Jays get to Sabathia
NEW YORK When CC Sabathia took the mound at the Los Angeles Angels on June 13, the New York Yankees were 38-23 and led the AL East by four games.
Sabathia limped off after four innings that night with a strained left hamstring and didn’t return until Tuesday, when he was chased during a four-run third inning. Kendrys Morales hit a tworun single that helped Toronto to a 4-1 win, stopping the Blue Jays’ five-game losing streak and sending New York to its 15th loss in 21 games.
“It’s been tough, just injury after injury,” Sabathia said. “It’s just a tough time for us right now, but we’ve got to battle through it. Everybody goes through this stuff. It’s a long season.”
Aaron Judge dented a metal casement above a door behind the left-centre field wall with his major league-leading 28th home run, a drive that would have travelled 456 feet had it landed unimpeded, according to MLB’s Statcast.
That was the only run off J.A. Happ (3-5), who allowed four hits in six innings.
“He was tremendous today,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “He battled, got some strikeouts, really gave us what we needed.”
A 20-game winner last year, Happ has won three of his last four decisions after losing his first four. He walked two and struck out six , including Judge on a foul tip with two on to end the fifth.
“That was a big out with the way Judge has been swinging the bat and how he’s seeing the ball,” Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin said. “He got to 3-2 and Happ just kind of threw a little extra cheese on that one.”
Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth to convert his 19th consecutive save chance and 20th overall this season, completing a fourhitter and the Blue Jays’ third win in 12 games.
PADRES 1, INDIANS 0
CLEVELAND — Cory Spangenberg drove in the only run with a groundout, and six San Diego pitchers combined on a fivehitter as the Padres edged the Cleveland Indians despite a record-setting outing by All-Star Corey Kluber.
Kluber (7-3) struck out 10 in eight innings — setting a franchise mark with five consecutive double-digit strikeout games. But the 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner received little help from his offence or defence.
Jose Torres (5-2) got two outs for the win. Brandon Mauer pitched the ninth for his 17th save.
RAYS 6, CUBS 5
CHICAGO — Tim Beckham homered, and the Rays won their reunion with Joe Maddon.
NATIONALS 11, METS 4
WASHINGTON — Daniel Murphy had four hits and five RBIs, helping NL Eastleading Washington to its third straight victory.
2 PIRATES 3, PHILLIES 0
PHILADELPHIA — Pittsburgh right-hander Jameson Taillon struck out a career-best nine in five innings, and Andrew McCutchen hit a pair of solo homers.
ROYALS 7, MARINERS 3
SEATTLE — Whit Merrifield hit the first pitch of the game from Felix Hernandez for his seventh home run, helping Kansas City to its fifth win in six games.
ATHLETICS 7, WHITE SOX 6
OAKLAND, Calif. — Franklin Barreto homered in the ninth inning, Yonder Alonso went deep twice and Oakland snapped a season-high six-game losing streak.
BREWERS 6, ORIOLES 2
MILWAUKEE — Eric Thames homered twice and Jimmy Nelson pitched seven strong innings, leading Milwaukee to the victory.
TIGERS 5, GIANTS 3
DETROIT — Victor Martinez homered, Michael Fulmer pitched eight innings and Detroit snapped San Francisco’s six-game win streak.
MARLINS 5, CARDINALS
ST. LOUIS — Christian Yelich hit a three-run homer and Jose Urena struck out seven in five solid innings, helping Miami to the road win.