Indians Thump Royals
(Kansas City, MO) — Ryan Merritt struck out four over five innings of one-run ball as the Indians thumped the Royals, 7-2, at Kauffman Stadium. It was Merritt’s first win and his first start of the season. Carlos Santana collected a trio of hits and two RBI. Francisco Lindor’s three-run homer capped Cleveland’s scoring. Kansas City’s Yordano Ventura gave up four runs to take the loss despite striking out eight over six innings. Eric Hosmer and Drew Butera each drove in a run for the Royals, who have dropped two straight.
Tigers Roar Past Braves
(Atlanta, GA) — The Tigers scored three in the first and never looked back as they took down the Braves 6-2 at Turner Field. Miguel Cabrera led the way offensively with three hits including two home runs and three RBI. Ian Kinsler and Justin Upton also homered for Detroit. Starter Daniel Norris picked up his fourth win throwing six-and-two-thirds innings of one-run ball. The Tigers now trail Toronto by a half game for the final AL Wild Card. Matt Kemp and Brandon Snyder homered for the Braves. Matt Wisler took the loss giving up five runs in four-and-two-thirds innings of work.
Mets Cruise Past Phillies
(Philadelphia, PA) — The Mets moved one step closer to a postseason berth as they cruised past the Phillies, 5-1, at Citizens Bank Park. Jay Bruce had a big night at the plate for New York with three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. T.J. Rivera and Yoenis Cespedes each collected an RBI. Mets starter Robert Gsellman earned the win, throwing six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts. New York has now won six of its last eight games. The Phillies lone run was a sac-fly off the bat of Cameron Rupp. Alec Asher took the loss, giving up three runs in six innings.
White Sox Bounce Twins
(Chicago, IL) — Tim Anderson fell a double shy of the cycle as the White Sox bounced the Twins, 7-3, in Chicago. Anderson’s two-run homer in the third inning broke the game open, and Omar Narvaez added a solo shot. Melky Cabrera was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Carlos Rodon struck out ten over six innings of work to get the win. He tied the American League record with seven straight strikeouts to begin the game. Tyler Duffey got chased in the third inning for Minnesota, ending the year at 9-and-12. The Twins scored three in the sixth but couldn’t complete the rally.
Rangers Squeeze Past Rays
(Arlington, TX) — The Rangers wrapped up home field advantage as they beat Tampa Bay 3-1 in Arlington. Carlos Beltran and Rougned Odor each homered for Texas. Yu Darvish struck out a dozen over six innings of one-run ball and improved to 7-and-5. Sam Dyson picked up his 38th save. The Rays lone run came from an RBI double from Eric Longoria. Matt Andriese took the loss, giving up three runs in five-and-a-third innings of work. Tampa Bay has now lost 10 of its last 12 games.
Marlins Down Nationals
(Washington, DC) — Christian Yelich homered as the Marlins downed the Nationals, 7-4, in Washington, DC. Justin Bour added three hits and a pair of RBIs. Mike Dunn earned the win in relief of starter Andrew Cashner. The Marlins bullpen threw five hitless innings while striking out ten to end a two-game losing streak. Washington’s Sammy Solis took the loss. Anthony Rendon and Stephen Drew homered in back-to-back at-bats for the Nationals.
Six-Run Fifth Lifts Orioles Past Yankees
(Bronx, NY) — The Orioles hammered three home runs in the fifth inning as they drilled the Yankees, 8-1, in the Bronx. Adam Jones led off the frame with a solo shot, Mark Trumbo launched his 47th bomb of the year, and Jonathan Schoop capped the inning with a three-run tater. Schoop finished with five RBIs. Yovani Gallardo tossed six innings of two hit, one-run ball for the win. Michael Pineda didn’t make it out of the fifth inning for New York, falling to 6-and-12. Mark Teixeira drove in the Yankees’ lone run.
Cardinals Crush Pirates
(St. Louis, MO) — The Cardinals kept pace in the NL Wild Card race shutting out the Pirates, 7-0, at Busch Stadium. Starter Carlos Martinez struck out nine over seven scoreless innings of work, and the bullpen shut the door pitching two hitless innings. Brandon Moss led the way offensively for St. Louis with a two-run homer. Jedd Gyorko and Matt Holiday also homered for the Cardinals. St. Louis trails the Giants by one game for the final NL Wild Card spot. The Pirates were only able to muster five hits. Tyler Glasnow took the loss for Pittsburgh, giving up one run over five innings.
Rockies Hold Off Brewers
(Denver, CO) — Starting pitcher Chad Bettis kept Milwaukee in check as the Rockies held off the Brewers, 4-1, in Denver. Bettis improved to 14-and-8 with six-and-two-thirds innings of one-run ball. Adam Ottavino made the save. Nolan Arenado drilled a two-run homer for the Rox, who opened their final series with a win. Brent Suter gave up ten hits and four runs to take the loss for Milwaukee. Chris Carter’s solo home run prevented the shutout.
Cubs Defeat Reds
(Cincinnati, OH) — Jake Buchanan tossed five shutout innings in his first start since 2014 as the Cubs defeated the Reds, 7-3, in Cincinnati. Ben Zobrist was 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBIs. Addison Russell added an RBI double as the Cubs won their Major League best 102nd game. Joey Votto drilled a two-run homer for the Reds, who have lost three of four. Josh Smith was charged with the loss.
Cano, Mariners Down Athletics
(Seattle, WA) — Robinson Cano’s pair of home runs helped power the Mariners past the Athletics, 5-1, at Safeco Field. Nori Aoki and Nelson Cruz also went deep for Seattle. Taijuan Walker earned the win with six innings of one-run ball. Seattle has won seven of nine to move within a game of the final Wild Card spot in the American League. Oakland’s Raul Alcantara [[ al-CAHN-ter-uh ]] took the loss, allowing all five runs in two-plus innings. Ryon Healy’s home run kept the A’s from being shut out.
Seven-Run Sixth Pushes Giants Past Dodgers
(San Francisco, CA) — A seven-run sixth inning pushed the Giants past the Dodgers, 9-3, in San Francisco. Madison Bumgarner and Conor Gillaspie each drilled two-run doubles in the frame, and Brandon Belt capped it with a three-run homer. Bumgarner pitched into the eighth inning for his 15th win as the Giants stayed alive in the NL Wild Card race. Brandon McCarthy gave up five hits and six runs without recording an out to take the loss for the Dodgers. Yasiel Puig laced an RBI-double for L.A.
Angels Rip Astros
(Anaheim, CA) — Kaleb Cowart’s bases-clearing double highlighted a four-run second inning as the Angels ripped the Astros, 7-1, in Anaheim. Daniel Wright earned his first win of the season with six innings of one-run ball. Jefry Marte added a solo homer for the Halos, who have won four games in a row and eight of their past nine. Teoscar Hernandez doubled in the lone run for Houston. Brad Peacock took the loss.
Red Sox Top Blue Jays
(Boston, MA) — David Ortiz’s tie-breaking, two-run homer capped a four-run eighth inning as the Red Sox rallied past the Blue Jays, 5-3, at Fenway Park. Dustin Pedroia added a trio of hits and scored a run. Brad Ziegler earned the win in relief of starter Rick Porcello. Craig Kimbrel locked down the ninth inning for his 31st save of the season to snap Boston’s three-game losing streak. Toronto’s Joe Biagini took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in one-and-a-third innings. Jose Bautista launched a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who are a half-game ahead of Detroit for the AL’s final Wild Card slot.