Max Scherzer recovered from a rough first inning to get the win in his first game with his new club as the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 Thursday.

Scherzer, who was traded from the New York Mets last weekend, gave up three runs in the opening frame before settling in and finishing with six innings pitched and nine strikeouts in the victory.

Marcus Semien and Mitch Garver hit solo home runs as the Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox.

The victory lifted Texas to a 1 ½-game lead in the AL West after the New York Yankees edged the Houston Astros.

Michael Lorenzen was sharper in his Philadelphia Phillies debut, tossing a season-high eight innings of two-run ball in a 4-2 win over the Miami Marlins.

Lorenzen, acquired from the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, scattered six hits, struck out five and walked one.

J.T. Realmuto returned after missing two games with a bruised right hand and homered and singled to help the Phillies take three of four against their NL East and wild-card rivals.

 

Quality first start for Scherzer. #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/fvtsg6Lgmr

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 3, 2023

Ohtani exits mound early, hits 40th home run in loss

Shohei Ohtani was forced to leave the mound early but still hit his major league-leading 40th home run in the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Ohtani pitched four scoreless innings before exiting due to cramping in his pitching hand and fingers but remained in the game as the designated hitter.

He singled, walked twice and took Isaiah Campbell deep in the eighth inning to extend the Angels’ lead to 3-1.

All-Star Carlos Estevez failed to protect the lead in the ninth, walking the first two batters before Dominic Canzone singled to load the bases. After Teoscar Hernandez struck out, rookie Cade Marlowe - playing in his 12th major league game - belted a pitch into the seats in right field for a grand slam and a 5-3 lead.

 

Shohei Ohtani is the first @MLB player to 40 home runs this season! pic.twitter.com/mJxyFoY3gQ

— MLB (@MLB) August 4, 2023

O’s continue mastery of Blue Jays, Flaherty strong in debut

Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle each had four hits, and Jack Flaherty threw six strong innings in his Baltimore Orioles debut in a 6-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline, Flaherty collected a win in his first start with the Orioles, allowing four hits and one run while striking out eight.

Mountcastle went 4 for 4 with four singles and an RBI, while Hays was 4 of 5 with a double and drove in two runs.

The win boosted the Orioles’ American League-best record to 67-42 and gave them an 8-2 mark against Toronto this season.

The Blue Jays have an 8-23 record against AL East opponents this season and a 52-27 record against all other opponents.

Jack Flaherty showed out. pic.twitter.com/CCC19QhX36

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 3, 2023