Shane Bieber and Guardians blank Athletics 8-0 as Stephen Vogt gets first win as manager

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Shane Bieber struck out 11 in six shutout innings, David Fry had three hits and Stephen Vogt won his managerial debut as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Oakland Athletics 8-0 on Thursday night.

Bieber, the 2020 Cy Young Award winner, made his fifth consecutive opening day start and allowed four hits in six innings.

“A lot of hard work on display and I’m going to continue to keep my head down and do what I always do,” Bieber said. “We’ll see where we end up. But it was good to hit the ground running, both individually and as a team.”

Vogt spent six seasons as a player with the A’s in two stints before retiring in 2022. He was hired by Cleveland to replace Terry Francona after a year as a bullpen coach for the Seattle Mariners.

“It felt awesome,” Vogt said of getting his first win. “When you put up a crooked number early and Shane Bieber does what he does — it was nice to have one like that."

The Guardians scored five times in the fourth inning to knock A’s starter Alex Wood out of the game and take a 6-0 lead.

With the bases loaded and one out, Andrés Giménez started the scoring with an RBI single, Austin Hedges hit an infield single that drove in two runs and Brayan Rocchio followed with a two-run double.

Wood, in his 12th season, allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings in his first opening day start.

“I thought my stuff was pretty good overall and, over the course of the season, all those even out,” Wood said.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay agreed Wood was unlucky.

“He didn’t give up a ton of hard contact,” Kotsay said. “It was just unfortunate that the balls were hit down the line and in holes.”

The announced attendance at the A’s home opener was 13,522 — about half of the crowd at last year’s home opener of 26,805. Many who bought tickets did not actually enter the stadium, with fan groups organizing a boycott in the parking lot to protest the team’s planned move to Las Vegas.

The A’s, who finished last year with an MLB-worst 112 losses, returned just two players from last year’s opening day starting lineup: right fielder Seth Brown and catcher Shea Langeliers.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Guardians: Placed RHP Ben Lively (viral illness), RHP Xzavion Curry (viral illness), RHP Gavin Williams (right elbow inflammation), LHP Sam Hentges (left middle finger inflammation and INF Angel Martinez on the injured list retroactive to March 25. ... RHP James Karinchak (right shoulder inflammation) and RHP Trevor Stephan (right elbow surgery) were placed on the 60-day injured list.

A’s: Placed LHP Scott Alexander (left rib bone contusion), LF Miguel Andujar (right knee lateral meniscus surgery), SS Aledmys Díaz (right calf strain), RHP Luis Medina (right knee MCL sprain), LHP Sean Newcomb (left knee inflammation) and RHP Freddy Tarnok (right hip inflammation) on the injured list, retroactive to Mar. 25.

UP NEXT

Guardians LHP Logan Allen (7-8, 3.81 ERA in 2023) faces A’s RHP Ross Stripling (0-5, 5.36) on Friday.

–

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio celebrates after hitting a two-run double against the Oakland Athletics during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Cleveland Guardians' Tyler Freeman watches his RBI double against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Oakland Athletics' Lawrence Butler reacts after being tagged out at third base on a throw by Cleveland Guardians right fielder Ramón Laureano during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tim Herrin throws to an Oakland Athletics batter during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof strikes out during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez watches his RBI triple during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Cleveland Guardians' Andres Giménez, right, celebrates with Josh Naylor after scoring against the Oakland Athletics on Brayan Rocchio's two-run double during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Cleveland Guardians' Shane Bieber walks to the dugout after pitching against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt speaks to reporters before the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber throws to an Oakland Athletics batter during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to cause Los Angeles nightmares. As if that isn't enough, the rest of the Oilers' lineup is beginning to add to the Kings' frustrations.

McDavid and Draisaitl had three-point nights on Friday, but Zach Hyman continued his hot streak at the start of the postseason with two goals as the Oilers rode the momentum of three first-period scores to a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round NHL playoffs series.

“Anytime you get up on a ream that's defensive and doesn't give you much makes it easier on you,” said Hyman, who has a league-leading six postseason goals and seven points. “You don't have to force it in, you can play your game and they have to change and open things up. We did a good job of that.”

Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday night.

Hyman, who had a hat trick in Edmonton’s 7-4 Game 1 victory on Monday, became the third player in the past 25 years to score in Edmonton’s first three postseason games when he put in a rebound 6:42 into the first.

The left wing then extended it to 5-1 six minutes into third when the Oilers had a two-man advantage.

Draisaitl also had two goals along with an assist. He became the fastest player in NHL history to reach 20 career road playoff goals on a wrist shot from a tight angle just inside the left faceoff circle with 4:24 remaining in the first to make it 2-0. Draisaitl reached the milestone in 26 games, three quicker than Kevin Stevens and Bernie Nicholls.

Draisaitl also had a power-play goal midway through the third.

“I think our guys were disciplined on entering into the offensive zone. We had a plan and executed it. It wasn't just one or two guys, it was five guys who were committed and connected,” Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said.

McDavid got his first goal of the postseason late in the first period on the power play to give the Oilers a 3-0 advantage. With two assists, he became the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1987 to have at least eight assists in the first three games. Gretzky had nine in 1987 and eight in 1981.

It was one of three power-play goals for Edmonton, which is 7 for 15 in the series.

“I thought we did a lot of good things. Special teams were great, Stuart (Skinner) was a rock back there. A lot of positives but it just counts as one win,” McDavid said.

Evander Kane added a goal and an assist. He also picked up a rare postseason Gordie Howe hat trick with a 10-minute misconduct penalty in the third period when the game got chippy.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins added three assists and Skinner stopped 27 shots as the Oilers posted a Game 3 rout on the Kings’ home ice for the second time in three years.

Drew Doughty had the Kings’ lone goal early in the second period and Cam Talbot made 35 saves.

Doughty's goal, his second of the postseason, got the Kings to 3-1 at 5:32 of the second, but Kane returned momentum back to the Oilers two minutes later with a tip-in of Cody Ceci's shot from the point.

"I mean, we got better. Second period, we had that goal, but they scored right after," forward Kevin Fiala said. "We have to look at some things, we have to get better, and we will. So we have to get second game and that’s it.”

Kings interim coach Jim Hiller pointed to his team's lack of forechecking early as a reason why they fell behind early.

“Their power play scored, ours didn't. It's 2-1 and let's get ready for the next one,” he said.

Kings captain Anze Kopitar played in his 95th career playoff game, passing Luc Robitaille for most in franchise history.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Andreas Englund, left, and Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane fight during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, center, celebrates his goal with center Connor McDavid, left, and center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, right, celebrates his goal as center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skates behind during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Evander Kane, right, celebrates his goal as Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, left, and center Anze Kopitar look on during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, left, scores on Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, right, celebrates his goal with center Anze Kopitar, center, as Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, second from right, looks on during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, right, celebrates his goal with left wing Zach Hyman, second from right, as Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, center, kneels in goal while defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, left, and center Blake Lizotte watch during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak, left, reaches for the puck along with Los Angeles Kings right wing Viktor Arvidsson during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Vincent Desharnais, right, passes the puck while under pressure from Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson aduring Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, left, celebrates his goal as center Connor McDavid follows during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, center, is scored on by Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman, right, as defenseman Mikey Anderson defends during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, right, deflects a shot by Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman before Hyman scored on the rebound during Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, April 26, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)