MAJOR LEAGUES
Starlin Castro hit a three-run homer and Edwin Jackson got the better of Charlie Morton, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.
Chris Coghlan added a solo shot as the Cubs opened a 10-game home stand with their fourth win in five games. Last-place Chicago are 18-13 since May 17.
Jackson (5-7) pitched five innings and earned his first win in four matchups this year against Morton (4-8). He allowed three runs on Jordy Mercer’s fifth homer and five hits. It was his second win in six starts.
Pittsburgh rookie Gregory Polanco opened the game with a single, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. He is the first National League player to begin his career with such a streak since Juan Pierre’s 16-game run for Colorado in 2000.
MARLINS 3, METS 2
In Miami, left-fielder Marcell Ozuna cut down the potential tying run at the plate in the eighth and ninth innings — including Kirk Nieuwenhuis to end the game — to help Miami beat the New York Mets.
Ozuna threw out Nieuwenhuis. He also got David Wright to end the eighth after the Mets cut the deficit to 3-2.
Adeiny Hechavarria drove in two runs for the Marlins.
Henderson Alvarez (4-3) pitched 6-1/3 scoreless innings, allowing seven hits without a walk and struck out five. In his past six starts, he is 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA.
Steve Cishek allowed a double to Nieuwenhuis to open the ninth, but earned his 17th save in 18 chances.
Mets starter Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-1) allowed one run and six hits in 5-1/3 innings. He struck out four.
YANKEES 5, ORIOLES 3
In New York, Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the New York Yankees over Baltimore for their fourth straight win.
Beltran connected off Zach Britton (3-1) right after Brian McCann hit an RBI single. The Yankees struggled with runners in scoring position until the ninth.
Brett Gardner led off the ninth with a single. After Derek Jeter struck out and Jacoby Ellsbury flied out, Mark Teixeira walked.
McCann then singled home a run, setting up Beltran’s first walkoff homer since 2008, for the New York Mets.
David Huff (1-0) gave up Steve Pearce’s RBI single in the ninth but got the win.
In other play, it was:
‧ Tigers 6, Indians 4
‧ Astros 3, Rays 1
‧ Blue Jays 14, Reds 9
‧ Braves 6, Nationals 4,
‧ Phillies 5, Cardinals 1
‧ Twins 5, White Sox 4
‧ Mariners 7, Royals 5
‧ Diamondbacks 4, Giants 1
‧ Brewers 13, Rockies 10
‧ Padres 6, Dodgers 5
‧ Angels 7, Rangers 3
‧ Athletics 4, Red Sox 3
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