Braves’ Foltynewicz dominates Nats with 2-hitter
>> ATLANTA: Atlanta Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz picked up in June where he left off in May when he threw a two-hit shut-out with 11 strikeouts to beat the visiting Washington Nationals 4-0 on Friday at SunTrust Park.
It was the first complete game and first shutout for Foltynewicz (5-3), who has allowed one or fewer runs in five straight starts. Foltynewicz retired 20 consecutive batters between the first and eighth innings.
It was the 10th time in Foltynewicz’s career that he’s f anned double digits, the second time this season. He punched out Bryce Harper to end the game.
The Braves rallied for four runs in the seventh inning against Washington starter Stephen Strasburg (6-5). The big hit was a three-run homer from Dansby Swanson, his fourth home run. Strasburg left the game with a cramp in his left hand with two outs in the inning.
Aaron Judge homered and starter Sonny Gray pitched six strong innings as New York defeated hosts Baltimore 4-1 in the opener of a weekend series at Camden Yards.
Gray (4-4) turned in one of his best starts this season for the Yankees. After struggling in the first two innings, giving up one run on two hits and hitting a batter, he recovered to go six innings as New York won for the third straight time.
Aroldis Chapman earned his 13th save by striking out the side in the ninth. Orioles starter Andrew Cashner (2-7) allowed three runs on nine hits in six innings, giving up single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings.
Kris Bryant capped a three-run seventh inning with a go-ahead RBI single and Kyle Schwarber launched a three-run homer in the eighth inning as Chicago came back to beat hosts New York 7-4 at Citi Field.
The Cubs have won five of six. The Mets have dropped seven of nine to fall under .500 (27-28) for the first time this season. The late rally made a winner out of left-hander Randy Rosario (1-1), who tossed 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief.
Schwarber’s three-run homer off Paul Sewald (0-4) in the eighth provided some valuable insurance for the Cubs.