Refsnyder’s two errors cost Blue Jays in 4-2 loss to Pirates
TORONTO Friday night was a learning experience for young Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Rob Refsnyder. The 26year-old made a pair of errors in the third inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-2 victory at Rogers Centre.
“It was a tough night for him, nobody feels worse than him,” said Toronto manager John Gibbons. “That’s the way it goes sometimes. Definitely wasn’t from a lack of effort that’s for sure.”
After John Jaso was hit in the foot by a pitch, Frank Cervelli reached throwing error by Refsnyder, which allowed Jaso to advance to third.
A second error by Refsnyder allowed Adam Frazier to reach while scoring Jaso from third. Josh Harrison delivered an RBI single and Andrew McCutchen drove in Frazier on a double to right field
Josh Bell concluded the four-run inning with a sac-fly scoring Harrison.
Canadian-American right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-5) went six innings and struck out seven while issuing one walk for the Pirates (58-58) who have now won six of eight and remain in the hunt for top spot in the N.L. Central. Felipe Rivero pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.
RANGERS 6, ASTROS 4
ARLINGTON, Texas — Cole Hamels pitched seven scoreless innings, Elvis Andrus scored each time after his three hits and the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros, the fourth straight loss for the team with the AL’s best record.
Hamels (7-1) limited the Astros to three singles only six days after the lefty’s complete game against Minnesota. Two of those were infield hits, including Jose Altuve’s comebacker that ricocheted off his left knee and into foul territory in the fourth.
WHITE SOX 6, ROYALS 3
CHICAGO — Tim Anderson hit a two-run homer to cap a four-run, seventh-inning rally, Reynaldo Lopez pitched six strong innings in his White Sox debut and Chicago won its fourth straight, over the sliding Kansas City Royals.
Mike Moustakas belted a pair of deep solo shots to give him 34 homers, but the Royals lost their fifth straight and 10th in 12.
YANKEES 5, RED SOX 4
NEW YORK — Aaron Hicks awoke a dormant offence with a tworun homer that sparked a five-run eighth inning, then threw out a runner at third in the ninth inning to help Aroldis Chapman get out of trouble, and the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Red Sox and stop Boston’s winning streak at eight.
TWINS 9, TIGERS 4
DETROIT — Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario homered and drove in three runs each as the Minnesota Twins extended their winning streak to six games with a victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Mikie Mahtook homered for Detroit, which has lost six of seven.
Twins starter Kyle Gibson allowed three runs, five hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings, departing one out before he was eligible for the win.
INDIANS 5, RAYS 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Carrasco took another no-hit try into the late innings at Tropicana Field, losing his bid on a two-out single in the seventh by Logan Morrison but leading the Cleveland Indians over the Tampa Bay Rays.
In July 2015, Carrasco came within one strike of a no-hitter at Tampa Bay before Joey Butler lined a twoout single in the ninth over leaping second baseman Jason Kipnis.
This time, Carrasco was totally in charge until Morrison’s clean single to right field.
METS 7, PHILLIES 6
PHILADELPHIA — Amed Rosario’s first career homer broke a tie leading off the ninth inning, Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto also went deep and the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies.