from them a year ago.


Rangers' Darvish Flirts With Perfect Game Against Astros

(Houston, TX) -- Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish was an out away from a perfect game in Texas' 7-0 win over the Astros in Houston last night. Darvish had retired 26 straight hitters before allowing a single up the middle to Marwin Gonzalez.  He struck out a career-high 14 batters in the outing and was pulled after allowing the hit.


Yankees' Cano Leaves Boras To Sign With Jay-Z

New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is getting a new agent. The four-time All-Star announced he is leaving Scott Boras to sign with Roc Nation, a company founded by rapper Jay-Z. Cano is the first sports client of Roc Nation Sports, which is working in tandem with Creative Artists Agency to form a representation division.


Tuesday, April 2 Scoreboard

MLB AL

Baltimore Orioles 7, Tampa Bay Rays 4

Cleveland Indians 4, Toronto Blue Jays 1

Texas Rangers 7, Houston Astros 0

Seattle Mariners 7, Oakland Athletics 1


MLB NL

Colorado Rockies 8, Milwaukee Brewers 4

St. Louis Cardinals 6, Arizona Diamondbacks 1

San Francisco Giants 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 0


MLB Interleague

No Games Scheduled


Wednesday, April 3 Schedule (All Times Central

MLB AL

1:10 p.m. - Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox

1:10 p.m. - Texas Rangers at Houston Astros

3:10 p.m. - Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins

6:00 p.m. - Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

6:07 p.m. - Cleveland Indians at Toronto Blue Jays

6:10 p.m. - Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays

9:05 p.m. - Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics


MLB NL

6:05 p.m. - Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals

6:05 p.m. - Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates

6:10 p.m. - Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves

6:10 p.m. - San Diego Padres at New York Mets

7:10 p.m. - Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers

8:40 p.m. - St. Louis Cardinals at Arizona Diamondbacks

9:00 p.m. - San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers


MLB Interleague

6:10 p.m. - Los Angeles Angels at Cincinnati Reds