PHOENIX (AP) — Carson Kelly drilled a single into the left field corner

Andrew Benintendi Jersey , scoring Nick Ahmed with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks over the struggling Boston Red Sox 5-4 Saturday night.Boston has dropped three straight and fell to 2-8 overall, a lousy start to their World Series championship defense.Colten Brewer (0-1) allowed consecutive singles to Eduardo Escobar, Ahmed and Kelly in the ninth. Right fielder Mookie Betts threw out Escobar at home on Ahmed’s hit, but Kelly’s rip to left allowed Ahmed to score easily.Kelly had two hits and three RBIs. The walkoff knock was the first of his career.Greg Holland (1-0) pitched a scoreless top of the ninth.PADRES 6, CARDINALS 4ST. LOUIS (AP) — Austin Hedges and Manny Machado each hit a two-run homer off Andrew Miller in the eighth inning, helping San Diego beat St. Louis for its third consecutive win.Fernando Tatis Jr. opened the eighth with a walk and Hedges followed with a go-ahead drive over the wall on in left. With two out and Ian Kinsler on first via another walk, Machado made it 6-3 with his second homer of the season.It was the first time that Miller (0-1) allowed multiple homers in a game since Sept. 22, 2015 for the New York Yankees at Toronto.Matt Wisler (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win in his first outing with the Padres. Kirby Yates worked the ninth for his fifth save in five chances.ANGELS 5, RANGERS 1ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout hit a grand slam for his fourth homer in three days, and Los Angeles beat Texas for its first back-to-back victories of the season.Trout’s 458-foot blast in the fourth inning off Drew Smyly (0-1) cleared the bullpens beyond the left field fence at Angel Stadium. After homering in the Halos’ home opener Thursday and adding two more Friday, Trout delivered the biggest blow yet with his fifth career grand slam, his first since 2015.Albert Pujols added his 634th career homer in the seventh for Los Angeles. Pujols’ first homer of his 19th big league season was his 3,089th career hit, tying Ichiro Suzuki for 22nd place in major league history.Tyler Skaggs (1-1) pitched 6 1/3 innings of five-hit ball in a strong outing for the Angels. The left-hander won his third consecutive start against Texas, giving up just two earned runs in 17 1/3 innings.CUBS 14, BREWERS 8MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jason Heyward went deep twice for his first multihomer game with Chicago, Cole Hamels grinded through six solid innings and the Cubs ended a six-game skid.Heyward hit the first of three Chicago homers against starter Corbin Burnes (0-1), with Javier Baez and Victor Caratini also going yard. Heyward added his second shot off Alex Wilson during a seven-run eighth inning. His last multihomer game was on Aug. 16, 2015 for St. Louis against Miami, a season before he signed a $184 million, eight-year contract with Chicago.Hamels (1-0) labored early, throwing 51 pitches over the first two innings, but he mostly cruised through the next four innings, retiring 12 of his final 14 batters. He limited the damage early Luis Tiant Jersey , stranding two by striking out Christian Yelich to end the second. He also got Lorenzo Cain to chase a changeup that would have been ball four with two on and two out in the fourth.Chicago improved to 2-6 with its first win since opening day.DODGERS 7, ROCKIES 2DENVER (AP) — Alex Verdugo homered and added an RBI triple as Los Angeles kept up its early power surge in a win over Colorado.The Dodgers have gone deep in all nine games this season, piling up 22 home runs. Los Angeles had four through nine games last year when the team set a franchise record with 235.Walker Buehler (1-0) allowed one run over five solid innings as he bounced back from a rough opening outing. He was on a pitch count after a limited spring training.Kenley Jansen got four outs to earn his fourth save. It was his first appearance in the Mile High City since the All-Star reliever had surgery in the offseason to address an irregular heartbeat that surfaced again while in Denver for a series last August. He didn’t travel with the team back to Colorado in September as a precaution.It was another rough outing for Jon Gray (0-2), who allowed five runs in six innings. Gray has served up a homer in 14 straight appearances, a Rockies record.METS 6, NATIONALS 5NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Pete Alonso and Robinson Cano opened the eighth with consecutive homers, helping the Mets rally for the win.Keon Broxton put New York ahead to stay with a two-out RBI single off Tony Sipp (0-1). Unlikely cleanup man J.D. Davis went deep twice and Michael Conforto also connected as the Mets improved to 6-2.Anthony Rendon hit a leadoff homer and Wilmer Difo added a two-run shot in the top of the eighth, putting Washington ahead 5-3. Both drives came off Jeurys Familia (2-0) — never before had he given up two home runs in a game.Edwin Diaz worked the ninth for his fourth save.ASTROS 6, ATHLETICS 0HOUSTON (AP) — Michael Brantley broke out of a slump with two hits, including a two-run homer, and