ROBERT DUGGER

Luis Torrens hit a tiebreaking two-run single, Chris Flexen pitched neatly into the seventh inning and the Seattle Mariners swept a quick two-game series against the Oakland Athletics with a 5-1 win.

Fernando Tatis Jr. homered twice, including a 447-foot grand slam, and drove in six runs for the San Diego Padres, who beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 to sweep a nine-game homestand.

Fernando Tatis Jr. became the fastest shortstop in history to hit 50 home runs, punctuating his three-run shot with a bat flip, and made another spectacular defensive play for the San Diego Padres, who routed the Seattle Mariners 16-1 for their seventh straight win.

Four Seattle relievers were placed on the COVID-19 injured list after the Mariners reported a positive test within the team.

The 60-game sprint started with a bang thunder, actually, along with a torrential downpour in the rain-shortened opener between the Yankees and Nationals. Now is when people will finally listen, explained Stanton, a Black slugger with the New York Yankees who plans to kneel throughout the season. Made it interesting.Lastly, MLB unveiled another modification hours before first pitch, expanding the postseason from 10 teams to 16. The news Sunday of potential outbreaks with the Reds and Marlins was a reminder of how fragile the season could be. If 10 or 15 or 25 guys do it and the rest are messing around, it can mess everything up.

Boston ace Chris Sale will start this season in the same place he ended 2019: on the injured list. Ryan Mountcastle, a 23-year-old prospect, went 3 for 3 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs. PHILLIES 12, RED SOX 5Scott Kingery had three RBIs, including a two-run homer, and Alec Bohm added two RBIs. Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann allowed four runs on five hits and struck out three over 2 2/3 innings. Pete Alonso doubled for the Mets, and Rick Porcello pitched two scoreless innings in his second start with his new team.