Astros beat Royals for 11th straight win
KANSAS CITY:
Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer, Brian McCann had a two-run shot and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 in Major League baseball on Monday night for their 11th consecutive win. It’s the longest winning streak in the majors this season and one shy of the Astros’ record. They won 12 straight in 1999 and 2004. Houston, with the best record in the majors at 42-16, has also won 11 road games in a row - a franchise record. Gurriel homered in the ninth inning. He has gone deep in back-to-back games and has 10 RBIs during a six-game hitting streak. Astros starter Mike Fiers (3-2) was charged with two runs in five-plus innings. He is 6-0 in his past 10 road starts dating to Aug. 20. Jorge Bonifacio homered for the Royals, but Ian Kennedy (0-6) gave up four runs and six hits over five innings. Kennedy, in the second season of a five-year, $70 million contract, is winless in 14 starts since a Sept. 11 victory. Whit Merrifield went 0 for 5 to snap his 19game hitting streak, longest in the majors this season.
NATIONALS 4, DODGERS 2
Anthony Rendon homered and Gio Gonzalez pitched surging Washington past Los Angeles in a rematch of last year’s tight playoff series. Matt Wieters had a two-run single for the Nationals in the first meeting between the teams since the Dodgers edged Washington in five games during their 2016 NL Division Series. Washington, which owns the National League’s best record at 36-20, has won six of seven and increased its NL East lead to 11 1/2 games. Gonzalez (5-1) outpitched Hyun-Jin Ryu (26), holding Los Angeles to two runs in six innings. Oliver Perez got one out for his third career save - the other two came in 2013 with Seattle. Six different Nationals have earned a save this year.
ATHLETICS 5, BLUE JAYS 3
Ryon Healy homered twice to drive in a career-high five runs, single-handedly backing Sean Manaea’s fourth straight winning start as Oakland defeated Toronto. Healy hit a three-run homer in the second inning and a two-run drive in the fourth for his second career multihomer game - both in the past three days. He has 13 home runs this season. Manaea (5-3) struck out seven over six innings, allowing two runs and four hits. He extended the longest winning streak of his career. Justin Smoak hit his 15th home run in the eighth off Liam Hendriks, but the Blue Jays couldn’t do enough to support J.A. Happ (0-4). Making his second start since coming off the disabled list, the left-hander lost for the first time in eight starts against the A’s. He was tagged for five runs in 5 1/3 innings. Santiago Casilla finished for his ninth save in 11 chances.
CUBS 3, MARLINS 1
Eddie Butler pitched three-hit ball into the sixth inning and Kris Bryant hit a tworun homer as Chicago topped Miami for its fourth straight victory. Albert Almora Jr. added a solo shot as Chicago remained perfect on its 10-game homestand after going winless on a six-game West Coast trip. With closer Wade Davis on paternity leave, Mike Montgomery pitched 3 1/3 innings for his second save in his first appearance since May 28. Miami had won three straight and seven of eight. Marcell Ozuna had two hits, but the Marlins’ lineup struggled for the most part on an unseasonably cool, breezy night at Wrigley Field. Butler (3-1) was working on a shutout before Dee Gordon hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth, trimming Chicago’s lead to 3-1. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a two-out double, chasing Butler.
REDS 4, CARDINALS 2
Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett hit consecutive two-run doubles in the seventh inning as Cincinnati came from behind to beat the slumping Cardinals. St. Louis starter Carlos Martinez (4-5) was dominant through six innings before wilting in the seventh as the Cardinals dropped their fourth straight and eighth in 11 games. The Reds had lost two in a row and five of six going into the opener of this four-game series. Martinez, who was 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA in his previous six starts, faced the minimum 18 batters through six innings with the help of catcher Yadier Molina, who threw out major league stolen base leader Billy Hamilton trying to swipe third in the first inning and Adam Duvall attempting to steal second in the second.
GIANTS 7, BREWERS 2
Jeff Samardzija pitched deep into the game after a shaky beginning while Aaron Hill had a tiebreaking, pinch-hit double in the eighth inning as the Giants beat the Brewers. Hill drove in two with two outs off reliever Rob Scahill (1-2). Samardzija (2-7) surrendered two runs in the first but quickly settled down, retiring 19 consecutive batters in one stretch. Milwaukee’s firstinning runs came in an unusual fashion. With runners on second and third and one out, Hernan Perez lofted a fly to left. Eric Sogard tagged and scored when left fielder Orlando Calixte’s throw sailed high over catcher Buster Posey and caromed off the wall behind home plate. The ball dropped behind the padding and out of play, allowing another run to score.
PHILLIES 11, BRAVES 4
Odubel Herrera continued his power surge with a two-run homer and two doubles and Tommy Joseph homered and drove in three runs, helping the Phillies beat the Braves. Herrera became the first Philadelphia player to hit two doubles in three straight games, according to Phillies records dating back to 1913. He had three extra-base hits for the second straight game, with a homer in each one. Aaron Altherr added a two-run shot off Eric O’Flaherty in the eighth. Braves 44-year-old right-hander Bartolo Colon endured another rocky start, allowing eight runs. Nick Pivetta (1-2) permitted three runs in five innings for his first major league win. — AP