Alex Rodriguez inched closer to Willie Mays with two more home runs as the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Friday.
Rodriguez hit a solo shot in the second, driving a 0-1 pitch from Nathan Karns an estimated 140m to center. He connected again in the sixth, belting a two-run drive to left against Ernesto Frieri for homer No. 658 — just two shy of Mays for fourth place on baseball’s career list.
Rodriguez, who missed last season because of a drug suspension, also had a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth against Kevin Jepsen (0-1). Brett Gardner, who came in to run for Carlos Beltran after his leadoff single, stole second before Rodriguez singled to center with two out.
Photo: AFP
After Dellin Betances (2-0) threw a scoreless inning, Andrew Miller got the final four outs for his third save.
Allan Dykstra and Logan Forsythe hit consecutive homers in the fourth to give Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead.
DODGERS 7, ROCKIES 3
In Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 batters in six innings on his way to his first win, helping the Dodgers beat the Rockies.
Kershaw (1-1) allowed three runs — one earned — and six hits. The reigning National League MVP is 21-2 with a 1.69 ERA in his last 24 regular-season starts.
Troy Tulowitzki and Charlie Blackmon homered for Colorado. Kyle Kendrick (1-2) gave up six runs and seven hits in 4-2/3 innings.
Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and two RBIs for the Dodgers. Howie Kendrick drove in three runs.
ROYALS 6, ATHLETICS 4
In Kansas City, Missouri, Paulo Orlando hit a tiebreaking RBI triple in Kansas City’s two-run eighth inning as the Royals beat the Athletics in their first meeting since last September’s dramatic wild-card game.
Omar Infante drove in a pair of runs for the Royals, whose 12-inning victory over the Athletics last year ultimately spurred them all the way to Game 7 of the World Series.
Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis (2-0) each pitched a scoreless inning in relief of the Royals’ Jeremy Guthrie, and Greg Holland breezed through the ninth for his fourth save.
Dan Otero (0-1) gave up both runs in the eighth inning for Oakland. Stephen Vogt hit a pair of solo homers, and Ike Davis also went deep for the A’s.
NATIONALS 7, PHILLIES 2
In Washington, Max Scherzer pitched eight strong innings to get his first win with the Nationals, and Bryce Harper hit a three-run homer.
Danny Espinosa also homered and Ryan Zimmerman added a two-run double to help Washington to their third straight win.
Scherzer (1-1) allowed one run and struck out nine in his third start since signed a seven-year US$210 million contract in January.
The Phillies have lost six in a row. Sean O’Sullivan (0-1) went five innings in his second start of the season — both against the Nationals — and allowed four runs and five hits.
ANGELS 6, ASTROS 3
In Houston, Texas, Angels star Mike Trout homered twice to become the youngest player in history with 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases.
Trout, who has 104 steals, hit a two-run shot off Roberto Hernandez in the sixth inning for his 100th homer, giving the Angels a 3-1 lead. At 23 years and 253 days old, Trout became the youngest player to reach the feat — breaking the mark set by Alex Rodriguez (23 years, 309 days old).
After the Astros tied it with single runs in the sixth and seventh, Trout hit a three-run shot against reliever Chad Qualls (0-1) in the eighth.
Cesar Ramos (1-0) got the win and Huston Street pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.
TIGERS 2, WHITE SOX 1
In Detroit, Michigan, Jose Iglesias hit a game-ending RBI single as the Tigers improved their major league-best record to 9-1.
Nick Castellanos led off the ninth with a sinking liner to right off Zach Duke (1-1). Castellanos stretched the hit into a double, and while replays appeared to show shortstop Alexei Ramirez tagging him on a toe, second base umpire Brian O’Nora called the runner safe.
Chicago manager Robin Ventura came out to discuss the play with the umpires. Ventura said O’Nora told him that Ramirez had missed him, and the manager returned to the dugout.
Ventura then came back on the field after hearing from the team’s replay staff. Umpires ruled the time for a challenge had lapsed, because the manager had gone back to the dugout and the Tigers had inserted Andrew Romine to run for Castellanos.
Alex Avila then sacrificed and Iglesias singled to shallow right-center.
Joakim Soria (1-0) got the win with a perfect ninth.
In other results, it was:
‧ Padres 5, Cubs 4
‧ Diamondbacks 9, Giants 0
‧ Red Sox 3, Orioles 2
‧ Mets 4, Marlins 1
‧ Rangers 3, Mariners 1
‧ Pirates 6, Brewers 3
‧ Cardinals 6, Reds 1
‧ Braves 8, Blue Jays 7
‧ Twins 3, Indians 2, 11 innings
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