George Springer added a two-run shot of his own to power Houston over Oakland.Wade Miley (1-1) allowed four hits in 5 2/3 innings to win his home debut for Houston after losing his first start this season at Tampa Bay. Will Harris got the last out of the sixth and Josh James, Chris Devenski and Framber Valdez pitched one inning apiece to complete the six-hitter.The Astros were up 1-0 with nobody out in the fifth when Springer launched a 90 mph fastball from Aaron Brooks (1-1) into the left field seats.YANKEES 6, ORIOLES 4BALTIMORE (AP) — Aaron Judge homered twice, Clint Frazier hit a three-run shot in the eighth inning and New York beat Baltimore for its first series win of the season.Judge hit a solo drive in the first inning and connected with a runner on in the third, his first two homers of the year. The 6-foot-7 slugger had 52 in 2017 and 27 last season.With Baltimore leading 4-3, Miguel Castro (0-1) issued a two-out walk and a single before Frazier put a 2-2 pitch into the left field seats.Adam Ottavino (1-0) got the win despite allowing two inherited runners to score in the seventh. Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his second save.INDIANS 7, BLUE JAYS 2CLEVELAND (AP) — Carlos Carrasco became the first Cleveland pitcher since at least 1908 to strike out 12 over five innings.Carrasco (1-1) was overpowering a week after struggling in his first start of the season. The right-hander completed his 23rd double-figure strikeout game, holding the Blue Jays scoreless until the fifth.Freddy Galvis hit a one-out homer and Randal Grichuk had an RBI double with two away. With the tying run at the plate, Carrasco struck out Rowdy Tellez on his 90th and final pitch.Thomas Pannone (0-2) allowed four runs in 2 2/3 innings, though he also struck out six.TWINS 6, PHILLIES 2PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Max Kepler and Willians Astudillo hit consecutive homers, Eddie Rosario hit a three-run shot and Minnesota beat Philadelphia.Making his second start since Tommy John surgery in 2017, Michael Pineda (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits, striking out five in five-plus innings for Minnesota.Rhys Hoskins went deep for the Phillies, and Bryce Harper had two hits. Both teams are off to 5-2 starts.Jake Arrieta (1-1) gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings.MARINERS 9 http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-dustin-pedroia-jersey , WHITE SOX 2CHICAGO (AP) — Jay Bruce hit two solo homers and Tim Beckham connected for a three-run shot, powering Seattle to the victory.Beckham had four hits for the Mariners, who are off to the best start in club history at 8-2. Seattle has homered in each of its first 10 games, also a franchise first, and leads the majors with 24 long balls.Mike Leake (2-0) pitched 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball as the Mariners rebounded from a sloppy 10-8 loss in Chicago’s home opener.Tim Anderson and Jose Abreu homered for the White Sox. Touted prospect Eloy Jimenez had his first three-hit game.Chicago right-hander Lucas Giolito (1-1) allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings.TIGERS 7, ROYALS 4DETROIT (AP) — Christin Stewart hit a two-out grand slam in the seventh inning, lifting Detroit to the win.The Tigers trailed 4-2 in the seventh but rallied against Kansas City’s struggling bullpen. Kevin McCarthy (0-1) allowed three hits and a hit batter.Whit Merrifield, Jorge Soler and Hunter Dozier homered for the Royals.Shane Greene pitched a perfect ninth and now has saves in all six Detroit victories this season — without blowing any. The Tigers have won four straight, and the Royals have dropped five in a row.Victor Alcantara (2-0) got three outs for the win.PIRATES 6, REDS 5, 10 INNINGSPITTSBURGH (AP) — Kevin Newman hit a game-ending double in the 10th inning, lifting Pittsburgh to its third straight win and giving Cincinnati its seventh straight loss.With one out in the 10th, Francisco Cervelli singled off Raisel Iglesias (0-2). Newman drove the first pitch he saw to the 410-foot left-center notch at PNC Park, and Cervelli easily beat the relay home. It was the first game-ending hit of Newman’s career.Pittsburgh’s Francisco Liriano (1-0) struck out two in the top half of the inning.Cincinnati star Joey Votto tied it in the eighth with his first home run of the year, a solo shot off Keone Kela. It was Kela’s second blown save in five appearances.GIANTS 6, RAYS 4SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brandon Belt homered and drove in three before an unusually small home crowd, and San Francisco beat Tampa Bay.Steven Duggar had three RBIs and Joe Panik scored twice to help San Francisco snap a three-game losing streak behind a breakout day from its offense. Belt had an RBI single in the third and hit a two-run, opposite-field home run off Ryan Yarbrough (1-1) as part of a four-run fifth.The game drew 31,828, the smallest at Oracle Park since Sept. 1, 2010. The Giants set an NL record with 530 consecutive sellouts at their waterfront ballpark from 2010-17.Travis Bergen (1-0) retired one batter in relief of starter