Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer off reliever Marc Rzepczynski in the eighth inning after Cleveland replaced starter Trevor Bauer, rallying the St Louis Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over the Indians on Thursday.
Bauer blanked St Louis on four hits over 7-1/3 innings, before giving up a one-out walk.
Indians manager Terry Francona brought in the left-handed Rzepczynski (1-1) to face Carpenter, a lefty, who had struck out in his three previous at-bats.
Photo: AFP
Carpenter drove a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right-center to help the Cardinals win the series after being overpowered by Corey Kluber on Wednesday night. It was the first homer Rzepczysnki has given up to a left-handed hitter since June 12, 2012, when he was with the Cardinals.
Kevin Siegrist (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings and Trevor Rosenthal put the tying run on with one out in the ninth, before striking out pinch-hitter Zach Walters and Jason Kipnis for his 12th save.
Michael Brantley homered for the Indians, who have not won consecutive games since April 8 and April 9.
Following Kluber’s 18-strikeout performance, Bauer fanned 10.
PADRES 8, NATIONALS 3
In San Diego, California, Cory Spangenberg had his first two-homer game, while Derek Norris homered, tripled and drove in five runs to lead San Diego to a victory over Washington in a game delayed for nearly two hours by rain.
Spangenberg homered to right-center with two outs in the second off Doug Fister and to left off Blake Treinen leading off the fourth. They were his first two of the season.
Norris hit a three-run homer to left with two outs in the first and barely missed another shot in the second, settling for a two-run triple off the wall in left-center, also with two outs.
Norris’ chance at the first cycle in Padres history ended when he grounded out to shortstop in the fifth.
The offensive outburst gave Tyson Ross (2-3) his first victory since April 12 against San Francisco.
The rain delay on Thursday was just the fifth since Petco Park opened in 2004.
ASTROS 6, BLUE JAYS 4
In Houston, Texas, Jonathan Villar’s two-run double put Houston on top for good in a four-run seventh inning against Toronto.
Rookie Preston Tucker’s RBI double off Aaron Loup (1-2) with in the seventh brought the Astros within 4-3. Villar’s groundball double down the right-field line scored two more to give Houston the lead.
The Blue Jays intentionally walked Jose Altuve with one out, before he stole second and Josh Thole’s error on the play allowed Villar to add an insurance run.
Loup’s blown save ruined a solid start by Drew Hutchison, who allowed five hits and two runs with a season-high nine strikeouts in six innings.
Josh Fields (2-0) got the last two outs of the seventh for the win and Chad Qualls struck out one in a perfect ninth for his fourth save.
Thursday’s other results:
‧ Rockies 5, Dodgers 4
‧ Cubs 6, Mets 5
‧ Rays 6, Yankees 1
‧ Reds 4, Giants 3
‧ Red Sox 2, Mariners 1
‧ Tigers 13, Twins 1
‧ Royals 6, Rangers 3
‧ Phillies 4, Pirates 2
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