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MLB Wrap: Hicks homers as Yankees blank Blue Jays 4-0

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Hicks hit a two-run homer and made jumping catch in his first left-field start in four years, leading the New York Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 on Tuesday night.

New York scored first for the first time in five games this season when Hicks drove a 2-0 slider from Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) into the right-center field seats in the second inning.

Nestor Cortes and four relievers combined on a five-hitter, quieting a Blue Jays offense that produced 23 runs and 38 hits in the first four games. Clay Holmes (1-0) got the win.

Kikuchi, making his Blue Jays debut after signing a $36 million, three-year deal contract, gave up three runs — two earned – and five hits in 3 1/3 innings.

INDIANS 10, REDS 5

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jose Ramirez hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, remarkable rookie Steven Kwan reached base three more times, and Cleveland spoiled Cincinnati’s home opener.

Andres Gimenez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth inning off Hunter Strickland (0-1). Ramirez, who tripled and singled earlier, capped a six-run burst with his third career slam, connecting against Daniel Duarte for a 10-4 lead.

Kwan has now reached base at least three times in all five games of his major league career. The 24-year-old outfielder kept up his super start with a single, two walks and a sacrifice fly.

Trevor Stephan (1-0) pitched one scoreless inning for the win.

CUBS 2, PIRATES 1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Seiya Suzuki homered twice, Drew Smyly pitched five scoreless innings and the Cubs spoiled the Pirates’ home opener.

Suzuki connected for leadoff shots in the fifth and seventh. One of the top players in Japan, Suzuki signed an $85 million, five-year contract with the Cubs last month.

Smyly (1-0) permitted three hits and walked none in his Cubs debut. The left-hander agreed to a one-year contract last month.

The Pirates got their only run on Bryan Reynolds’ homer against Mychal Givens in the eighth.

David Robertson worked a perfect ninth for his second save.

Jose Quintana (0-1) made his first appearance for Pittsburgh, pitching five effective innings against one of his former teams.

METS 2, PHILLIES 0

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tylor Megill delivered his second straight scoreless start for the Mets, and Brandon Nimmo homered.

Francisco Lindor had an RBI single for the Mets, who recovered from blowing a four-run lead in the eighth inning against Philadelphia on Monday night to snap a two-game skid.

Megill (2-0), who got a spot in the rotation only when two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was sidelined by a shoulder problem in spring training, again looked like an ace for 5 1/3 innings.

After throwing five shutout innings to win on opening day at Washington, Megill outpitched Zack Wheeler (0-1).

Edwin Diaz struck out three in the ninth for his first save in the combined five-hitter.

WHITE SOX 3, MARINERS 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Luis Robert hit his first homer of the season, a tiebreaking drive in the sixth inning that led the White Sox to their third consecutive victory.

Robert connected against Matt Brash (0-1), a 23-year-old right-hander making his major league debut.

Seattle lost its third straight game after starting with two wins. The Mariners have scored 10 runs: only Baltimore (six) and Milwaukee (nine) began the night with fewer.

Seattle was 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, getting an RBI single from Jesse Winker with two outs in the ninth off Liam Hendriks, who struck out Mitch Haniger for his first save. The Mariners are hitting .156 (7 for 45) with runners in scoring position this season.

Reynaldo Lopez (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win in Chicago’s home opener.

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