Shane Bieber’s final start last season was rough. His first one in 2021 wasn’t too much better.
The AL Cy Young winner gave up four runs and didn’t make it through his scheduled two innings on Monday as the Cleveland Indians lost to the Kansas City Royals 8-6 in Goodyear, Arizona.
But while he wasn’t thrilled with his outing, Bieber wasn’t disappointed either. He committed to throwing certain pitches and working on areas he’d like to improve.
“There’s some positives to take away from today in learning how to shape the slider how I want to,” he said. “I started to figure it out in the second inning. I just got to look at the positives. It’s spring training. Go out there and get the next one.”
Bieber led the majors in wins, ERA and strikeouts last year, completing a rare triple crown during the pandemic while becoming Cleveland’s fifth Cy Young winner since 2007.
ASTROS 7, NATIONALS 6
Ryan Zimmerman appeared in a game for the first time in almost exactly a year — he sat out the pandemic-shortened 2020 regular season because of concerns about his family’s health — and hit one of Washington’s three consecutive homers off Houston righty Steve Cishek in the third inning.
“I’ll be sore, like I always am,” said the 36-year-old Zimmerman, who walked in his first plate appearance and played three innings at first base.
“You can’t mimic a sprint to first base. Or there’s a couple foul balls near our dugout that I had to run full-speed over there for,” he said. “So that’s the good thing about this first week to 10 days: You get that sort of soreness out. … Mentally getting back into that rhythm, that’s the most important part for me.”
The two-time NL All-Star, expected to back up Josh Bell this season, hadn’t played since an exhibition on March 10, 2020.
“The biggest thing for him is to keep him healthy and keep him going,” manager Dave Martinez said. “Just seeing him on the field again, we were all excited to have him back.”
Josh Harrison and Yadiel Hernandez also went deep off Cishek as the Nationals built a 6-2 lead in their Grapefruit League home opener. The Astros, who are managed by ex-Nationals skipper Dusty Baker, came back to win by scoring five runs in the ninth.
Former Washington outfielder Steven Souza Jr. hit a two-run homer for Houston.
DODGERS 10, ROCKIES 0 (6 INNINGS)
Trevor Bauer, pitching for the first time since signing a $102 million, three-year contract, debuted in Dodger blue with two scoreless innings. He gave up one hit, struck out two, walked none and threw a wild pitch.
Bauer won the NL Cy Young Award with Cincinnati last year. The right-hander threw sharp curveballs for his pair of strikeouts.
“All my pitches are pretty much where I want them to be,” Bauer said.
Los Angeles reliever Kenley Jansen struck out two in an inning.
Colorado starter Dereck Rodriguez allowed two runs in two innings.
ANGELS 4, WHITE SOX 4 (5)
Albert Pujols went 2 for 2 and drove in two runs, Shohei Otani got two hits and scored twice and Mike Trout had a hit and walk for Los Angeles. Angels newcomer Alex Cobb pitched a scoreless first.
Adam Eaton had a double and sacrifice fly for Chicago.
MARLINS 2, METS 0 (7)
Starter Sandy Alcántara and four Miami relievers combined on a five-hitter. Jesús Aguilar hit a two-run homer.
Francisco Lindor was 0 for 2 in New York’s spring opener. Brandon Nimmo had two hits.
ATHLETICS 13, REDS 5 (7)
Matt Olson, Pete Kozma and Buddy Reed each hit two-run homers for Oakland. Nik Turley pitched the last inning for the A’s and allowed three runs.
Scott Heineman and Alfredo Rodriguez connected for Cincinnati.
GIANTS 1, RANGERS 1 (6)
Kyle Gibson pitched a scoreless first inning for Texas. Charlie Culberson got two hits and scored for the Rangers.
Joey Bart had two hits for San Francisco. Nick Tropeano pitched a scoreless first.
CUBS 1, PADRES 0 (7)
Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks struck out two in two scoreless innings. Javier Báez had one of the Cubs’ two hits.
San Diego starter Chris Paddack fanned three in two hitless innings.
BREWERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 1 (8)
Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta each threw a scoreless inning for Milwaukee before Jordan Zimmermann gave up a run. Manny Pina had two hits, including a homer, and drove in two runs.
Arizona starter Merrill Kelly struck out five in two innings.