MLB IN BRIEF
RED SOX 5, YANKEES 1
BOSTON — Jackie Bradley Jr. tripled in two runs and singled home another, and Rick Porcello pitched six innings of a combined three-hitter to help AL East-leading Boston extend its margin over New York to five games.
The Red Sox won for the 14th time in 17 games, taking two of three from New York for the second weekend in a row. The archrivals meet again in the first week of September for a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.
Porcello (8-14) allowed all three New York hits and won his fourth straight start. Three relievers provided a perfect inning apiece.
Sonny Gray (7-8) gave up two runs in five innings and failed to strike out a batter for the first time in his career. He lost for the fourth time in five starts and fell to 1-6 in nine road starts this season.
PIRATES 6, CARDINALS 3
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Josh Bell homered and drove in four runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 in the Little League Classic on Sunday night.
The teams played at renovated Bowman Field, a minor league ballpark located 5 miles from where the Little League World Series is taking place. Sitting in the front rows were admiring Little Leaguers who got to mingle with the big league stars earlier in the day, part of a Major League Baseball initiative to celebrate youth baseball.
After the final out of MLB’s first regular-season game in Williamsport, the Pirates shook hands on the field as usual following a win. Then — in a nod to Little League baseball — both teams lined up at home plate and shook hands with each other, throwing in some hugs and high-fives to finish off a feel-good day.
Bell hit a two-run homer off Mike Leake (7-12) in the first inning and a two-run single in the third. Adam Frazier homered for the second straight game for the Pirates, who were the “home” team and won their second in a row to split the four-game series.
Ivan Nova (11-10) gave up three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. Felipe Rivero got three outs for his 14th save in 15 chances.
TIGERS 6, DODGERS 1
DETROIT — Justin Verlander and Kenta Maeda each took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but only the Detroit star was able to keep his outstanding performance going as the Tigers beat Los Angeles.
Verlander (9-8) allowed a home run to Dodgers newcomer Curtis Granderson in the sixth. But shortly after his no-hit bid ended, the Tigers scored four times in the bottom of the inning against Maeda. The right-hander retired the first 15 Detroit batters before allowing five hits in the sixth.
The homer by Granderson was one of only two hits off Verlander. He walked one and struck out nine in eight innings.
Maeda (11-5) was pulled after the sixth and lost for the first time in seven starts.
Dixon Machado’s two-run double put Detroit up 2-1. Justin Upton had a two-run homer and Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run double for the Tigers, who snapped a six-game skid. They halted a six-game winning streak by the Dodgers (87-35), who have the best record in the majors.
MARLINS 6, METS 4
NEW YORK — Giancarlo Stanton hit his major league-leading 45th home run and Adam Conley struck out a career-high 11, leading Miami over New York.
Stanton connected for a three-run shot off Jacob deGrom (13-7) as the Marlins scored four times in the seventh inning for a 6-1 lead.
Conley (6-5) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings. Brad Ziegler pitched the ninth for his sixth save.
Yoenis Cespedes homered and hit an RBI double for the Mets, who have lost six of nine. They fell to 6-15 on Sundays this season, including 2-9 at Citi Field.
ROYALS 7, INDIANS 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Cheslor Cuthbert homered and drove in three runs, Alcides Escobar also had three RBIs and Kansas City defeated Cleveland to avoid a three-game sweep.
Jason Hammel (6-9) allowed three runs in six innings to win for the second time since June 19.