Ramirez ties record as Indians rout Tigers

Maybin hits 3-run homer, Astros complete sweep with Mets

DETROIT, Sept 4, (AP): Jose Ramirez tied a major league record with five extra-base hits, including a pair of home runs that deflected off Detroit outfielders, as the Cleveland Indians routed the Tigers 11-1 on Sunday for their 11th straight victory.

Ramirez had three doubles in becoming the 13th player with five extra-base hits in a game. Kris Bryant of the Cubs did it last year, and the previous Cleveland player to accomplish the feat was Kelly Shoppach in 2008.

The AL Central-leading Indians have their longest winning streak since a team-record 14-game run last year. They outscored the Tigers 29-5 while posting their first four-game sweep in Detroit.

Cleveland right-hander Josh Tomlin (8-9) returned from the disabled list and allowed one run in 5-2/3 innings.

Detroit left-hander Chad Bell (0-2) was charged with five runs in fourplus innings in his first major league start.

In Houston, Cameron Maybin hit a three-run homer, George Springer connected for the second straight day and the Astros swept their weekend series with the Mets.

Josh Reddick added two hits and three RBIs for the Astros, who won both games of a doubleheader on Saturday in their first home games since flooding from Hurricane Harvey devastated the city. Carlos Correa hit an RBI single in his return from the disabled list.

Will Harris (3-2) pitches a scoreless sixth for the win and Chris Devenski allowed one hit in two scoreless innings for his fourth save.

Mets starter Chris Flexen (3-4) allowed a career-high nine hits and matched a career high from his last start with seven runs in just four innings.

In Denver, Ketel Marte and Brandon Drury homered in Arizona’s

Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians hits a double to center field during the eighth inning of a game against

the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sept 3, in Detroit, Michigan. (AFP)

three-run sixth, and the Diamondbacks extended their winning streak to 10 games.

It’s the Diamondbacks’ longest winning streak since they captured a franchise-best 12 straight in 2003. Zack Godley (7-7) pitched six effective innings to help Arizona sweep a three-game series from Colorado.

The Diamondbacks increased their lead over Colorado for the top NL wild card to 6-1/2 games. The slumping Rockies saw their lead over Milwaukee for the second wild card trimmed to just a half-game.

Tied at 1 in the sixth, Marte lined a slider from German Marquez (106) over the fence in left for his first homer since July 29.

In New York, Matt Holliday and Todd Frazier hit back-to-back home runs as New York wore out Chris Sale early and routed Boston, taking three of four games in their final series of the season to make up ground on the AL East leaders.

Chase Headley also went deep against Sale, and slumping Aaron Judge capped a six-run sixth with a two-run homer that snapped his longest drought of the season. Starlin Castro laced a three-run double and Luis Severino (12-6) was overpowering for New York, striking out nine in six innings of two-hit ball to win a marquee matchup on the mound.

The second-place Yankees won the season series 11-8 and sliced Boston’s cushion in the division to 3-1/2 games.

Sale (15-7) was chased in the fifth and dropped to 0-3 in five starts vs New York this year though he entered with a 2.12 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 29-2/3 innings against them.

In Chicago, Max Fried combined with four relievers on a five-hitter in his first major league start, and the Braves ended the Cubs’ six-game winning streak.

Recalled from Triple-A on Friday, Fried (1-0) gave up a run and four hits in five innings.

The NL Central-leading Cubs had matched their longest winning string of the season. Rookie Ian Happ hit his 21st homer, but Chicago couldn’t get much going coming off a 14-12 victory. The Cubs also lost Javier Baez after he got shaken up diving into second base in the second inning. Chicago’s electrifying star trotted out to shortstop in the third but exited the game with one out.

In Milwaukee, Domingo Santana homered twice, and Milwaukee pulled within a half-game of Colorado for the NL’s second wild card.

Brent Suter, who had not pitched for Milwaukee since Aug 12 because of left rotator cuff inflammation, allowed two hits in three scoreless innings and left after 43 pitches.

Jeremy Jeffress (2-0), Jacob Barnes and Anthony Swarzak combined for five hitless innings. Junior Guerra completed the three-hitter but gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Zimmerman in the ninth.

In Arlington, Texas, Elvis Andrus hit two of Texas’ four homers and the Rangers took the rubber game of a series with wild-card implications for both teams.

The Rangers (68-68) went ahead to stay when Robinson Chirinos and Delino DeShields hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning. No. 9 hitter Chirinos’ two-run homer tied it at 4 before DeShields went deep.

