Pirates rally past Brewers in Marte’s return
PITTSBURGH: Francisco Cervelli and Josh Harrison homered during a sixth-inning rally and the streaking Pittsburgh Pirates welcomed outfielder Starling Marte back with a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. Marte went 1 for 3 in his return from an 80-game suspension for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy. He also walked in the sixth, coming around to score on Harrison’s 11th home run of the season that tied the game. David Freese put the Pirates ahead to stay with an RBI single off reliever Oliver Drake (3-3) later in the inning. Ivan Nova (10-6) survived six innings to get the win. Felipe Rivero worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth for his eighth save. Pittsburgh won its third straight and pulled within five games of the first-place Brewers in the crowded NL Central.
DIAMONDBACKS 11, REDS 2
Chris Herrmann capped a six-run fifth inning with a two-run homer, and Arizona slugged its way past Cincinnati, shortly after trading for slugger J.D. Martinez. Rey Fuentes added a pinch-hit, three-run shot in the seventh, All-Star outfielder Jake Lamb had a two-run triple and Arizona ended a five-game skid by tying a season high with nine extra-base hits - one from each spot in the order. The Diamondbacks had four doubles in the fifth, helping overcome Zack Cozart’s 10th homer of the season. Arizona acquired Martinez from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for minor leaguers Dawel Lugo, Sergio Alcantara and Jose King. Cincinnati is 0-5 since the All-Star break, and opponents have reached double figures in runs in three of the games. Amid muggy conditions and a 90-degree first-pitch temperature, Robbie Ray (9-4) lasted six innings for Arizona. Reds starter Sal Romano (1-2), recalled from Triple-A Louisville earlier Tuesday to make his third career start, failed to retire a batter in the fifth.
ORIOLES 12, RANGERS 1
Chris Davis homered in a six-run first inning, added a grand slam in the fourth and finished with a career-high six RBIs to help Baltimore breeze past Texas. It was the 19th career multihomer game for Davis, making his fifth start since coming off the disabled list with an oblique strain. Baltimore’s cleanup hitter hadn’t gone deep since June 10 and has 16 home runs after hitting 38 last season. The Orioles scored six runs against Tyson Ross (2-2) before making an out, and that was enough to send Baltimore to its second straight win over Texas following a three-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs. Dylan Bundy (9-8) allowed one run and four hits in six innings to earn his first victory since June 24.
PHILLIES 5, MARLINS 2
Maikel Franco had three hits, including a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning, to help lift Philadelphia over Miami. National League home run leader Giancarlo Stanton hit his 29th for the Marlins, who have lost four of five. Franco’s homer to left field off Dustin McGowan (5-1) was his 14th of the season and it broke a 2-all tie. Nick Williams added a two-run homer in the ninth to cap the scoring. Cameron Perkins drove in two runs for the Phillies and Pat Neshek (3-2) pitched a scoreless seventh for the victory. Hector Neris pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save in 12 opportunities.
CARDINALS 5, METS 0
Michael Wacha threw a three-hitter for his first career shutout, Matt Carpenter had four hits, and St. Louis beat New York. Wacha (7-3) has won his last four starts. He struck out eight and walked one in his 99th career start. The 26-year-old right-hander, who was ineffective last season, had not won four straight starts since the 2013 playoffs when he helped lead St. Louis to the World Series. Wacha and the Cardinals capitalized on a shoddy Mets defense that let down starter Rafael Montero (1-6) with three errors. Montero allowed four runs, two earned, in six innings. New York has lost three straight and eight of 11.—AFP