>>Cubs Blast Angels in Season Opener
Jake Arrieta yielded two hits over seven dominant innings, Miguel Montero homered and drove in three runs, and the Chicago Cubs opened a season of high expectations with a 9-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.
Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler drove in early runs and Villanova product Matt Szczur added a three-run double in the ninth for the Cubs, whose talent-laden roster is coming off a 97-win season and a trip to the NL Championship Series.
Chicago's anguished fans believe the team really might end its 108-year championship drought this season, and thousands chanted and cheered in Orange County to herald an auspicious start to the quest.
Garrett Richards (0-1) gave up three runs in five innings of six-hit ball in his first opening day start for Los Angeles.
>>Sale Leads Sox Past A's in Season Opener
Chris Sale struck out eight in a solid season debut to build off his franchise record last year, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Monday night.
Adam Eaton hit an RBI triple and Jimmy Rollins drove in a run during a four-run third inning in his first game with the White Sox playing back home in the East Bay.
What had been planned as a marquee matchup between two American League aces never happened. Oakland right-hander Sonny Gray was scratched because of food poisoning that sent him to the emergency room.
Sale didn't get his opening day start last season, when Jeff Samardzija took the ball after Sale was slowed by a broken right foot. Sale went on to finish 13-11 with a team-record 274 strikeouts.
>>A's Scratch Ace With Food Poisoning
Oakland ace Sonny Gray has been scratched from his opening day start because of food poisoning.
The Athletics say that Rich Hill will start Monday night against the Chicago White Sox in place of Gray.
Hill will be making his first career opening day start and is the 10th A's pitcher to start the opener in the past 11 years. The 36-year-old Hill has started just four games in the majors since 2009. He went 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA in four starts last September for Boston. He signed a $6 million, one-year deal with Oakland this offseason.
Gray went 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA last season.
