NATIONAL LEAGUE
Atlanta’s Brandon Beachy pitched a complete game shutout to guide the Braves to a 7-0 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday and top spot in the National League East division.
Beachy (5-1), who has won five straight decisions, pitched his first complete game. He had no walks and six strikeouts, lowering his major league-best ERA from 1.60 to 1.33.
Photo: AFP
He struck out two in the ninth inning to cap Atlanta’s first shutout of the season as the Braves moved above Washington at the head of the division.
Freddie Freeman homered and Chipper Jones had two hits for the Braves.
Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco (4-2) gave up four runs in four innings.
GIANTS 7, CARDINALS 5
In San Francisco, Brandon Crawford hit a two-run single as San Francisco capitalized on shoddy fielding by St Louis.
St Louis made three errors in a game for the second time this week. Three of the five runs scored off Adam Wainwright (2-5) were unearned.
Giants starter Matt Cain (3-2) got some overdue run support to take the win. Since his first season in the majors in 2006, he has received a major league-low 3.89 runs of support per game.
PIRATES 5, NATIONALS 3
In Washington, Andrew McCutchen homered twice in Pittsburgh’s win over Washington.
Pirates starter James McDonald (3-2) struck out a career-high 11 and retired his first 13 batters.
He was helped by two spectacular plays on defense, from Casey McGehee at first base and McCutchen in center field.
Rod Barajas added a two-run homer and three hits for Pittsburgh.
Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann (2-4) gave up a season-worst four runs in six innings.
METS 9, REDS 4
In New York, David Wright lined his second double of the game to break the tie in the eighth inning and give New York victory over Cincinnati.
Down 4-0, the Mets began their comeback in the middle innings.
Ronny Cedeno’s three-run homer capped a five-run eighth against Logan Ondrusek (3-1), a burst that began with a neatly placed bunt single by backup catcher Rob Johnson with one out.
Wright was up next and sent a one-hopper off the wall in center for a 5-4 lead. Wright raised his majors-leading average to .411.
A trio of Mets relievers held the Reds scoreless ball, with Bobby Parnell (1-0) getting the win.
In other NL play, it was:
‧ Dodgers 8, Padres 1
‧ Phillies 8, Cubs 7
‧ Astros 4, Brewers 0
‧ Diamondbacks 9, Rockies 7
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ARLINGTON, Texas
Oakland’s Kila Ka’aihue hit a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning as the Athletics shrugged off a disputed call that cost them the lead and still beat the Texas Rangers 5-4 on Thursday.
Ka’aihue’s single off Mike Adams (0-2) drove in Jonny Gomes, who had three hits. Josh Reddick’s homer had made it 4-4 in the seventh.
Oakland’s Ryan Cook (1-0) escaped a ninth-inning jam to take the win. He has pitched 19-2/3 scoreless innings this season, most among American League relievers. Brian Fuentes recorded the save.
Oakland fell behind 4-3 in the sixth, when Texas’ Craig Gentry scored from third base on a squeeze bunt that Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy claimed he caught. Oakland manager Bob Melvin was ejected for arguing the call.
BLUE JAYS 4, YANKEES 1
In Toronto, Jose Bautista and J.P. Arencibia each hit a two-run homer and that was enough for Toronto to down New York.
Bautista hit his second homer in two nights and 10th this season. He connected off Phil Hughes (3-5) who went 5-1/3 innings.
New York lost its third straight and fell to 0-9 this season when failing to hit a home run. The Yankees dropped into fourth place in the American League East.
Making his sixth major league start, Toronto’s Drew Hutchison (3-1) allowed one run in six innings.
RED SOX 5, RAYS 3
In St Petersburg, Florida, Cody Ross homered and drove in four runs to help Boston end Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak.
Ross extended the lead to 5-2 on a two-run single with two outs in the eighth.
Red Sox starter Felix Doubront (4-1) allowed two runs over 5-2/3 innings to win his third straight start.
Rays starter Matt Moore (1-4) gave up three runs in six innings.
In other AL play, it was:
‧ Orioles 5, Royals 3
‧ Indians 6, Mariners 5,
11 innings
‧ White Sox 6, Angels 1
‧ Twins 4, Tigers 3
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