Eugenio Suarez hits a 3-run homer and Reds beat Red Sox 3-2 to win season-opening series

CINCINNATI (AP) — Eugenio Suarez hit a three-run home run and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 on Sunday to win their season-opening series.

Suarez’s homer, his first since rejoining the Reds this offseason, came on an 0-2 pitch from Greg Weissert with two runners aboard in the sixth to put Cincinnati ahead 3-2.

It was his 190th homer in a Reds uniform, one shy of Brandon Phillips for 12th on the franchise’s all-time list.

Wilyer Abreu went 6 for 13 for Boston in the three-game series with two home runs, two doubles, and four RBIs.

Connelly Early, 23, was the youngest pitcher to start one of the Red Sox’ first three games in a season since Jeff Sellers in 1987 and the youngest left-hander to do so since Billy Rohr in 1967.

Early pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 96 pitches.

Reds rookie Rhett Lowder made his first appearance since Sept. 28, 2024, after missing the entire 2025 season with both a right forearm strain and left oblique strain.

Abreu, who tied the score in the ninth on Saturday with a two-out solo homer, hit a two-run homer off Lowder in the fourth to put Boston ahead 2-0.

Lowder allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts on 86 pitches through five innings.

The Red Sox had runners on first and third in the eighth but Tony Santillan struck out Caleb Durbin to end the inning.

They had the tying and go-ahead runners aboard in the ninth but Emilio Pagan got Trevor Story to fly out to center for the final out.

Reds designated hitter Sal Stewart, who went 7 for 10 in the series, went 2 for 2 with a double and two walks.

Red Sox: Left-hander Ranger Suarez is scheduled to start Monday's series opener in Houston.

Reds: Right-hander Chase Burns is scheduled to start Monday's series opener in Pittsburgh.

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

Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run homer during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder throws during the first inning of a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early throws during the first inning of a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder throws during the first inning of a baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez (28), celebrates with Matt McLain (9) and Sal Stewart (27) after hitting a three-run homer during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

CHICAGO (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg scored 27 points, Elliot Cadeau had 10 assists and Michigan rolled into the Final Four, overwhelming Tennessee for a 95-62 victory in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.

Morez Johnson Jr. added 12 points for top-seeded Michigan, which posted its 11th victory this season by at least 30 points. Aday Mara had 11 points and blocked two shots in the Midwest Region final.

Making the most of its size and athleticism on both sides of the court, Michigan (35-3) advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2018 and ninth time overall. Next up is a compelling national semifinal against Arizona on Saturday.

The Wolverines became the first school to win at least four games in an NCAA tourney by double digits while scoring at least 90 points in each.

Lendeborg, the Big Ten player of the year, was 10 for 19 from the field. He became the first Michigan player to score at least 23 points in three consecutive NCAA Tournament games since Juwan Howard did it in four straight in 1994.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 21 points on 8-of-22 shooting for Tennessee (25-12). Felix Okpara finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Tennessee, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)