Castro’s slam lifts Yanks to win over Indians
Keuchel lifts Astros over Rangers with gem performance • Wright pitches shutout for BoSox vs Dodgers
This was the type of performance the Yankees needed more of through the first four months of the season.
They displayed power. They strung hits together. They even hit with runners in scoring position.
For one night, offense was not a problem.
Fueled by Starlin Castro’s first career grand slam, the Yankees defeated the Indians, 13-7, in front of 39,252 at Yankee Stadium Friday.
During a news conference earlier in the day, first baseman Mark Teixeira announced he plans to retire at the end of the season. Hours later, he helped the Yankees (55-54) to their first double-digit run total since they scored 11 against the Indians on July 10.
Jacoby Ellsbury went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Even Aaron Hicks, one of the biggest offensive culprits for most of the year, hit his fourth homer in the seventh. The Yankees even got an RBI double from Gary Sanchez.
But the Yanks needed offense since their pitching wasn’t as stellar.
Michael Pineda had shaky outing, yielding four runs on six hits in six-plus innings. He walked one and struck out six. The Indians (61-46) then scored three more runs against the Yankees’ bullpen.
Of course, all of this came too late. The Yanks have begun turning their focus toward next season.
After their trade-deadline fire sale, the Yankees committed to bringing some of their younger players up from the minors and giving them a chance.
That included Sanchez, whom they called up from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Sanchez, 23, quickly crossed one milestone off his list when he recorded his first major league hit that night against the Mets.
Sanchez’s career took another step Friday as he made his first big league start behind the plate.
Sanchez displayed his strong arm Friday.
He threw out Jason Kipnis trying to steal second base in the first inning, then did the same to Mike Napoli in the second.
(The Hackensack Record/TNS)
Astros 5, Rangers 0
Dallas Keuchel rebounded from a poor start with a complete-game shutout and the Astros showed life offensively in their win over the Rangers Friday night.
Keuchel (7-11), shelled by the Tigers in Detroit on Sunday, surrendered three hits and two walks while stifling the Rangers (63-47). Keuchel added seven strikeouts to end a three-game losing skid to Texas in which he allowed four-plus earned runs in each appearance this season.
Nationals 5, Giants 1
Lefty Gio Gonzalez allowed just two hits and one run in seven innings and new leadoff man Trea Turner had a double, homer and scored twice as Washington beat San Francisco in a battle of first-place clubs.
The Nationals, who are 21 games over .500 for the first time this year, began the day seven games ahead of the second-place Miami Marlins in the National League East.
Tigers 4, Mets 3
Victor Martinez smashed a long two-run homer and James McCann added an RBI single in a three-run fourth inning to bring Detroit from behind in a victory over New York for the Tigers’ ninth win in their last 10 games.
Justin Verlander (12-6) faced a Mets lineup packed with seven left-handed batters and allowed four hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked one.
Red Sox 9, Dodgers 0
Knuckleballer Steven Wright threw a complete-game shutout, and Boston rolled to a rout of Los Angeles.
Wright (13-5) retired 18 of 19 batters before giving up a single to Yasmani Grandal to open the eighth inning. Wright finished with nine strikeouts one walk.
Cubs 7, Athletics 2
Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat after being activated from the disabled list, Jon Lester threw seven strong innings and Chicago defeated Oakland.
Lester (12-4) allowed two runs on six hits, struck out eight and walked none. He faced the A’s for the first time since leaving them as a free agent and signing with the Cubs after the 2014 season. The A’s acquired Lester on July 31, 2014, from Boston with outfielder Jonny Gomes in exchange for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. (Reuters)