AMERICAN LEAGUE
Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 38th home run, a two-run shot in the sixth inning that gave the Baltimore Orioles their first lead in a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
Davis had gone 10 straight games without a long ball until connecting off Lucas Harrell (5-11). Earlier, Davis extended his run of games with a strikeout to 23, the longest streak in team history.
Photo: AFP
The slumping slugger came in with a .205 batting average since the All-Star break and had not hit a home run since July 14. The drive off Harrell was his first extra-base hit in seven games.
J.J. Hardy hit a two-run single in the fourth inning to start Baltimore’s comeback from a three-run deficit. The Orioles got only three hits in winning for the second time in seven games.
Darren O’Day got two outs in the eighth and Jim Johnson worked a perfect ninth for his 36th save.
Taiwan’s Chen Wei-yin (6-3) allowed three runs, seven hits and a walk in 7-1/3 innings for his fourth straight win. The left-hander had a season-high nine strikeouts.
Chen is 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his four starts since returning from the disabled list on July 10.
Another Taiwanese pitcher, Lo Chia-jen, who was recalled by the Astros on Monday, did not make an appearance in Tuesday’s game.
RED SOX 8, MARINERS 2
In Boston, Rookie Brandon Workman struck out nine while picking up his first major league win, allowing one run over six innings as Boston beat Seattle.
Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia homered in the second, giving Workman a cushy 5-1 lead that the young right-hander never squandered in just his third start in the big leagues.
He allowed six hits, three of them in the sixth when Seattle loaded the bases with one out before Workman (1-1) ended the threat with back-to-back strikeouts. Joe Saunders (9-10) allowed six runs over five innings for Seattle, including two in the first as the Mariners set themselves back with an error and a passed ball.
BLUE JAYS 5, ATHLETICS 0
In Oakland, California, Mark Buehrle allowed five hits over seven innings, while Jose Bautista and Emilio Bonifacio each homered as Toronto ended Oakland’s winning streak at four. Colby Ramus also drove in a run and Edwin Encarnacion added two hits for the Blue Jays.
Derek Norris had two hits for the A’s, who during the game acquired third baseman Alberto Callaspo from the Angels for infielder Grant Green. Buehrle (7-7) ran his scoreless innings streak to 20, did not walk a batter and struck out two. Dan Straily (6-5) gave up five runs — two earned — on six hits for Oakland.
INDIANS 7, WHITE SOX 4
In Cleveland, Ohio, pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn hit a two-run single in the eighth inning as Cleveland beat freefalling Chicago to win their sixth straight game.
The Indians stayed within 2.5 games of first-placed Detroit in the AL Central.
Cleveland were in danger of losing to Brazilian rookie Andre Rienzo on his debut before coming back against Donnie Veal (1-2), who started the eighth. Rienzo, the first Brazilian-born player to pitch in the major leagues, did not allow an earned run and only five hits in seven innings.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Rangers 14, Angels 11, 10 inns
‧ Royals 7, Twins 2
Additional reporting by CNA
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania
Andrew McCutchen clubbed his 15th homer of the season as the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a doubleheader sweep of the St Louis Cardinals with a 6-0 victory on Tuesday night.
Brandon Cumpton (1-1) allowed three hits over seven innings to pick up his first major league win. The sweep propelled the Pirates into first place in the National League Central. Pittsburgh are a season-high 22 games over .500 (64-42).
Tyler Lyons (2-4) gave up four runs, three earned, in six innings. The rookie struck out five and walked one, but received no help from a reeling offense. The Cardinals have dropped six straight and have scored five runs in their last 56 innings.
St Louis catcher Yadier Molina left in the fourth inning with a right-knee strain.
The Pirates took the opener 2-1 in 11 innings when Alex Presley’s sharp grounder deflected off the glove of pitcher Kevin Siegrist and rolled into shallow left field, allowing Pittsburgh’s Russell Martin to score from second.
BRAVES 11, ROCKIES 3
In Atlanta, Georgia, Freddie Freeman hit two home runs and Brian McCann added a three-run shot as Atlanta beat Colorado to win their fifth straight game.
