On-song Sale strikes out 12, helps Red Sox subdue Rays
BOSTON: Chris Sale struck out 12 while pitching seven solid innings and Mookie Betts hit a two-run homer, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
It was Sale’s seventh straight start with double-digit strike-outs. The six-foot-six left-hander allowed three runs and two hits, both homers.
Joe Kelly worked the eighth before Craig Kimbrel finished the three-hitter for his 11th save.
Betts also doubled in a run in Boston’s four-run fifth inning. Deven Marrero drove in two runs, helping the Red Sox to their 14th win in their last 19 games against the Rays.
Kevin Kiermaier and Logan Morrison homered for Tampa Bay, who have dropped seven of 11. Blake Snell (0-4) allowed six runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Fresh from getting a big deal, Bryce Harper hit a game-ending home run with two outs in the ninth inning that gave Washington a 6-4 home victory over Philadelphia.
Hours before the game, the Nationals announced they had reached agreement with Harper on a US$21,625,000 contract for the 2018 season, covering the slugging outfielder through his last year before he can become a free agent.
In St Louis, Carlos Martinez pitched into the seventh inning and collected two hits, leading the Cardinals to a 5-3 win against the Chicago Cubs.
St. Louis also got another solid performance from Tommy Pham, who had two hits and two RBIs.
Elvis Andrus and Nomar Mazara had consecutive two-RBI hits as Texas rallied earlier this time, beating Oakland 6-5 for their season-best fifth straight victory.
In Denver, Alex Wood struck out 10 in six innings and drove in a run with a wellplaced bunt on a squeeze play, leading Los Angeles Dodgers past the Rockies 4-0.
In Toronto, Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer, and the Blue Jays earned their sixth win in seven games, beating the Mariners 7-2.
Nate Karns struck out a career-high 12 in five innings, Eric Hosmer reached base four times and Kansas City edged Baltimore 4-3.
Brandon Belt and Justin Ruggiano homered, Matt Moore pitched into the eighth inning and the Giants beat the Reds 3-2 in a match-up of weary teams.
Jose Berrios pitched neatly into the eighth inning in his first start of the season and the Twins beat the Indians 4-1 in a game delayed several minutes when a squirrel ran around the field.
JD Martinez powered up in just his second game of the season, hitting his second homer of the game in the ninth inning to lift Detroit 4-3 over Los Angeles.
Trevor Williams pitched five strong innings and Pittsburgh snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over Arizona.
In Milwaukee, Travis Shaw capped Milwaukee’s eight-run fifth inning with a threerun homer, helping the Brewers beat New York 11-4.
Also on Saturday, Atlanta scored a 3-1 road win over the Marlins, and the Chicago White Sox ended a six-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the Padres.