Twins sweep Orioles at Camden Yards
Lamb, Diamondbacks too much for White Sox
BALTIMORE — After becoming the first team this season to win a series at Camden Yards, the Minnesota Twins wanted more.
Beating the Baltimore Orioles twice in a row simply wasn’t good enough for these upstart Twins, who entered Wednesday’s series finale determined to complete a sweep.
That’s precisely what happened. Using a strong pitching performance by Jose Berrios, the AL Central leaders churned out a 4-3 victory.
Following a 14-7 win on Monday night and a 2-0 victory Tuesday, the Twins ended Baltimore’s run of seven straight series wins at home.
“You always try to win series, but I think the mind-set once we left (Tuesday) was, ‘Don’t settle on two,’” Minnesota’s Brian Dozier said.
Berrios took a two-hitter into the seventh inning and Kennys Vargas drove in two runs for the Twins, who are a major league best 14-5 on the road.
In this one, Minnesota bolted to a 4-0 lead and withstood solo homers by J.J. Hardy, Chris Davis and Jonathan Schoop to complete its fourth sweep of the season.
“Today, we kind of started fast and had to hang on,” manager Paul Molitor said. “It was a little frustrating we couldn’t take advantage and increase the cushion somewhat.”
YANKEES 3, ROYALS 0: In New York, helped by a great first-inning catch that forced center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the game with a concussion and sprained neck, Luis Severino won for the first time in a month and led the Yankees over Kansas City.
On the first pitch of the game, Ellsbury sprinted 107 feet and raised his glove above his head to catch Alcides Escobar’s fly. Ellsbury’s head banged against the wall as the ball landed in his glove, and he crumpled to the field. Ellsbury will go on the seven-day concussion disabled list.
RED SOX 9, RANGERS 4: In Boston, Dustin Pedroia waved home the tie-breaking run on a wild pitch, then singled in two more during Boston’s seven-run seventh inning as the Red Sox earned their third straight victory.
Chris Sale (5-2) struck out six, falling short in his attempt to become the first pitcher in baseball’s modern era to strike out at least 10 batters in nine straight games in one season.
ATHLETICS 4, MARLINS 1: In Oakland, Calif., Sonny Gray struck out a seasonhigh 11 over seven innings in his best start in two years, Khris Davis homered and the Athletics beat Miami.
RAYS 5, ANGELS 2: In St. Petersburg, Fla., Steven Souza Jr. homered twice to rally Tampa Bay.
TIGERS 6, ASTROS 3: In Houston, Jose Iglesias finished a triple shy of the cycle, Ian Kinsler had two hits and Detroit snapped a three-game skid.
NATIONALS 5, MARINERS 1: In Washington, Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer for his eighth of the season and Tanner Roark allowed a run over seven
innings for the Nationals. DIAMONDBACKS 8, WHITE SOX 6: In Phoenix, Jake Lamb homered off a lefthander for only the second time this season and Arizona completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox.
REDS 4, INDIANS 3: In Cleveland, Billy Hamilton scored from first base on Zack Cozart’s two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning against closer Cody Allen to lift Cincinnati.
BLUE JAYS 8, BREWERS 4: In Milwaukee, Ryan Goins hit his first career grand slam, one of four homers for Toronto.
CARDINALS 6, DODGERS 1: In Los Angeles, Mike Leake allowed four hits over eight innings for St. Louis.
Jedd Gyorko had three hits and drew a walk in the two-run second inning that gave the Cardinals the lead for good. Yadier Molina hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. CUBS 5, GIANTS 4: In Chicago, Anthony Rizzo hit two home runs, Kyle Hendricks tossed seven strong innings and the Cubs hung on. ROCKIES 7, PHILLIES 2: In Philadelphia, Tyler Chatwood allowed just one hit in seven scoreless innings and Carlos Gonzalez homered for Colorado.
PADRES 6, METS 5: In New York, Hunter Renfroe snapped an eighthinning tie with a titanic home run and San Diego took advantage of a struggling Mets bullpen. PIRATES 12, BRAVES 5 (10): In Atlanta, Gift Ngoepe doubled to drive in Andrew McCutchen for the go-ahead run before Pittsburgh hit three straight homers during a seven-run 10th inning.