Betts’ 9th-inning double leads Red Sox
Judge hits 457-foot HR; Stanton’s streak halted
BOSTON — Mookie Betts lined a tworun double off the left-field wall with two outs in the ninth inning, capping a three-run rally that lifted the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.
Xander Bogaerts hit a solo homer for the AL East-leading Red Sox, who won for the 12th time in 14 games and maintained their 4½-game lead over the second-place New York Yankees.
Kolten Wong had three hits, including an RBI single in St. Louis’ four-run second inning, and Lance Lynn held Boston’s offense down with six solid innings before the Red Sox rallied.
It was just the third loss in 11 games for the Cardinals, who were swept in the two-game series, their first visit to Fenway Park since the 2013 World Series.
YANKEES 5, METS 3: At Citi Field, Aaron Judge launched a 457-foot homer, Didi Gregorius snapped a seventhinning tie with a two-run double and the Yankees beat the Mets for their third straight victory in the Subway Series.
Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes never even budged as Judge’s AL-leading 37th home run soared way over his head. ASTROS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 5: In
Houston, Josh Reddick hit a two-run homer in a four-run eighth, Charlie Morton threw 6⅓ solid innings as the Astros defeated Arizona.
ANGELS 3, NATIONALS 2: In Washington, Ricky Nolasco bounced back from a rocky first inning to pitch into the sixth inning before departing with cramps, and Luis Valbuena and Kole Calhoun homered in the Angels’ victory that secured a split of the teams’ two-game series.
MARLINS 8, GIANTS 1: In Miami, Giancarlo Stanton’s six-game homer streak ended, but he singled, stole a base and scored in a four-run first inning to help Miami beat San Francisco.
Stanton, who has 45 homers, is on pace to finish with 61 and said that number is a goal.
Ruth hit a record 60 homers in 1927, and Stanton said he gives that achievement an asterisk because the sport wasn’t integrated then. Mantle’s teammate Roger Maris broke the record with 61 in 1961. Barry Bonds set the current record of 73 in 2001 during the steroids era, and Stanton said he also considers that total tainted.
DODGERS 5, WHITE SOX 4: In Los Angeles, Yasiel Puig doubled in two runs in the bottom of the ninth as the Dodgers rallied. It was their 10th walkoff win of the season.
CUBS 7, REDS 6: In Chicago, Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam in the first inning and Javier Baez scored on a wild
pitch in the ninth as the Cubs overcame a late Cincinnati rally. BREWERS 7, PIRATES 6: In Milwaukee, the Brewers hit five homers, including Manny Pina’s deciding two-run shot in the eighth inning that lifted them past the Pirates. ROCKIES 17, BRAVES 2: In Denver, Trevor Story had two homers and a career-high six RBIs, Jon Gray pitched six strong innings, and Colorado broke out of an offensive slump.
PADRES 3, PHILLIES 0: In San Diego, the Padres’ Clayton Richard pitched a three-hitter for his first shutout since 2012 and Wil Myers stole three bases in an inning as San Diego beat Philadelphia.
BLUE JAYS 3, RAYS 2: In Toronto, Marcus Stroman pitched 6⅓ innings, Steve Pearce homered and scored twice and the Blue Jays beat Tampa Bay.
ROYALS 7, ATHLETICS 6: In Oakland, Calif., Alex Gordon hit a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth after Oakland tied it in the bottom of the eighth, and Kansas City beat the Athletics.
MARINERS 7, ORIOLES 6: In Seattle, recently acquired Yonder Alonso hit his first homer for Seattle and drove in three runs. RANGERS 12, TIGERS 6: In Arlington, Texas, Elvis Andrus had the goahead home run among his four RBIs, Cole Hamels won again despite a shaky outing and Texas completed a threegame sweep.