Starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano made an early exit from his Major League Baseball debut for the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, leaving the mound after four innings of his team's 3-1 defeat to the Toronto Blue Jays because of cramps in both hands.
Sugano (0-1) was charged with the loss at Rogers Centre after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out one.
He gave up both runs on a George Springer single with two out in the bottom of the first inning but recovered from the bumpy start to retire 10 of the final 13 batters he faced.
The 35-year-old right-hander said he suffered the cramps after sweating more than usual, but he would be fine for his next scheduled start.
"I thought the stadium was pretty cold, but once the game started, I was also exerting myself," the longtime Yomiuri Giant said with a wry smile. "Little by little, I managed to do the things I wanted. There were a lot of good points."
At Chase Field in Phoenix, Seiya Suzuki hit his first home run of the season for the Chicago Cubs in a 10-6 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Batting second in the lineup as designated hitter, Suzuki flew high over center field with a two-run shot that gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth. The home side stormed back for the win thanks to an eight-run eighth inning.
The big fly came as a welcome relief for the 30-year-old Suzuki, who had struggled to find his rhythm after going 0-for-8 on home turf in the season-opening Tokyo Series.
"I wasn't in great shape to start the season, so I just came to the plate wanting to make sure I made a good swing," Suzuki said. "I've been frustrated with myself. I'm glad I was able to produce some kind of result."
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