Betts’ walk-off HR caps Red Sox win
Nationals’ Scherzer dominates Marlins on 34th birthday, Pirates pip Mets to end two-game skid
>> BOSTON: Mookie Betts led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run as the Boston Red Sox snapped a two-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Friday night at Fenway Park.
It was Betts’ 25th homer of the season and his first career walk-off homer. The blast over the Green Monster in left field came on the second pitch of the inning from Matt Belisle (1-1).
Eddie Rosario had a two-run goahead double off Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel with two outs in the ninth, and Jorge Polanco also had two hits for Minnesota, which had a four-game winning streak snapped.
Rafael Devers tied the game leading off the bottom of the ninth against Fernando Rodney when he lined his 15th homer of the year just over the glove of Max Kepler into the bullpen in right.
David Freese capped a big night with a walk-off single as hosts Pittsburgh broke a two-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over New York.
Freese drove in all five Pirates runs, including a two-run homer. Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer for the Mets, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
In the ninth tied 4-4 against Tim Peterson (2-2), the Mets’ seventh pitcher, Josh Harrison had an infield single, Gregory Polanco singled and Elias Diaz was walked intentionally before Freese lofted the ball to deep right-centre for the win.
Max Scherzer earned his 14th win of the season on his 34th birthday and teenager Juan Soto homered for the third straight game as Washington defeated hosts Miami 9-1.
The only run allowed by Scherzer was unearned, and Soto went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Soto finished a double short of the cycle.
Scherzer (14-5) retired the first 10 batters he faced and struck out the side in the third and sixth innings. He finished with 11 strikeouts to reach 200 on the season and gave up three hits and one walk in eight innings.
Adam Jones homered and drove in four runs, and Jonathan Schoop homered in a fifth consecutive game and had three RBIs as hosts Baltimore routed Tampa Bay 15-5.
Andrew Cashner (3-9) broke a fourgame losing streak and won for the first time this season at home. It was his first victory since May 21.
Chris Archer (3-5) started for the Rays in what might have been his final time on the mound with Tampa Bay as the July 31 trade deadline nears.
Pinch hitter Brandon Guyer smashed a three-run homer to highlight a four-run eighth, Francisco Lindor homered twice and drove in three runs and Cleveland rolled to an 8-3 win at Detroit.
Yonder Alonso also homered and drove in two runs for the Indians, who have won 11 of 14 meetings with Detroit this season. Cody Allen (3-4) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to get the victory.
Victor Martinez homered for the Tigers. Losing pitcher Joe Jimenez (4-2) was charged with three runs while getting only one out.
Mason Williams broke a fourthinning tie with a three-run home run and Eugenio Suarez homered in his fifth straight game, lifting host Cincinnati past Philadelphia 6-4.
Suarez tied a club record when he connected for a solo shot in the second inning. He became the eighth Reds player to homer in five straight, last accomplished by Jay Bruce in 2016.
Clayton Kershaw gave up one run over a season-high 7 2/3 innings and drove in a pair of runs to help Los Angeles win 4-1 at Atlanta.
Kershaw (4-5) gave up six hits, struck out eight without a walk and improved to 4-0 in 10 career starts against the Braves. It was his first career start at SunTrust Park.