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CINCINNATI — Andrew McCutchen gave the Pirates a chance to pull it out. They couldn’t overcome one poorly placed fastball.
Todd Frazier hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, overcoming another stumble by the bullpen and rallying the Cincinnati Reds to an opening 5-2 victory over Pittsburgh on Monday.
Billy Hamilton and Joey Votto singled before Frazier connected on a down-the-middle fastball from Tony Watson (0-1), snapping a 2-2 tie.
“Right down the middle,” Watson said. “Not where I wanted it to be. It’s tough on opening day, when you want to get out of the chute with a win. We fought back with Cutch’s home run, then giving up a three-run home run is tough.”
Johnny Cueto, the Reds’ 20-game winner in the final year of a contract, opened his uncertain season with another dominating performance against the Pirates. He fanned 10 batters in seven innings before turning a 2-0 lead over to a bullpen that was a big problem last season.
McCutchen tied it with a two-run shot off newcomer Kevin Gregg. McCutchen has hit safely in his last 11 games at Great American Ball Park with five homers.
“He has a comfort zone here,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s hit some big homers late.”
Jumbo Diaz (1-0) got the final out in the eighth for his first career win. Aroldis Chapman fanned two of the three batters he faced for the save.
Jay Bruce hit a solo homer, and Francisco Liriano balked home a run in his first game since Pittsburgh gave him the biggest free-agent contract in franchise history — three years, $39 million. Liriano allowed two hits in seven innings.
Mets 3, Nationals 1
WASHINGTON — Max Scherzer took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his Washington debut but was unable to overcome two costly errors by shortstop Ian Desmond, and the New York Mets beat the Nationals in their season opener.
Bartolo Colon pitched six clean innings for the Mets, giving up only Bryce Harper’s third opening-day homer. Lucas Duda hit a two-run single with two outs in the sixth, putting New York ahead with its first hit of the year.
At 41, Colon (1-0) was the oldest opening-day starter in Mets history — and in the majors since 2006. He struck out eight and allowed only three hits. One, though, sailed over the out-of-town scoreboard in the fourth off the bat of Harper, who homered twice in Game 1 in 2013.
Scherzer (0-1), making the first start of his $210 million contract, was in total control until the sixth. But that’s when Desmond dropped David Wright’s popup, and Duda lined a 98 mph fastball for the first of his two hits, making it 2-1.
Blue Jays 6, Yankees 1
NEW YORK — Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer off Masahiro Tanaka, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees in Alex Rodriguez’s return to the major leagues.
Without retired Derek Jeter in the lineup, an opening day crowd at Yankee Stadium reserved its biggest cheers for Rodriguez in his first game back from a year-long drug suspension. Batting seventh, his lowest spot in a regular-season game since 1996, A-Rod singled, walked, and lined out.
Dodgers 6, Padres 3
LOS ANGELES — New addition Jimmy Rollins hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning, rallying the Los Angeles Dodgers to a victory over the re-tooled San Diego Padres.
Rollins took a curtain call in the dugout for his drive into the lower right-field seats off Shawn Kelley (0-1). Rollins and Howie Kendrick joined the team in the offseason to improve the Dodgers’ infield defense, but their offensive prowess delivered the victory.
Braves 2, Marlins 1
MIAMI — Two Atlanta relievers combined to escape a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the seventh, and new closer Jason Grilli pitched a perfect ninth to help the Braves beat Miami.
The rebuilding Braves won without All-Star closer Craig Kimbel, traded in their latest deal to San Diego on Sunday.
Rockies 10, Brewers 0
MILWAUKEE — Kyle Kendrick pitched seven sharp innings and also got two hits Monday as the Colorado Rockies trounced the Milwaukee Brewers.
Corey Dickerson and Nolan Arenado each homered and drove in four runs. Troy Tulowitzki doubled twice, singled and scored three times.
Mariners 4, Angels 1
SEATTLE — Felix Hernandez struck out 10 and allowed only two hits over seven innings, Seth Smith had three extra-base hits and two RBIs in his Seattle debut and the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels.
Hernandez (1-0) improved to 6-0 in opening day starts, only two of them at home. Taking the mound before a sellout crowd waving yellow “K” towels in his honor, he lifted Seattle to its ninth straight win on opening day.
Orioles 6, Rays 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Chris Tillman pitched into the seventh inning, and the Baltimore Orioles hit three homers while spoiling Tampa Bay’s debut under rookie manager Kevin Cash with a victory.
Tillman allowed one run and four hits, struck out four and walked three in 6 2/3 innings. He was working on a shutout in his second career opening day start before Evan Longoria led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run.
Tigers 4, Twins 0
DETROIT — David Price left no doubt about his worthiness as Detroit’s opening day starter, coming within one out of a shutout in the Tigers’ victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Price retired the first 13 Minnesota batters and allowed five hits before being pulled with two on and two out in the ninth. Joe Nathan struck out Torii Hunter for the save, although Hunter argued to plate umpire Joe West that he checked his swing.
Royals 10, White Sox 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Yordano Ventura pitched six solid innings before leaving with a thumb cramp, Alex Rios had a three-run homer among his three hits and the AL champion Kansas City Royals routed the Chicago White Sox.
Ventura was replaced by Kelvin Herrera in the seventh after crumpling to the ground following a strike to Adam LaRoche. The preliminary report was a right thumb cramp. Ventura will be evaluated later this week, but Royals trainers said it is not believed to be serious.