Stanton homers vs Boston again, Yankees win 4-2

NEW YORK (AP) – Giancarlo Stanton became the first player to homer against Boston in six straight games, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run drive in the sixth inning that gave the New York Yankees a 4-2 win over the Red Sox on Saturday. Anthony Rizzo homered for the second straight day to start New York’s comeback from an early deficit, a tying two-run drive in the fourth. Luis Severino made his first start for the Yankees since the 2019 AL Championship Series as the Yankees improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2018. Stanton broke a 2-2 tie when he drove an 0-1 slider from Nick Pivetta (0-1). Stanton and Rizzo became the first players in Yankees history to homer together in both of a season’s first two games. Alex Verdugo hit a two-run homer off Severino, who was followed by six relievers. Lucas Luetge (1-0) pitched the sixth, and Aroldis Chapman worked around a throwing error by new shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa for his first save. METS 5, NATIONALS 0 WASHINGTON (AP) – Pete Alonso twirled his bat when his first career grand slam broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning, then put his index fingers to his mouth as if hushing the crowd after celebrating with teammates near the plate, propelling New York over Washington. Chris Bassitt (1-0) cruised through six innings in his Mets debut, and New York won its third straight to open Buck Showalter’s tenure as manager. The Mets have outscored Washington 17-4 and go for a series sweep Sunday. About 48 hours removed from getting his lower lip bloodied by a pitch – part of a string of Mets who have been plunked during the season’s first three games, leading to a benches-clearing interruption Friday – Alonso sent a 91 mph fastball from Joan Adon (0-1) over the fence in left on a 2-1 count. BLUE JAYS 4, RANGERS 3 TORONTO (AP) – Pinch-hitter Santiago Espinal doubled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, Bo Bichette hit a solo home run and Toronto beat Texas. George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each had two hits, and Bichette scored twice as the Blue Jays improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2016. Facing left-hander Brett Martin (0-1), Espinal hit for Cavan Biggio with a runner at first and two out. Speedy Raimel Tapia scored without a play at the plate on Espinal’s double to left-center. Blue Jays right-hander Trevor Richards (1-0) worked one inning for the win. Yimi García pitched the seventh, Tim Mayza worked the eighth, and Jordan Romano finished for his second save. MARLINS 2, GIANTS 1 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Jesús Sánchez hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning, and Miami held on to beat San Francisco despite a strong outing from starter Carlos Rodón in his Giants debut. The All-Star left-hander struck out 12 and allowed one run in five innings. His Ks are the most by a Giants pitcher through five innings since at least 1974. Miami starter Pablo López, winless in six starts against the Giants, retired 14 of the first 15 and allowed one run in five innings with six strikeouts and one walk. Sánchez’s hit came off Jake McGee (0-1). Steven Okert (1-0) struck out all four batters he faced to win. Anthony Bender earned his first save after allowing a leadoff single in the ninth. CUBS 9, BREWERS 0 CHICAGO (AP) – Seiya Suzuki drove in three runs for his first big league RBIs and Chicago beat Milwaukee for a testy win during which five batters were hit by pitches and the benches cleared. The teams exchanged words but no punches in the eighth after Andrew McCutchen was hit by a pitch from Cubs reliever Keegan Thompson, who was ejected for the first time in his career. As McCutchen slowly headed to first base while looking at Thompson, players from both bullpens ran onto the field.