UNDATED (AP) — The New York Mets received a gift in their home opener.
Michael Conforto was credited with a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded by plate umpire Ron Kulpa, bringing home the winning run in the Mets’ 3-2 decision over the Marlins. The pitch was in the strike zone, and Conforto made no attempt to avoid the pitch. Certain camera angles made it unclear he was hit by the pitch.
Kulpa admitted to a pool reporter after the game that he should have called Conforto out.
The Mets filled the bases after Jeff McNeil led off the bottom of the ninth with a homer.
Taijaun Walker looked good in his Mets debut, throwing shutout ball before Miami nicked up for two runs in the sixth.
Also on major league diamonds:
— Carlos Correa, Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve homered as the Astros beat the Athletics, 6-2 and continued their strong start. Houston is 6-1 this season, tied for the best seven-game start in franchise history after winning its home opener. Cristian Javier scattered three hits with seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings for the win.
— The Angels pulled out a 7-5 win over the Blue Jays on David Fletcher’s two-run single in the 11th inning. Los Angeles star Mike Trout went 3 for 5 with a first-inning double and a homer. With the game relocated to Dunedin, Florida, Toronto became the first team in Major League Baseball history to play home openers in three different cities over three consecutive seasons.
— Nolan Arenado hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning of his home debut with the Cardinals to lead a 3-1 win over the Brewers. Adam Wainwright allowed a run over five innings while starting his sixth home opener, tying the franchise record set by the late Bob Gibson. Alex Reyes finished the six-hitter for his third save, allowing a leadoff single to Omar Narváez (nahr-VY’-ehz) in the ninth and stranding him at third.
— Jayy Baez hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the sixth inning to send the Cubs past the Pirates, 4-2. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo also homered as the Cubs pounded out a season-high 11 hits against Tyler Anderson and four relievers. Baez, Rizzo, Bryant and Jake Marisnick had two hits each for Chicago, which raised its major-league worst team batting average from .143 to .157.
— White Sox hurler Lance Lynn pitched a five-hitter for the first complete game and shutout in the major leagues this season, a 6-0 whipping of the Royals. Lynn struck out 11 and walked none in his second shutout in 238 career starts, his first since a five-hitter against the New York Yankees on May 27, 2014. Yermín Mercedes kept up his scorching start with a 485-foot homer and Yoán Moncada went deep as well.
— Eduardo Rodríguez won in his return from heart inflammation that caused him to miss the 2020 season, allowing three runs over five innings to lead the Red Sox over the Orioles, 7-3 in Baltimore. Rodríguez gave up four hits, including a two-run homer by Ryan Mountcastle and a solo shot by Pedro Severino. Rafael Devers and Kiké Hernández homered for the Red Sox, who have won four consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 14-18, 2019.
— Homers by Mitch Garver, Byron Buxton and Luis Arraez backed another strong start by José Berríos as the Twins ripped the Mariners, 10-2. Garver had the three-run shot that got the Twins going in their home opener. Berrios was reached for two runs over 5 2/3 innings, one start after no-hitting the Brewers over six innings.
— Jon Gray took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and got his first win of the season in pitching the Rockies over the Diamondbacks, 7-3. Gray allowed three runners through six innings, helped in the sixth when third baseman Ryan McMahon made a barehanded grab of Tim Locastro’s grounder. Trevor Story hit a run-scoring double and an RBI triple before Dom Nunez hit a three-run homer.
