AMERICAN LEAGUE
Coco Crisp homered, hit an RBI double and scored three runs as the Oakland Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 5-1 on Wednesday for their second straight winning series.
Yoenis Cespedes hit a go-ahead two-run single in the third inning that held up for Tommy Milone, and Crisp also singled and stole his 28th base to give the A’s a much-needed boost only a couple of hours after right-hander Bartolo Colon received a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test a day before he had been scheduled to start the opener of a series at Tampa Bay.
Photo: AFP
Milone (10-9) allowed one run and two hits, struck out five and walked one in eight impressive innings to end a five-start winless stretch.
Minnesota starter Liam Hendriks (0-6) is still searching for his first major league win after 13 career starts, and nine this season.
RANGERS 12, ORIOLES 3
In Arlington, Texas, Adrian Beltre hit three home runs, including two in a nine-run fourth inning, and had five RBIs for the Rangers in a victory over the Orioles.
Beltre hit his first homer leading off the second against former teammate Tommy Hunter. He connected again off Hunter for a two-run shot with none out in the fourth. He then hit another two-run drive with two outs while facing Kevin Gregg.
In other AL play, it was:
‧ Mariners 3, Indians 1
‧ Rays 5, Royals 3
‧ White Sox 2, Yankees 1
‧ Tigers 3, Blue Jays 2
‧ Angels 7, Red Sox 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PHOENIX, Arizona
Rookie Wade Miley pitched eight innings to earn his 14th victory, and Arizona beat Miami 3-0 on Wednesday night to complete a sweep of the first home doubleheader in Diamondbacks history.
Fellow left-hander Tyler Skaggs (1-0) made his major league debut in the opener, allowing two runs and three hits over 6-2/3 innings in a 3-2 victory.
Miley (14-8) gave up four singles, struck out five and walked one.
Paul Goldschmidt singled in a run in the first, then doubled and scored in the fourth for Arizona. Aaron Hill had a two-run homer and RBI single in the first game.
Miami’s Wade LeBlanc (2-3) gave up three runs, two earned, and five hits in seven innings in the nightcap.
J.J. Putz pitched a scoreless ninth in both games for his 16th and 17th consecutive saves. He has 26 saves in 29 tries on the year.
In other NL play, it was:
‧ Brewers 3, Cubs 2
‧ Braves 5, Nationals 1
‧ Reds 3, Phillies 2
‧ Rockies 5, Mets 2
‧ Cardinals 4, Astros 2
‧ Padres 4, Pirates 2
‧ Giants 8, Dodgers 4
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
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