Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
John Lackey's Cubs debut didn't go as planned Thursday, but his new club was able to come away with the win in Arizona anyway after pilling up 14 runs and 14 hits.
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Lackey, who signed a two-year, $32 million contract last winter, earned the win, allowing all six Diamondbacks runs over six innings. Lackey allowed two home runs to Arizona second baseman Jean Segura — a solo shot in the first and an inside-the-park home run in the second. Anthony Rizzo tied a career high with six RBIs for the Cubs, who recorded a baseball version of a triple-double with at least 10 hits, 10 walks and 10 runs.
While the Cubs (3-0) got the win, not everyone was smiling. Left fielder Kyle Schwarber was carted off after colliding with center fielder Dexter Fowler while chasing Segura's inside-the-parker in the second inning. He was initially diagnosed with a left ankle sprain. X-rays were negative. He is scheduled to have an MRI exam Friday.
VAN TRYON: Do not panic over Schwarber injury, Cubs fans
Player of the Day
Jay Bruce, OF, Reds. Bruce bashed two homers in a 3-for-4 performance. He plated half the Reds' runs as Cincinnati completed a three-game sweep of the Phillies, 10-6. His second long ball of the day tied him with Ken Griffey Jr. for seventh place on Cincinnati's all-time home run list.
Highlight
Albert Pujols delivered a bases-loaded walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth to give the Angels their first win of the season, 4-3 over the Rangers.
Three things to know
— Five Marlins players finished with two or more hits in a 6-4 victory over the Nationals, spoiling Washington's home opener. Don Mattingly recorded his first win as Miami's manager. Bryce Harper homered in the loss. It was the 99th dinger of his career.
— After going 2 for 4 with a home run against the Astros, Starlin Castro is 7 for 12 with two homers and eight RBIs in his first three games with the Yankees. The RBIs are the most by a Yankees player in his first three games, breaking Shelley Duncan's mark.
— The Dodgers' streak of 31 consecutive scoreless innings ended against the Giants. Denard Span's RBI groundout snapped the string. The wheels then fell off for LA's pitchers; the Giants reeled off 11 more runs the rest of the way, including a grand slam by Hunter Pence.
What's next
Yankees (2-1) at Tigers (2-0), 1:10 p.m.: Jordan Zimmermann will make his Tigers debut in Detroit's home opener. Zimmermann, who signed a five-year, $110 million contract with the club in the offseason, will be the first starting pitcher to make his Tigers debut in the team's home opener in the Comerica Park era, which dates to 2000. The Yankees will start Luis Severino, who has made just 11 big-league starts.
Pirates (3-0) at Reds (3-0), 7:10 p.m.: Bucs southpaw Francisco Liriano (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 strikeouts on opening day) will make his second start of the season as the Pirates look to remain perfect. Alfredo Simon will start for the undefeated Reds.