Estrada picks up his game
TORONTO Marco Estrada won’t think about the possibility of being traded, even as the post-season roster deadline on Aug. 31 approaches.
Estrada allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings as the Toronto Blue Jays held off the Baltimore Orioles for a 5-3 win on Monday night. The 35-yearold right-handed veteran could be an attractive trade target for a playoff contender as the Blue Jays look to build for the future.
“Listen, right now, I’m a Blue Jay. I’ve said it a million times, I love playing here. This is my main concern,” said Estrada (79), who allowed seven hits and struck out four. “If (a trade) happens, then, whoever that move is to then I’ll focus on that.
“Right now I’m here, I’m a Blue Jay, I’m focused on playing here. Plain and simple.”
Estrada had a 5.68 earnedrun average in his first 11 games of the season, but has a 4.10 ERA in his past 11 starts. Even though Estrada has struggled with his velocity lately, topping out at 86 mph, he feels like he has good command.
“I was happy with the locating,” said Estrada. “There was maybe two or three hard hit balls, and that’s going to happen, but for the most part I felt like we were in control, especially after we scored a bunch of runs.”
Kendrys Morales hit a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot in the four-run sixth inning, for Toronto (5669). Kevin Pillar had two doubles and batted in a run for the Blue Jays a day after a costly baserunning error angered manager John Gibbons.
Ryan Tepera, Jaime Garcia, Tyler Clippard and Ken Giles came out of the bullpen to preserve Toronto’s lead. Giles earned his 16th save of the season.
Andrew Cashner (4-11) gave up five runs over six innings before reliever Mike Wright Jr., took over for him. Wright pitched a scoreless inning, as did Mychal Givens. Renato Nunez had a solo homer for Baltimore (37-88).
INDIANS 5, RED SOX 4
BOSTON — Greg Allen hit a tiebreaking homer right after Boston pitcher Rick Porcello was struck in the midsection by a line drive, and Corey Kluber tied for the major league wins lead as the Cleveland Indians beat the Red Sox.
Kluber (16-6) pitched into the seventh inning and matched Washington’s Max Scherzer and the Yankees’ Luis Severino for the most victories in the majors. Michael Brantley and Melky Cabrera also homered to help the AL Centralleading Indians improve to 14-4 in August.
Xander Bogaerts had an early two-run single and an RBI single in the ninth for East-leading Boston. Ian Kinsler flied out with two runners on base, leaving the Red Sox with just their fifth loss in 22 games.
BRAVES 1, PIRATES 0
PITTSBURGH — Bryse Wilson worked five solid innings, becoming the third 20year-old pitcher to start in his big league debut for Atlanta this season.
Wilson (1-0) allowed three hits, struck out five and walked three as Atlanta increased its NL East lead to one game over idle Philadelphia while ending its four-game skid.
WHITE SOX 8, TWINS 5
MINNEAPOLIS — Matt Davidson homered, Lucas Giolito (9-9) struck out six in six innings and Chicago spoiled Stephen Gonsalves’ major league debut.
Playing without manager Rick Renteria, Chicago won for the fourth time in five games in the makeup of snowed-out April contest. Davidson drove in three runs, and Jose Abreu had two hits and two RBIs.
Renteria experienced lightheadedness before the game and was taken to a hospital as a precaution. Bench coach Joe McEwing served as the manager, and the team said tests on Renteria didn’t show any problems.
RAYS 1, ROYALS 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Ryan Yarbrough helped extend Tampa Bay’s shutout streak to 23 innings, and the Rays got their only run via video replay. Yarbrough (12-5) pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief of opener Hunter Wood. The rookie lefthander gave up two hits and a walk while striking out six, earning his major league-leading 10th relief win.
Jose Alvarado pitched the ninth for his fifth save and stretched the Rays’ streak of scoreless innings, which included 14 over the weekend in Boston.
Willy Adames drove in the game’s first run. After singles by Ji-Man Choi and Kevin Kiermaier in the second inning, Adames hit a two-out chopper over third base. Adames beat Rosell Herrera’s throw across the diamond, but it took a 43-second review to reverse the original out call.
BREWERS 5, REDS 2
MILWAUKEE — Travis Shaw and Christian Yelich homered, Chase Anderson settled in after giving up two solo homers and Milwaukee rallied for a victory.