With four weeks left in the regular season, Texas is within three games of Minnesota for the AL’s second wild card. The Angels (70-67) are 1-1/2 games back of that playoff spot.

In Baltimore, Welington Castillo homered twice for Baltimore, including a game-tying shot in the ninth inning, and Mark Trumbo won it in the 12th with an RBI single.

The Orioles never led until Trumbo drove in Jonathan Schoop with a liner into the left-field corner off Danny Barnes (2-6). Prior to Trumbo’s hit, Baltimore was 0 for 16 with runners in scoring position.

Toronto led 4-3 in the ninth before Castillo connected off Roberto Osuna, who was vying for his 36th save. Osuna avoided further damage by retiring Adam Jones with two one and two out.

Jimmy Yacabonis (2-0) pitched the 12th for the Orioles, who improved to 6-62 when trailing after eight innings.

In San Diego, Erick Aybar hit a tworun homer and Jose Pirela also went deep to help the Padres hand the major league-leading Dodgers their eighth loss in nine games.

San Diego won three straight against Los Angeles for the first time since June 2013.

Cody Bellinger hit his 36th homer to break Mike Piazza’s Dodgers rookie record, set in 1993. It came with one out in the ninth off All-Star closer Brad Hand, who got his 15th save.

Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood (14-2) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings in his first start since Aug 21.

In Miami, Nick Williams hit a tworun single with two out in the 12th inning, and five Phillies pitchers held the Marlins to four hits.

Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton went 0 for 3 with two walks to finish the week 2 for 25 (.080). Both hits were homers, giving him 52 for the season.

Phillies rookie slugger Rhys Hoskins was held out of the starting lineup after being hit on the right wrist by a pitch Saturday.

The Marlins fell to 1-6 on their homestand, pushing them to the fringe of the NL wild-card race. Junichi Tazawa (3-4) got the loss.

In Chicago, White Sox rookie Lucas Giolito struck out 10 in seven sharp innings, and Jose Abreu homered in his return to the lineup.

A key piece of Chicago’s rebuilding project, the 23-year-old Giolito (2-1) allowed a run and three hits in his third start since being called up from the minor leagues last month.

Tim Anderson added three hits, including his 15th homer, and drove in three runs as the lowly White Sox hurt the Rays’ wild-card chances by taking two of three in the weekend series.

Abreu, who missed the previous three games with a right elbow injury, hit a two-run shot in the third inning that made it 3-0 White Sox.

In Minneapolis, Kansas City’s Lorenzo Cain hit a go-ahead, two-run triple in the seventh inning after a checked-swing call went his way on a close two-strike pitch.

The Royals trailed 4-3 and had two on with two outs when Cain fouled off his first four pitches from Alan Busenitz (1-1). Cain took a fastball up, and then checked his swing on an outside curveball in the dirt.

First base umpire Mike Muchlinski ruled no swing and plate umpire Marty Foster ejected Minnesota manager Paul Molitor, who was still in the dugout. Molitor then came out to argue.

In San Francisco, Harrison Bader

Mike Fiers #54 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the New York Mets at Minute Maid Park on Sept 3, in

Houston, Texas. (AFP)

hit a tiebreaking homer in the decisive sixth inning after Madison Bumgarner homered in the bottom of the fifth, and the Cardinals gained ground in the wild-card race.

Paul DeJong hit a solo homer in the fourth for the first St Louis hit and Jose Martinez followed with a drive to nearly the same spot over the left-field fence.

Luke Weaver (4-1) struck out nine over seven innings to just miss a third straight start with double-digit Ks, helping St Louis move within three games of Colorado for the NL’s second wild card.

In Pittsburgh, Trevor Williams pitched seven scoreless innings and Jordy Mercer hit his career-best 13th homer, leading Pittsburgh to the win.

Williams (6-7) scattered eight hits, struck out five and walked one in his first win since Aug 7.

The right-hander has allowed just two earned runs over 20 innings in his last three outings.

Felipe Rivero worked a rocky ninth for his 17th save. Scooter Gennett scored on second baseman Max Moroff’s error, but Jose Peraza bounced into a game-ending forceout at home.

In Seattle, Robinson Cano homered and drove in four runs, Andrew Albers took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and the Mariners completed a three-game series sweep.

Albers, acquired from Atlanta on Aug 11, did not allow a hit until Matt Olson opened the sixth with his 12th homer.

That was the only hit off Albers (31) who struck out five in six innings.