Nats spoil Blue Jays home opener in DC

Ríos’ HR in 13th lifts Dodgers over Astros 4-2

WASHINGTON, July 30, (AP): Adam Eaton’s bases-loaded chopper broke a scoreless tie in the 10th inning on a close play and Asdrúbal Cabrera followed with a three-run triple, helping the Nationals snap a three-game losing streak by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0.

In a quirky game befitting this pandemic-altered, upside-down season, Toronto’s team played its “home opener” at Washington batting in the bottom half of each inning, wearing its white uniforms, playing its players’ walk-up music and even blaring the song “OK Blue Jays,” the club’s traditional seventh-inning stretch staple.

Toronto’s Nate Pearson, in his big league debut, and Washington’s Max Scherzer, in his 358th start in the majors, put up plenty of zeros. So did the relievers that followed.

In the top of the 10th, though, Washington moved ahead on an odd-looking play. After starting with the automatic runner on second base Washington loaded the bags with two walks from Toronto’s sixth pitcher, Shun Yamaguchi (0-2).

After two strikeouts, Eaton bounced a ball off the mound. Second baseman Cavan Biggio grabbed it and tried to dive glove-first at the bag, but was edged out by runner Andrew Stevenson. After a replay review of more than two minutes, the “safe” call was upheld, making it 1-0. Cabrera then homered.

Daniel Hudson (1-0) got five outs for the win. Dodgers 4, Astros 2, 13 Innings In Houston, the Dodgers and Astros showed no carry-over from a fracas in the series opener that led to suspensions, and Edwin Ríos hit a two-run homer in the 13th inning to lift Los Angeles over Houston.

No pitches were thrown above or behind any batters, nobody made any

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts hits a RBI-double against the Houston Astros during the 11th inning of a baseball game on July 29, in Houston.

(AP)