The Braves, who scored 10 unanswered runs, moved 10 games ahead of second-placed Washington in the NL East. They lead the majors with a 36-15 home record.
Freeman had four RBIs with his first multihomer game this season and fourth of his career.
Rookie Alex Wood (1-2) earned his first career victory after allowing six hits, three runs and one walk while striking out seven in seven innings. Juan Nicasio (6-5) allowed 10 hits, a season-high eight runs, three walks and struck out four in four innings.
Colorado have lost 16 of 19 series games against Atlanta.
PHILLIES 7, GIANTS 3
In Philadelphia, Carlos Ruiz and Michael Young hit two-run homers to back John Lannan, as Philadelphia beat San Francisco to snap an eight-game losing streak.
The Phillies beat the New York Mets 13-8 in their first game after the All-Star break, but scored a total of 14 in the next eight losses to drop out of contention.
Defending World Series champion the Giants have lost five in a row and eight of nine. They came off a 3-7 homestand that left them in last place in the NL West. Lannan (3-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings.
Barry Zito (4-8) gave up four runs and five hits in 3-1/3 innings. The 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner is 0-7 with a 9.97 ERA on the road.
METS 4, MARLINS 2, 10 INNINGS
In Miami, Marlins reliever Chad Qualls took a tumble after escaping late trouble, but Miami stumbled in the 10th inning when John Buck hit a tiebreaking two-run single that lifted New York to victory.
Zack Wheeler took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Juan Lagares had three hits and two RBIs for the Mets.
Donovan Solano and Jake Marisnick had consecutive RBI singles after Ed Lucas got Miami’s first hit with one out in the seventh to tie it 2-2.
Scott Atchison (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the victory and Bobby Parnell pitched the 10th for his 22nd save in 26 opportunities. Steve Cishek (3-6) allowed two runs and three hits in two innings.
In other NL action it was:
‧ Padres 4, Reds 2
‧ Brewers 6, Cubs 5, 1st game
‧ Brewers 3, Cubs 2, 2nd game
INTERLEAGUE
AP, LOS ANGELES
Mark Ellis singled in the winning run in the ninth inning, lifting Los Angeles to a victory over New York. With two out, Ellis lofted the ball over the head of leaping shortstop Derek Jeter to score Andre Ethier, who singled and stole second.
The Dodgers have improved to 27-6 since June 21, their best stretch since going 29-5 during a 34-game run from Aug. 7 to Sept. 9, 1953.
Kenley Jansen (4-3) pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts to earn the win. Shawn Kelley (3-1) took the loss in relief in the Yankees’ third-ever series at Dodger Stadium and first since June 2010.
Yankees starter Andy Pettitte gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings, struck out three and walked none. Dodgers starter Zack Greinke allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings, struck out seven and walked none.
TIGERS 5, NATIONALS 1
In Detroit, Michigan, Alex Avila hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the sixth inning off Stephen Strasburg to lead Detroit past Washington. Anibal Sanchez (9-7) gave up one run, five hits and two walks over seven innings for Detroit.
Jose Veras, a day after being acquired from Houston, was perfect in the eighth in his Tigers debut.
Joaquin Benoit, who will keep his job as the team’s closer, gave up one hit in the ninth inning.
Strasburg (5-9) allowed five runs, six hits and three walks while striking out seven over seven innings. Strasburg is winless in his last four starts and has given up at least four earned runs in three of his past five outings.
RAYS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 2
In St Petersburg, Florida, Roberto Hernandez came within one out of a complete-game shutout, while Yunel Escobar and Ben Zobrist drove in two runs each as Tampa Bay beat Arizona.
The Rays maintained their half-game lead over Boston in the AL East. Hernandez (6-11) opened the game by hitting Gerardo Parra with a pitch and giving up a single to Aaron Hill. He then retired 22 of the next 25 batters before Parra singled leading off the ninth.
Eric Chavez ended Hernandez’s shutout bid with a two-out home run.
Ian Kennedy (3-8) gave up six hits and three runs while striking out seven in five innings for Arizona. Kennedy, still seeking his 50th career victory, has not won since June 1.
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