ARLINGTON, Texas — Shaun Marcum took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning on opening day for Toronto before the Texas Rangers rallied for a 5-4 win Monday on Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
Texas scored twice in the ninth off Blue Jays closer Jason Frasor (0-1).
Michael Young, the longest-tenured Texas player in his 10th season, had a leadoff double before Josh Hamilton took a called third strike. Vladimir Guerrero then had an infield single, though second baseman Aaron Hill made a diving stab deep behind the base to keep the tying run from scoring.
But Nelson Cruz hit an RBI double down the right-field line and Chris Davis was intentionally walked to load the bases. Saltalamacchia’s flyball to right-center was well out of reach for the drawn-in outfield.
Marcum missed last season recovering from elbow surgery. The right-hander didn’t allow a hit until Guerrero’s one-out single in the seventh, after walking Hamilton. Cruz, who hit 33 home runs last season, followed with a three-run homer that tied it at 3.
White Sox 6, Indians 0
CHICAGO — Mark Buehrle pitched three-hit ball over seven innings and Paul Konerko got his 12th season in Chicago off to a good start with a two-run homer in the first inning.
Buehrle simply shut down the Indians, spoiling Cleveland manager Manny Acta’s debut and Jake Westbrook’s first start in nearly two years.
Alex Rios added a solo homer off Tony Sipp in the eighth and ended the game with a diving catch on Travis Hafner’s line drive to center.
Buehrle, starting his club-record eighth opener, looked more like the four-time All-Star he is than the guy who won just twice after his perfect game against Tampa Bay on July 23.
He retired the last 10 batters he faced, struck out three and walked one.
Tigers 8, Royals 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Johnny Damon and Brandon Inge drove in two runs apiece for Detroit in a six-run seventh inning against Kansas City’s shaky bullpen.
Earlier on the wind-swept opening day, Yuniesky Betancourt’s two-run homer and Billy Butler’s bases-loaded single staked AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke to a 4-2 lead over Justin Verlander in a duel between two of baseball’s premier starters.
Greinke departed after allowing six hits and one earned run through six innings.
Robinson Tejeda (0-1) got just one out and allowed three runs. Joel Zumaya (1-0) went one inning and a batter, throwing 12 pitches.
Angels 6, Twins 3
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Hideki Matsui drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth and added an eighth-inning homer in his dynamic Angels debut, and Jered Weaver pitched six strong innings to help Los Angeles beat Minnesota.
Jeff Mathis and Kendry Morales also homered as the Angels opened their 50th season and their run at a fourth straight AL West title with their sixth victory in the last seven openers.
Delmon Young hit a two-run homer as the Twins opened chase of their sixth division title in nine seasons with an unimpressive effort from Scott Baker (0-1).
Weaver (1-0) yielded five hits and three runs in his second opening day assignment for the Angels. Brian Fuentes pitched a quiet ninth for his first save.
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