The New York Yankees have not yet found their consistency in the game, but they were able to return to the path of victory that allowed them to break the streak of four straight losses at the end of Sunday’s day in the American League.
Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez hit from four corners with a runner on the way and the Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3.
Rodriguez (1) homered on the first pitch he saw from starter Hisashi Iwakuma and snapped a drought of his previous 19 at-bats without making contact with the ball, coming within two of matching his career high.
For Rodrígez it was his 689th career home run, which places him fourth on the all-time list in the home run section.
In a Japanese streamer matchup, the first between former teammates and compatriots, Masahiro Tanaka bested Iwakuma in a match that was widely watched in Japan, where it was broadcast live.
Tanaka and Iwakuma were teammates when they pitched for the Japanese team Rakuten from 2007 to 2011.
The victory went to Tanaka (1-0) in seven innings, allowing six hits, three runs and retired six enemies by way of strikeout.
The loser, Iwakuma (0-2), pitched seven innings, taking eight hits, one home run and four runs.
Starter Matt Moore pitched just over six innings and struck out 10 as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2.
Moore (1-0) earned his first win of the season, pitching 6 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs and striking out 10 opposing batters.
Outfielder Brandon Guyer was perfect with the bat, going 4-for-4 and tying his career high with his four hits, driving in a run and stepping on the register twice.
Aarón Sánchez pitched a solid seven innings and outfielder José Bautista hit a four-corner shot in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox.
Sánchez (1-0) pitched seven innings, allowing two hits, one run, walking four and striking out seven to win.
In the attack, the battery was led by Bautista (3), who sent the ball into the street.
Bautista made contact with the ball twice of the five trips he made to the batter’s box, in one of them he hit the fence, drove in two runs and stepped on the register once.
With his two RBIs, Bautista has 10 so far this season and put his batting average at .310.
His compatriot designated hitter Edwin Encarnación added two singles and an RBI, leaving his batting average at .314 and the Blue Jays, who stopped a two-game losing streak, were 1-4 against the Red Sox.
The loss was carried by starter Steven Wright (0-2) in six innings, he allowed six hits, a home run and two runs.
Venezuelan second baseman José Altuve led the attack with a four-corner hit and drove in three runs for the Houston Astros, who beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4.
With their victory, the Astros won their first series so far this season.
Altuve (4) hit twice in four trips to the batter’s box, including a home run and left his batting average at .314.
The Venezuelan drove in three runs to reach eight so far this season, and stepped on the buzzer once.
On the mound, the victory was credited to starter Mike Fiers (1-1) in 5 2/3 innings, despite allowing seven hits, three home runs and four runs.
The defeat went to Venezuelan starter Aníbal Sánchez (2-1) in five innings, he allowed eight hits, two home runs and five runs.
Venezuelan outfielder Oswaldo Arcia hit a go-ahead RBI single in the twelfth inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2.
Arcia hit wide in left field and drove outfielder Byron Buxton to the register, and the Twins completed a “sweep” in the three-game drive against the Angels.
On Saturday, Arcia also defined the victory with a four-corner shot in the eighth inning, and this time he hit three times in five trips to the batter’s box, driving in the winning run.
After hitting 20 home runs in 2014, he went to the minors almost all of last season, but this time he returns with a productive bat and leaves his batting average at .294.
The victory was scored by closer Michael Tonkin (1-0) in two innings, striking out four.
Outfielder Josh Reddick hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to set up the Oakland Athletics’ 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Reddick had two trips to the batter’s box, missed the bat and drove in the go-ahead run for the A’s, who posted their second straight victory.
Starter Steven Matz struck out nine, his best career mark, and the New York Mets beat the Cleveland Indians 6-0 in Interleague play.
The Mets managed 20 runs in their first eight games of the season, but managed 17 in the series against the Indians and won it with a 2-1 record.EFE
Yankees meet again with victory and A-Rod hit a home run
