Estrada’s good night goes by the wayside as Yankees beat Jays

TORONTO After blowing a 1-0 lead, Blue Jays reliever Seunghwan Oh approached starting pitcher Marco Estrada in Toronto’s dugout to apologize.

Estrada appreciated the gesture, but told his teammate there was no need.

“I don’t expect any reliever to come up to me and pat me on the back because obviously they didn’t do it on purpose,” said Estrada, after one of his best starts of the season soured into a 7-2 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. “I’ve been on that end. I’ve come into a game with guys on and I’ve given up the runs and obviously you feel terrible.

“I feel a little more upset for you than I do for me.”

Estrada threw six-plus innings, giving up six hits and one run while striking out six for a no-decision. It was Estrada’s best start since May 6 when he pitched six scoreless innings and struck out four for another no-decision in Tampa. Since then, he has earned four straight losses and allowed a total of 15 runs in 20 2/3 innings.

Oh (1-2) took the loss, giving up a grand slam, including a runner he had inherited from Estrada, in his one inning of relief. Joe Biagini allowed a run in his two-thirds of an inning, while Aaron Loup gave up two more in his third of a frame.

Tim Mayza was the only Blue Jays reliever to stay scoreless in his one inning of work. “Estrada was good today,” said Yankees centre-fielder Aaron Hicks, who hit a three-run homer off Loup. “We were able to get into their bullpen and ultimately just take advantage of it.”

NATIONALS 4, RAYS 2

WASHINGTON — Max Scherzer pitched eight strong innings to become the first 10-game winner in the majors this season, striking out 13 in the Washington Nationals’ victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

RED SOX 6, TIGERS 0

BOSTON — J.D. Martinez hit his 20th home run, Steven Wright pitched seven sharp innings in his first start of the season and Boston blanked Detroit.

TWINS 4, WHITE SOX 2, 1st game

MINNEAPOLIS — Eduardo Escobar hit a three-run home run with two outs in the eighth inning to power Minnesota in the first game of a doubleheader.

WHITE SOX 6, TWINS 3, 2nd game

MINNEAPOLIS — Jose Abreu hit a tworun homer in the first inning of the second game of a doubleheader to spoil Zack Littell’s major league debut and help Chicago bounce back from a late lapse in the opener.

ORIOLES 2, METS 1

NEW YORK — Alex Cobb delivered his best performance since signing a rich contract with Baltimore late in spring training, helping the Orioles break a seven-game losing streak by beating New York.

INDIANS 3, BREWERS 2

CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber scattered seven hits in seven strong innings and moved into a tie for the American League lead with his ninth win, leading Cleveland past Milwaukee.

ROCKIES 9, REDS 6

CINCINNATI — Chris Iannetta hit a two-run homer off Anthony DeSclafani in his return to the mound, and Carlos Gonzalez added a three-run shot to power Colorado.

The Rockies ended a four-game losing streak that was their longest since they dropped eight in a row last June.

DODGERS 5, PIRATES 0

PITTSBURGH — Joc Pederson, Yaisel Puig and Cody Bellinger hit home runs and surging Los Angeles won its fourth straight and 14th in the last 18.