The Toronto Blue Jays opened a season-high 4.5-game lead in the American League East, sweeping a doubleheader from the sagging New York Yankees 9-5 and 10-7 on a sodden Saturday when Troy Tulowitzki cracked a shoulder blade and Marcus Stroman won on his return from a spring training knee injury.
Jose Bautista homered twice and Chasen Shreve forced in three runs with bases-loaded walks in the 11th inning as the Blue Jays rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the opener.
Bautista hit two of Toronto’s four home runs, including an eighth-inning drive off Dellin Betances that put the Blue Jays ahead 5-4 and increased his season total to 35.
Photo: Gregory J. Fisher-USA Today
Edwin Encarnacion and Ben Revere also connected for the Blue Jays.
Cliff Pennington hit a two-run homer and former Yankee Russell Martin added a two-run double in a six-run second inning against Ivan Nova that boosted the Blue Jays in the rain-interrupted nightcap in front of only a few thousand fans who stayed from the original crowd of 46,278.
Brett Gardner hit a pair of three-run homers for New York in the second game and homered three times in the doubleheader.
Photo: AFP
RED SOX 10, RAYS 4
In St Petersburg, Florida, David Ortiz homered twice to become the 27th player in major league history to reach 500 homers as Boston beat Tampa Bay.
With an overflow crowd in the right-field stands on their feet and chanting “Let’s go Papi,” Ortiz reached the milestone when he lined a shot to right-center on a 2-2 pitch from Matt Moore (1-4) leading off the fifth.
He connected for No. 499 in the first.
Big Papi has 50 multi-homer games in a 19-year career.
Ortiz pumped his right arm as he ran toward first base.
His teammates emptied the dugout and bullpen to celebrate the big hit with him.
Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello (8-12) got the win after allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings.
GIANTS 8, PADRES 0
In San Francisco, Madison Bumgarner lost his bid for a perfect game on a base hit with two outs in the eighth inning, the only blemish for the San Francisco ace in a win over San Diego.
Bumgarner (18-7) retired his first 23 batters before pinch-hitter Melvin Upton Jr sent a clean single up the middle. The left-hander received a warm ovation from the disappointed crowd of 41,564 and then went right back to work.
He completed the one-hitter without permitting another runner and finished with nine strikeouts while matching his career high for wins set last year.
Marlon Byrd drove in three runs. Angel Pagan and Brandon Belt both homered to support Bumgarner.
Ian Kennedy (8-14) had a one-hitter going through 3-2/3 innings before walking Buster Posey and Belt, both of whom scored on Marlon Byrd’s double.
ROYALS 14, ORIOLES 6
In Baltimore, Maryland, Mike Moustakas hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and finished with a franchise-record nine RBIs to lead Kansas City.
Moustakas singled home two runs in the sixth inning, hit his second career slam in the seventh and capped his record-setting performance with a three-run drive in the ninth.
The previous team record for RBIs in a game was seven by Billy Butler against Philadelphia on April 7, 2013.
Salvador Perez had two hits and three RBIs for the American League Central leaders, who won for only the second time in eight games.
Yordano Ventura (11-8) allowed four runs and eight hits in 5-2/3 innings for Kansas City. The right-hander is 7-1 in his past 10 starts, including a pair of wins over Baltimore.
MARLINS 2, NATIONALS 0
In Miami, Jose Fernandez returned from the disabled list and became only the third pitcher since 1914 to win his first 16 career decisions at home as Miami beat fading Washington.
Pitching for the first time since he was sidelined by a right biceps strain on Aug. 7, Fernandez (5-0) threw five innings, allowed two hits and struck out seven.
Johnny Allen (1932 to 1933) and LaMarr Hoyt (1980 to 1982) also started 16-0 at home, according to STATS.
Fernandez already held the major league record for most home starts without a loss to start a career. He lowered his ERA in 25 starts at home to 1.11.
Tanner Roark (4-5) allowed two runs in 4-2/3 innings.
Saturday’s other results:
‧ Mets 6, Braves 4
‧ Pirates 10, Brewers 2
‧ White Sox 8, Twins 2
‧ Reds 4, Cardinals 2
‧ Reds 5, Cardinals 1
‧ Phillies 7, Cubs 5
‧ Athletics 5, Rangers 3
‧ Angels 3, Astros 2
‧ Mariners 7, Rockies 2
‧ Dodgers 9, Diamondbacks 5
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