Jeff Samardzija to earn his first career victory. Will Smith pitched the ninth for his third save.MARLINS 4, BRAVES 2ATLANTA (AP) — Jorge Alfaro homered twice, including a tiebreaking, two-run shot in the ninth inning, and Miami stopped Atlanta’s four-game winning streak.Alfaro Tony Conigliaro Jersey , a right-handed hitter, homered to the opposite field on both swings. His first long ball came off Braves starter Kyle Wright and the second one off reliever A.J. Minter (0-1).Sergio Romo (1-0) faced the minimum in the eighth, getting knocked down on Josh Donaldson’s pinch-hit liner but scrambling to throw him out, and retired Ozzie Albies on a fly ball in the ninth.Adam Conley got two outs to earn his first save. Rodriguez’s rocket fastball makes him an intriguing option for the Indians, even if he lacks a deep repertoire"Among a handful of options, none of which were or should have been Dallas Keuchel, the Cleveland Indians decided upon 25-year-old fireballer Jefry Rodriguez as Saturday’s replacement for the fallen Mike Clevinger.The righty was not the headliner of the trade that sent Yan Gomes to the Washington Nationals. That honor went to toolsy-but-raw outfielder Daniel Johnson.Rodriguez was seen as a potentially impactful piece for the Indians bullpen, and a fringe contender in spring training. He was ultimately optioned down early on in spring. Due to Clevinger’s injury, the youngster has been re-summoned perhaps much earlier than thought.Zack Meisel of The Athletic noted that Rodriguez is not the long-term plan for the rotation, as the team will reassess its options. With an off-day upcoming on April 18, the team will not need a fifth starter the next time through the rotation.For now, Rodriguez is decently stretched out, going 5.2 innings in his lone start at Triple-A Columbus on April 6. In that start, he scattered seven hits to the tune of three earned, but most importantly did not walk anyone.That inability to command his pitches is one of the two major weaknesses for the sophomore. In his 52 major league innings for the Nationals last season, Rodriguez walked 37 (15.9% walk rate). His career walk-rate in the minors was a more palatable 10.4 percent, but he again walked six in 6.2 innings in spring.Despite impressive fastball velocity at 95.3 mph (83rd percentile in 2018), Rodriguez’s 8.1 percent swinging strike-rate and 20.6% whiff-rate are each below average. That is more due to the fact that he is essentially a two-pitch pitcher.The lack of a deep repertoire served as the reason for a potential stint in the Indians bullpen, where he ended with the Nationals.Rodriguez does throw a four-seam fastball and a sinker, as well as a curve and a changeup. (Yes, four pitches.)Despite technically being different pitches, the pair of fastballs do not differ much. Each sits around 95 mph, and the sinker’s downward movement (19 inches on average) is closer to the sink on a league-average four-seamer (16 inches) than a league-average sinker (26 inches).Jefry Rodriguez’s pitching arsenal and movement profile: Four-seam fastball (red), sinker (orange), changeup (green) and curveball (blue).Baseball SavantThat sinker was rocked to the tune of a .566 slugging percentage http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-dustin-pedroia-jersey , a lucky mark given its .649 expected slugging percentage on 194 offerings. The average exit velocity on the pitch was 89.1 mph.Meanwhile, the change does not qualify as much, sitting at 89.7 mph, and justifiably used on 13% of his offerings.The good news is that four-seamer, and thus the intrigue. Rodriguez’s heater spun at 2367 rpm in 2018 (72nd percentile) — five rpm higher than that of Jacob deGrom — to go with the high-end velocity. That, maybe combined with some effective wildness and a lacking scouting report, largely kept hitters off of the righty in his rookie season. Even at a near-league average hard-hit rate of 33.8% , Rodriguez surrendered just a 85.6 mph average exit velocity (90th percentile).The give-and-take of Rodriguez and his fastball continued in the small major league sample, as he limited hitters to a .389 wOBA and .341 xwOBA, but also had a 25% walk rate on the pitch. Obviously, having an inaccurate pitch that is your most used when behind in the count is not ideal.All in all, Rodriguez, and the interest therein, are the Indians’ best option come Saturday. Adam Plutko is hurt, and Cody Anderson still needs more time to get settled before being thrust into a major league lineup. Chih-Wei Hu would have also been a sensible selection, but started Tuesday in Columbus.Because of the time in between Rodriguez’s start Saturday and the next need for a fifth starter, the team can wait and see on their options when that time comes. Anderson may be closer to another foray in the bigs. Hu could be the next to get his opportunity.There remains a possibility that the team still would sign one of the many unemployed former-aces, just not Keuchel, who is still seeking deal well into the millions. But hey, James Shields, Yovani Gallardo, and yes, Bartolo Colon remain available and have not formally announced retirement.