Wacha sharp, Red Sox hold off Cards’ rally
Houck helps Boston escape after allowing three runs in ninth
Michael Wacha pitched neatly into the sixth inning against his former team and the Boston Red Sox shut down St. Louis’ rally in the ninth, holding off the Cardinals 6-5 Friday night.
The NL Central-leading Cardinals trailed 6-1 going into the ninth and reliever Austin Davis retired the first two batters.
But Dylan Carlson doubled, Harrison Bader tripled and Andrew Knizner was hit with a pitch, ending Davis’ outing. Reliever Tanner Houck gave up an RBI double to Tommy Edman that made it 6-3 and a two-run double to Brendan
Donovan.
Paul Goldschmidt then was called out on strikes, giving Houck his third save.
Trevor Story and Rafael Devers each drove in two runs for Boston. Nolan Arenado hit his 12th homer for the Cardinals.
Cubs 1, Braves 0: The Chicago Cubs became the first team in 23 years to stop a losing streak of 10 or more games while ending an opponent’s winning streak of at least 10 games, beating the Braves to halt Atlanta’s 14-game run. Rookie Christoper Morel hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth, helping the Cubs stop a 10-game slide, their longest since 12 straight last Aug. 5-16.
Orioles 1, Rays 0: Dean Kremer pitched six scoreless innings and rookie Adley Rutschman singled home the game’s only run as Baltimore handed Tampa Bay its fourth straight loss.
Phillies 5-8, Nationals 3-7 (10): Bryce Harper had three hits against his old team, and Philadelphia beat skidding Washington 5-3 in their doubleheader opener. J.T. Realmuto hit a go-ahead two-run single in the 10th with the aid of an obstruction call, and the Phillies won 8-7 to complete a doubleheader sweep, their 14th victory in 16 games. Josh Bell homered twice in the nightcap and three times on the day for the Nationals. Matt Vierling’s first multihomer game helped the Phillies in the second game, when Washington’s skid stretched to seven.
Michael Wacha of the Red Sox shut down his former team, allowing one run and one walk with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings against the Cardinals at Fenway Park on Friday night. He improved to 5-1.
Giants 2, Pirates 0: Carlos Rodon scattered two hits over eight sharp innings and San Francisco edged reeling Pittsburgh.
Brewers 5, Reds 4: Keston Hiura hit a tiebreaking home run off Ross Detwiler in the seventh inning, and Milwaukee beat Cincinnati in a battle of long balls for their third win 13 games.
Rangers 7, Tigers 0: Jonah Heim doubled, homered and drove in three runs and Texas beat Detroit, extending the Tigers’ losing streak to six games.
Astros 13, White Sox 3: Michael Brantley’s grand slam was one of three homers in a 10-run sixth that propelled Houston. Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker also homered in the sixth on a night when the Astros hit five homers and tied a season high for runs. Tucker extended his hitting streak to a careerhigh 15 games, the longest active streak in the majors. A two-run homer by Alex Bregman in the first gave the Astros an early lead. A solo drive by Yuli Gurriel made it 3-0 in the second. AJ Pollock tied in the third with his three-run homer before Houston broke it open.
Notes: Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon will undergo surgery for a right wrist injury and miss the rest of the season . ... Jesus Aguilar and Jesus Sanchez were placed on the injured list by the Marlins, who did not specify why. ... Kansas City infielder Nicky Lopez lost his salary arbitration case with the Royals and will get $2.55 million instead of his $2.9 million request . ... Padres righty Joe Musgrove was placed on the COVID-19 injured list.