Baseball

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lars Nootbaar homered and Sonny Gray pitched five solid innings to help the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Twins in their rain-delayed opener Thursday.

MIAMI (AP) — Hyped as the most appealing starting pitchers’ matchup of opening day, Paul Skenes outlasted Sandy Alcántara but neither was involved in the decision of the Miami Marlins’ 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

HOUSTON (AP) — Cam Smith brought three dozen Shipley's glazed donuts to his Houston Astros teammates Thursday morning before his major league debut.

MIAMI (AP) — Kyle Stowers hit a run-scoring single in the ninth inning and the Miami Marlins spoiled the first opening day start for Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes with a 5-4 victory over the Pirates on Thursday.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Terry Francona's first opening day as manager of the Cincinnati Reds started in a dentist's chair. About 12 hours later, Francona was experiencing baseball's equivalent of a root canal.

NEW YORK (AP) — Devin Williams saved his first game with the New York Yankees by a whisker. Acquired from Milwaukee in December, the bearded All-Star closer drew his first boos from Yankees fans just 18 pitches into his career in pinstripes.

HOUSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez pitched seven scoreless innings and Josh Hader struck out Juan Soto with two on to save the Houston Astros' 3-1 win over the New York Mets on Thursday.

HOUSTON (AP) — With a chance to make a late splash in his New York Mets debut, Juan Soto came up empty.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The jeers greeted the announcement of Bryce Harper's name during pregame introductions at Nationals Park on Thursday. And when he stepped to the plate in the top of the first inning. Again in the fourth.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kyle Manzardo made this opening day special. Manzardo had a triple, a two-run home run and a two-run double, leading the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-4 win over the Kansas City Royals in 10 innings Thursday.