NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier hit a homer in the ninth inning to extend the Reds’ form surge and beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Wednesday.
The Reds won their fifth in a row, leaving them five games over .500 (24-19) for the first time this season.
Frazier connected for his first game-ending homer on the second pitch from Cristhian Martinez (2-1), who came on to start the ninth. It was a fitting ending to a series that has been decided by solo homers — 11 in all during the three games.
Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman (4-0) struck out two of the three he faced in the ninth. He has not allowed an earned run in 24 1-3 innings, ascending to the closer’s role.
DIAMONDBACKS 11, DODGERS 4
In Phoenix, Justin Upton and Ryan Roberts homered and every Arizona starter had at least one hit as the Diamondbacks ended Los Angeles’ six-game winning streak.
Willie Bloomquist had three hits, including a runs batted in (RBI) triple, and Aaron Hill had two hits and two RBIs for Arizona.
Diamondbacks starter Joe Saunders (3-3) struck out a season-high seven. He also recorded his first hit of the year, a single in the fifth that stopped his 0-for-13 skid at the plate.
Dodgers starter Ted Lilly (5-1) went 3 1-3 innings, his shortest outing for two years. He gave up eight runs and five walks.
PHILLIES 4, NATIONALS 1
In Philadelphia, Cole Hamels pitched eight scoreless innings as Philadelphia snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak with a win over Washington.
Hamels (7-1) did not allow a hit until the sixth. He is tied with St Louis’ Lance Lynn for the major league lead in victories after winning his seventh straight decision, striking out eight.
Hamels faced Washington for the first time since intentionally hitting Bryce Harper on May 6. The incident sparked a firestorm, as a result of which Hamels earning a five-game suspension and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo getting fined for his comments about Hamels.
Nationals starter Edwin Jackson (1-2) allowed three runs in seven innings.
METS 3, PIRATES 1
In Pittsburgh, Jonathon Niese ended a six-start winless streak and pitched New York past Pittsburgh.
Niese (3-2) allowed just one run over 7 2-3 innings. Reliever Bobby Parnell got the final strikeout with runners on second and third bases to end the eighth. Frank Francisco pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Pirates starter Charlie Morton (2-5) allowed eight hits in seven innings.
BREWERS 8, GIANTS 5
In Milwaukee, Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run double in a six-run first inning that set up Milwaukee’s win over San Francisco.
Jonathan Lucroy added a two-run homer in the second as the Brewers pounded Giants starter Barry Zito (3-2), who gave up eight runs in three innings.
He is 0-4 with a 7.67 earned run average in eight starts at Miller Park.
Milwaukee’s Jose Veras (3-1) pitched two hitless innings in relief of Marco Estrada, who left after injuring his right hip while running out a first-inning double.
In other NL play it was:
‧ Cardinals 6, Padres 3
‧ Rockies 8, Marlins 4
‧ Astros 5, Cubs 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
Tampa Bay’s Rich Thompson was hit by a pitch starting the 11th inning and then scored on B.J Upton’s double to give the Rays a 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. Darren Oliver (0-2) threw the pitch that struck Thompson.
Rays reliever Jake McGee (1-1) struck out two during a perfect 11th to take the win as the Rays completed a 15th successive home series victory over Toronto.
Tampa Bay nearly won the game in the ninth on Drew Sutton’s two-out infield single, but Blue Jays veteran second baseman Omar Vizquel threw out Carlos Pena, who tried to score from second.
RED SOX 6, ORIOLES 5
In Baltimore, Daniel Nava broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth with a solo homer and Boston held on to edge Baltimore.
Nava’s shot came off Jake Arrieta (2-5) and Kelly Shoppach greeted reliever Luis Ayala with a two-run drive. Scott Podsednik, in his first start for Boston, added a solo shot in the eighth.
Red Sox starter Daniel Bard (4-5) allowed two runs in 5 1-3 innings. Alfredo Aceves got four straight outs for the save.
MARINERS 5, RANGERS 3
In Seattle, Alex Liddi hit the first major league grand slam by an Italian-born player in 54 years, powering Seattle past Texas.
Liddi made Texas pay for the decision to pitch around Dustin Ackley in the fifth inning. Ackley was intentionally walked to load the bases and Liddi lined the first pitch from Scott Feldman (0-2) just over the left-field wall for his third homer this season. He also doubled and scored Seattle’s first run.
He is the first Italian-born player to hit a grand slam since Detroit’s Reno Bertoia did it in 1958.
Mariners starter Kevin Millwood (3-4) pitched six scoreless innings.
INDIANS 4, TIGERS 2
In Cleveland, Jason Kipnis had three hits and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for Cleveland in the win over Detroit.
Kipnis singled off the glove of pitcher Phil Coke (1-1) with one out in the eighth and reached third base on a double by Asdrubal Cabrera.
Travis Hafner then grounded to first baseman Prince Fielder, whose low throw made it difficult for catcher Alex Avila and Kipnis dived to home plate to score. Carlos Santana’s sacrifice fly scored Cabrera.
Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano (2-0) got out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the top half of the inning and took the win.
YANKEES 8, ROYALS 3
In New York, Alex Rodriguez gave Will Smith a rude welcome to the major leagues, hitting two homers off the rookie to power New York past Kansas City.
Rodriguez snapped a 52 at-bat homereless drought and drove in three runs for New York. Curtis Granderson also connected off Smith (0-1) as the Yankees scored three times in the fifth inning with help from some inept relief pitching.
New York starter Andy Pettitte (2-1) pitched seven-plus crafty innings in his third start since coming out of retirement.
In other AL play, it was:
‧ White Sox 6, Twins 0
‧ Angels 3, Athletics 1
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