Boston’s David Ortiz on Monday hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning as the Red Sox hung on to beat Cleveland 3-2, leaving the top three teams in the American League East division separated by just one game.
The Red Sox closed in on coleaders Baltimore and Toronto, who lost the outright lead after a shutout defeat at the New York Yankees.
In key National League encounters, Washington maintained their healthy lead in the East with a tight win against Colorado, while West leaders San Francisco were beaten at home by Baltimore, slicing the Giants’ advantage to the bare minimum ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Photo: David Richard, USA TODAY
Boston pushed their winning run to four thanks chiefly to Ortiz. “Big Papi” hit his 27th homer of the season, and has cleared the fences in all three Boston games at Cleveland this year.
One out later, Jackie Bradley Jr also homered off Josh Tomlin, who has given up a major league-worst 29 home runs this season.
New York’s Chad Green struck out 11 in six dominant innings to guide the Yankees to a 1-0 win against Toronto.
Promoted earlier in the day from the minors for his fifth stint in the majors this season, Green was in complete control, giving up no runs or walks.
Aaron Judge delivered again with a double for the only run of the game, and Dellin Betances escaped a big ninth-inning jam as Edwin Encarnacion ground into a game-ending double play with runners at the corners.
Washington beat sliding Colorado 5-4, despite a lackluster start by ace Max Scherzer.
The Nationals ace departed after just four innings, having given up four runs, but the bullpen kept the Rockies scoreless from then on.
Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos homered, while Bryce Harper doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.
Werth hit a two-run homer and reached base safely three times to extend his on-base streak to a career-best 43 games. The stretch is the longest in the majors this season and ties Ryan Zimmerman for the Nationals record.
Colorado have lost eight of nine.
Pittsburgh’s Gregory Polanco had a homer and four RBIs to power the Pirates to an 8-5 win at San Francisco.
Pirates starter Ryan Vogelsong, who spent parts of seven seasons with the Giants and won two World Series, allowed four runs over 5-2/3 innings, winning for the first time since a two-month absence following a hit to the face by a pitch in late May.
Pittsburgh moved within one game of St Louis, who provisionally hold the second NL wild card.
Texas’ Martin Perez earned his first win in almost two months as the Rangers beat Oakland 5-2.
Perez gave up one earned run in seven innings to take an overdue win, after going 0-4 over his previous eight starts.
The Rangers had gone 24 innings without scoring before breaking through against the Athletics, and Adrian Beltre hit a grand slam for his 100th homer at Globe Life Park. Beltre has 432 career homers, moving him ahead of Cal Ripken on the all-time list.
Texas’ Choo Shin-Soo suffered a broken left forearm when he was hit by a pitch.
Kansas City’s Ian Kennedy pitched effectively into the seventh inning to win for the first time since June as the Royals beat Detroit 3-1.
Seattle ace Felix Hernandez steered the Mariners to a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels, sending them to an 11th consecutive defeat to match a franchise record.
Miami’s former reliever David Phelps pitched into the sixth inning in only his third start of the season to steer the Marlins to a 6-3 win at Cincinnati.
Arizona’s Welington Castillo, just back from a six-day leave due to complications with the birth of his son, matched his career high of four hits to lead the Diamondbacks over the New York Mets 10-6.
Tampa Bay’s Drew Smyly allowed just one hit over seven innings to guide the Rays past San Diego 8-2.
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