Alex Rodriguez reached 2,999 hits with a pair of singles and Carlos Beltran and Brett Gardner each had two-run homers to lead the New York Yankees to a 9-4 victory over the Miami Marlins.
Rodriguez hit an RBI single in the first inning for the second straight night, flied out to right field in the third and hit a sharp grounder past diving third baseman Donovan Solano in the fifth to move within one hit of becoming the 29th player to reach the 3,000 plateau.
He lined out in the sixth, his first try at the milestone — swinging at specially marked balls.
Photo: AFP
Yankee Stadium played a piece of Beethoven’s famed Symphony No. 5 as Rodriguez came to bat in the eighth, but Miami reliever Sam Dyson didn’t give A-Rod a chance to swing, throwing four inside pitches that sent the slugger leaping back each time.
PIRATES 3, WHITE SOX 2
In Chicago, Gerrit Cole became the majors’ first 11-game winner as Pittsburgh beat struggling Chicago to extend their winning streak to a season-high eight games.
Photo: AP
Cole (11-2) allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings and has won each of his last six starts while giving up two runs or less in each. Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.
Jung Ho Kang went two-for-five with an RBI and a run scored, and Josh Harrison and Gregory Polanco each drove in a run for Pittsburgh. The Pirates, who also won 3-2 on Wednesday, have won seven times in their last 11 games while scoring three runs or less.
Geovany Soto hit a solo home run for Chicago, who have dropped a season-high seven games.
Jake Petricka (1-2) took the loss in relief of starter Jeff Samardzija, who went seven innings.
PADRES 3, ATHLETICS 1
In Oakland, California, Pat Murphy got his first win as San Diego’s manager and Derek Norris homered against his former team as the Padres beat Oakland.
Matt Kemp hit his second home run in three days as San Diego stopped a four-game losing streak. The Padres fired manager Bud Black on Monday and hired Murphy the following day.
Ian Kennedy (4-5) gave up one run and four hits in six innings, allowing only one runner past second base. Kennedy, who struck out Stephen Vogt with the potential tying run at the third in the sixth, has a 2.63 ERA in his last four starts after compiling a 7.15 ERA in his first eight.
Craig Kimbrel pitched a one-hit ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances, completing a five-hitter.
TWINS 2, CARDINALS 1
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, slumping Kennys Vargas hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Minnesota to a victory and a two-game sweep of St Louis.
Joe Mauer also homered for the Twins, tying the game in the eighth to answer Jason Heyward’s solo shot for the Cardinals in the seventh.
Vargas grounded into two double plays, ruining a bases-loaded rally on one of those with one out in the seventh inning. He more than made up for that with his game-ending drive into the right-field seats off a slow curveball from Carlos Villanueva (3-2).
Vargas, who is five for 27 since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester, was mobbed at home plate by his teammates.
Blaine Boyer (2-2) pitched the ninth for the victory, after eight dominant innings by Mike Pelfrey in an old-fashioned duel with Jaime Garcia.
INDIANS 4, CUBS 3
In Cleveland, Ohio, rookie Giovanny Urshela’s seventh-inning single drove in the go-ahead run as Cleveland beat Chicago.
Kyle Schwarber hit his first major league home run for the Cubs, a two-run blast off Danny Salazar in the fifth that tied the game at 3-all.
The game was delayed twice by rain for a total of 1 hour and 41 minutes. Following a 1 hour, 16 minute delay in the fifth, Indians manager Terry Francona went with closer Cody Allen to work out of a bases-loaded jam.
Zach McAllister (2-2) pitched 1-1/3 innings, while Bryan Shaw recorded the final four outs for his first save.
In other results, it was:
‧ Blue Jays 7, Mets 1
‧ Rays 5, Nationals 3
‧ Astros 8, Rockies 4
‧ Royals 3, Brewers 2
‧ Phillies 2, Orioles 1
‧ Angels 7, Diamondbacks 1
‧ Red Sox 5, Braves 2
‧ Dodgers 1, Rangers 0
‧ Giants 7, Mariners 0
‧ Tigers-Reds postponed
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