Sizzling Royals finally climb over .500 mark
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jason Vargas missed most of last season after having elbow surgery in 2015. This year he is a candidate to be the AL All-Star Game starter.
Vargas, an Albuquerque Isotope in 2006, earned his American League-leading 11th victory, pitching seven efficient innings to lead the surging Kansas City Royals over the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 Saturday. The Royals won for the 11th time in 13 games and moved over .500 for the first time this season at 37-36.
“The pitching has been great, and we’ve got some timely hitting,” said Eric Hosmer, who homered in the fourth. “We’re definitely in synch as a team right now.”
Vargas (11-3) allowed two runs on eight hits, walked none and struck out two.
“It was a great day because we came out with a ‘W,’” Vargas said. “I felt like in those middle innings we got into a nice rhythm.”
Troy Tulowitzki and Kevin Pillar homered off Vargas. Alcides Escobar had three hits and scored twice for the Royals.
TWINS 4, INDIANS 2: In Cleveland, Brian Dozier hit a leadoff homer off closer Cody Allen to break an eighth-inning tie and Minnesota defeated the Indians for the second straight day.
Dozier homered into the left field porch on a 3-2 pitch and narrowed Cleveland’s lead over Minnesota in the AL Central to one-half game.
ORIOLES 8, RAYS 3: In St. Petersburg, Fla., Dylan Bundy helped Baltimore avoid a dubious pitching record, throwing seven solid innings as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay.
The Orioles had given up at least five runs in 20 straight games, matching the major league mark set by the 1924 Philadelphia Phillies.
ATHLETICS 10, WHITE SOX 2: In Chicago, Matt Olson hit his first two major league home runs, Jaycob Brugman and Franklin Barreto also launched their first career shots and the A’s routed the White Sox.
Barreto joined Olson and Brugman in becoming the second trio of teammates to hit their first homers in the same game, the Elias Sports Bureau said. It also happened in 1914 with the Kansas City Packers of the Federal League.
RANGERS 8, YANKEES 1: In New York, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, a 32-year-old rookie, pitched seven dazzling innings to send Texas to a victory over the Yankees.
Bibens-Dirkx (3-0) allowed only Aaron Judge’s major league-leading 26th home run in his fourth career start.
CUBS 5, MARLINS 3: In Miami, Jon Lester gave up a three-run homer to J.T. Realmuto in the first inning and then settled down to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Marlins.
Lester (5-4) went seven innings, retiring 13 in a row after Realmuto’s homer. Javier Baez had a two-run double in the sixth put the Cubs ahead to stay.
BRAVES 3, BREWERS 1: In Atlanta, Brandon Phillips gave Braves the lead with a two-run homer in the third, R.A. Dickey threw seven strong innings and surging Atlanta beat Milwaukee.
Phillips has homered in three straight games, and the Braves have won four
straight and nine of 12.
NATIONALS 18, REDS 3: In Washington, Michael Taylor homered twice among his four hits, Trea Turner finished 5 of 5 with a walk and the Nationals routed Cincinnati.
METS 5, GIANTS 2: In San Francisco, Jacob deGrom pitched eight strong innings and Wilmer Flores hit a home run and drove in two runs as the New York Mets defeated the Giants.
PIRATES 7, CARDINALS 3: In St. Louis, Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison homered and starter Gerrit Cole pitched six innings, lifting Pittsburgh to a victory over the Cardinals.
ANGELS 6, RED SOX 3: In Boston, JC Ramirez pitched six solid innings, Cameron Maybin doubled home a run and the Los Angeles Angels held off the Red Sox.
PADRES 7, TIGERS 3: In San Diego, Hector Sanchez hit a pinch two-run homer to spark a five-run eighth inning and the Padres rallied to defeat Detroit.
DIAMONDBACKS 9, PHILLIES 2: In Phoenix, Jake Lamb homered, Chris Herrmann drove in three runs and Daniel Descalso had three hits, leading Arizona over Philadelphia.
ASTROS 5, MARINERS 3: In Seattle, Josh Reddick homered and Brian McCann hit a three-run double to help Houston snap Seattle’s six-game winning streak.
DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 0: In Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw struck out eight in six scoreless innings and Joc Pederson homered as the Dodgers shut out Colorado. Kershaw (11-2) allowed four hits and walked one.