Anthony Rendon homers in debut, Angels rout Mariners 10-2
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer and reached base three times in his Angels debut, and Albert Pujols added his 657th career homer in Los Angeles’ 10-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.
Rendon’s homer to left field in the eighth inning brought home Mike Trout and capped an encouraging home opener for the Angels, who got their second win after losing three of four in Oakland to start the shortened season.
Max Stassi hit a three-run homer, Shohei Ohtani had a long RBI double and Justin Upton drove in two runs as the Halos won their home opener for only the second time in eight years.
Pujols’ solo homer to left in the fifth – his first since turning 40 last winter – pulled him within three of Willie Mays (660) for fifth place in baseball history. The three-time NL MVP has homered in 20 consecutive major league seasons.
Tim Lopes went deep for the Mariners, who lost three of four in Houston to start the season.
Justus Sheffield (0-1) didn’t get an out in the fourth inning of his eighth career start for the Mariners, yielding four hits and four runs.
Patrick Sandoval pitched four-hit ball into the fifth for the Angels, but the Orange County native couldn’t stick around long enough for his first career victory. The left-hander got a late start at summer camp after recovering from COVID-19, but still earned a rotation spot.
Ryan Buchter (1-0) worked a perfect sixth inning to earn his first win with Los Angeles.
RENDON’S DEBUT
Rendon, the Angels’ new $245 million third baseman, went 1 for 3 with two walks, two runs and an error. He sat out the season-opening series with an oblique muscle injury, but was ready in Anaheim for his first game since leaving Washington for the West Coast.
Last season’s major league RBI leader and World Series champion is expected to provide power and protection behind Trout, who went 1 for 5.
Rendon walked and scored on Ohtani’s double in the sixth, but also made a throwing error in the seventh.
FEROCIOUS FLETCH
David Fletcher continued his torrid start to the season with two singles and two walks for Los Angeles, boosting his on-base percentage to .609 with a major league-leading 10 hits. Fletcher also filled in for injured Andrelton Simmons at shortstop and made a jaw-dropping play in the sixth to throw out Kyle Seager from short right field.
OHTANI UPDATE
Ohtani’s long double off the center field wall was his first hit since the first inning of the Angels’ season opener, snapping an 0-for-12 skid. Maddon confirmed Ohtani will pitch Sunday against Houston after failing to get an out in his season mound debut.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: C Austin Nola was scratched shortly before game time. Seattle didn’t immediately disclose the reason. LHP Taylor Guilbeau was optioned to make roster room for C Joe Odom, who made his major league debut.
Angels: Simmons went on the 10-day injured list shortly before the first pitch with a sprained left ankle. The four-time Gold Glove winner hurt himself while lunging to first base Sunday in Oakland. Simmons, who is starting the final year of his contract, missed 5 1/2 weeks with a similar injury last season. INF Luis Rengifo was activated from the injured list. … RHP Julio Teherán will pitch in an intrasquad game Thursday. If all goes well, he’ll join the Angels’ rotation next week. The newcomer arrived late in camp after testing positive for COVID-19 last month.
UP NEXT
Andrew Heaney (0-0, 1.93 ERA) returns from a short, solid opening day start to face Justin Dunn, who will make his season debut for the Mariners. Heaney has one win in nine career starts against Seattle.