MVP-calibre at-bat sinks Jays
BOSTON Mookie Betts fouled off seven pitches before hitting a grand slam that helped the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 64 on Thursday night, extending their winning streak to 10 games.
Boston has the longest current winning streak in the big leagues and hasn’t lost since getting routed 11-1 at Yankee Stadium on July 1. At 66-29, the Red Sox are 37 games over .500 for the first time since 1949.
David Price (10-6) struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings, and Craig Kimbrel earned his 29th save.
All-Star lefty J.A. Happ (10-6) started strong for Toronto, striking out six and holding Boston to two hits before running into trouble and some misfortune in the fourth.
YANKEES 7, INDIANS 4
CLEVELAND — Aaron Hicks drove home Didi Gregorius from first base with a one-out double in the eighth inning off Cleveland ace Corey Kluber, sending New York to a win over the Indians.
Hicks drove a 3-2 pitch from Kluber (12-5) to deep centre field, and Gregorius scored easily when the ball one-hopped the wall.
Brett Gardner homered twice and Gregorius also connected for the Yankees.
New York relievers Adam Warren, David Robertson (6-3), Dellin Betances and All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman combined for four hitless innings. Chapman got three outs for his 25th save — in his first appearance since Saturday because of a sore left knee.
ATHLETICS 6, ASTROS 4
HOUSTON — Mark Canha hit a two-run single in a three-run eighth inning as surging Oakland defeated Houston.
Nick Martini had three hits and two RBIs for the Athletics, who improved to 19-5 in their last 24 games. They took three of four from the AL West-leading Astros.
Yusmeiro Petit (3-2) allowed one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings, and Lou Trivino worked the ninth for his fourth save.
Tony Kemp hit a tworun homer for Houston, and Alex Bregman also drove in two runs. Chris Devenski (2-2) got the loss.
ROCKIES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1
DENVER — Gerardo Parra and Raimel Tapia had pinch-hit RBI singles in Colorado’s three-run sixth inning.
NATIONALS 5, METS 4
NEW YORK — Max Scherzer made a final pitch to start the All-Star Game on his own mound, Anthony Rendon hit two homers and Bryce Harper also connected, leading Washington over New York.
PIRATES 6, BREWERS 3
PITTSBURGH — Jameson Taillon had a career-high 10 strikeouts, Jordy Mercer tied his career best with four RBIs and Pittsburgh defeated Milwaukee.
PHILLIES 5, ORIOLES 4
BALTIMORE — Jorge Alfaro homered and drove in three runs, Nick Pivetta took a three-hitter into the seventh inning and Philadelphia beat Baltimore.
Making the most of a one-day stay in Baltimore, the Phillies got 12 hits off Kevin Gausman (4-7) while building a 5-0 lead against the team with the worst record in the majors.