Marlins at last return home with victory

After 23 days on the road that included a week quarantined in a Philadelphia hotel, the Miami Marlins returned home for a very different Opening Day on Friday night.

Jesus Aguilar drove in three runs, Jon Berti stole home and the NL East-leading Marlins won their long-awaited, coronavirus-delayed home opener, beating the Atlanta Braves 8-2.

The start of the Marlins' season was interrupted only three games in when 18 players and two coaches tested positive for the virus. The Marlins resumed play at Baltimore on Aug. 4 and later traveled to New York to face the Mets and then to Buffalo to play Toronto.

The Marlins improved to 9-4.

"Usually an Opening Day is the building full, a lot of excitement, flyovers," Miami manager Don Mattingly said. "It's just not the same."

Magneuris Sierra's bunt scored Eddy Alvarez from third in the fourth to give Miami a 3-2 lead. Berti added another run in the inning, stealing home on the front end of a double steal — the Marlins stole five bases in all.

Milwaukee 4, Chicago 3: Christian Yelich hit a three-run homer and the Brewers beat the host Cubs, who have the best record in the major leagues. Yelich hit his fifth homer of the season off Alec Mills, erasing Chicago's 3-1 lead in the sixth inning. Mills, who last pitched Aug. 3, had been slated to start Saturday but was bumped up when scheduled starter Tyler Chatwood (back tightness) was scratched.

Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 1: Jesse Winker had his first career two-homer game and Sonny Gray continued his torrid strikeout pace as the host Reds broke open a close contest with five runs in the last two innings vs. the Pirates.

New York 10, Boston 3: Gerrit Cole posted his 20th consecutive regular-season victory, becoming the sixth pitcher to ever reach the mark by throwing seven sharp innings as the host Yankees thumped the Red Sox. Cole's only loss since May 2019 was in the World Series opener last year for Houston.

Cleveland 10, Detroit 5: Franmil Reyes homered and drove in three, and the Indians beat the host Tigers for a club-record 18th consecutive time. Cleveland's previous longest winning streak against one opponent was a 17-game run against Baltimore in 1954.

Toronto 12, Tampa Bay 4: Teoscar Hernandez hit two of his team's six home runs, Bo Bichette connected for the fourth game in a row and the Blue Jays kept knocking balls out of their new Buffalo park, beating the Rays.

Houston 11, Seattle 1: Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer in a nine-run first inning and the host Astros continued their dominance vs. the Mariners.

Strasburg left after throwing only 16 pitches in his second outing of the season. His first start came Sunday in a game that was suspended at Nationals Park and completed Friday at Camden Yards with Baltimore winning 6-2.

Texas 3, Colorado 2: Lance Lynn gave up two first-inning singles and went on to his first complete game in six years and the Rangers beat the host Rockies. Lynn lowered his ERA to 1.11.

Arizona 5, San Diego 1: Merrill Kelly struck out seven in 6⅔ shutout innings and the host Diamondbacks pulled away from the Padres.

L.A. Dodgers 7, L.A. Angels 4: Cody Bellinger hit a pair of two-run homers and the Dodgers beat the Angels in Anaheim, Calif.