Each night during the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
For the second straight night, the Padres walloped the Rockies at Coors Field in Colorado.
San Diego's Matt Kemp, Jon Jay and Cory Spangenberg combined to drive in 13 runs in the team's 16-3 victory. The Padres completed a two-game stretch in which they scored 29 runs after being outscored 25-0 in their previous three.
In Toronto, Jose Bautista tried to rally the Blue Jays, but Boston proved to be too much in a 8-4 Red Sox victory. Bautista blasted a pair of two-run homers to account for all four Blue Jays runs. Saturday's game marked the 29th game of Bautista's career with multiple home runs.
CC Sabathia's return to the mound was a huge success, as the Yankees downed the Tigers 8-4 on Saturday. Sabathia — who has been plagued by injury over the last couple of years — was forced to miss the entire 2015 postseason because he checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation program. In his first real start since his stint in rehab, the 35-year-old allowed three runs off four hits in six-plus innings, walking four and striking out three.
"It was nice to be in a stadium with a third deck again," Sabathia said, via the Associated Press. "That's when you know the games count."
Player of the day:
Kemp had himself a day, going 3 for 5 at the plate with his two home runs and six RBIs.
Highlights:
It was expected that the showdown between Giants' ace Madison Bumgarner and and Dodgers pitcher Kershaw was going to be good, but Bumgarner's home run off Kershaw was almost an exact replica of his homer against Kershaw in May 2015.
Bartolo Colon showed the world he can still dominate after 19 years in the league, channeling his inner Willie Mays with an over-the-shoulder grab.
*Cues up the smooth saxophone* Now pitching for the @Mets , Willie May– er, Bartolo Colon: https://t.co/EIG2Z8TOF8 pic.twitter.com/0P4xiaZilG
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 10, 2016
Three things to know:
— Since 2014, only three players have had more than one home run off Kershaw. Aside from Bumgarner, Daniel Murphy and Troy Tulowitzki also have multiple homers. In his first at-bat against Kershaw on Saturday, Bumgarner slammed a solo homer to left field. It was Bumgarner's first homer of the season and 12th of his career. He is the sixth player since 2008 to homer off Kershaw in consecutive seasons.
— The disgruntled fans at Citi Field let Yoenis Cespedes know they were not pleased after he struck out late in the game. He drowned in a sea of boos after he went 0-for-4. In the Mets' 1-0 loss to the Phillies, Cespedes struck out three times and is now 2-for-16 on the young season with seven strikeouts.
— Zack Greinke struggled Saturday with four earned runs in six innings. In the past two games, the right-hander has allowed 11 runs in 10 innings. That's not exactly what the Diamondbacks had in mind when they gave him a massive contract that pays him roughly $1 million per start.
What's next:
Pirates (4-1) at Reds (4-1), 1:10 p.m.: After the Pirates handed the Reds their first loss of the season on Friday, the Reds returned the favor Saturday. Sunday's rubber match should be fun. Tim Melville will be making his Major League debut for the Reds after spending eight years in the minors. Melville went 7-10 with a 4.63 ERA in 27 starts for the Tigers' Triple-A team last year. Meanwhile, Jeff Locke will make his first start of the season for the Pirates. The lefty posted an 8-11 record with a 4.49 ERA last season.
Marlins (1-2) at Nationals (2-1), 1:35 p.m.: Washington's Joe Ross and Miami's Tom Koehler will finally have a chance to face off after rain and cold temperatures postponed their scheduled Saturday matchup. As a rookie last year, Ross posted a 3.64 ERA in 76 2/3 innings. Expectations for Ross in the Nationals rotation have been elevated with Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister leaving this offseason. Koehler didn't have the best 2015 season, posting a 11-14 record and 4.08 ERA. The Marlins pitcher said he's excited about Saturday's start despite struggling against the Nats in four starts last season.