Acuna Jr. continues power surge in Braves’ victory over Marlins
Braun homers twice to help Brewers gain ground on Cubs
ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. has struck again.
The 20-year-old Acuna has become the youngest player in major league history to homer in five straight games, doing it Tuesday night when he hit his third leadoff shot in a row. Then he added another home run in the seventh inning, a three-run shot for his 19th of the season.
A day after hitting leadoff homers in both games of a doubleheader against Miami, Acuna connected. He opened the bottom of the first inning against the Marlins by homering on the first pitch for the second straight day. The Braves went on to win 10-6.
Acuna has homered in seven of his last eight games.
BREWERS 7, CUBS 0: In Chicago, Ryan Braun hit two of Milwaukee’s four homers, Jhoulys Chacin struck out 10 in seven innings and the Brewers cut into Chicago’s NL Central lead with a victory over the Cubs.
Lorenzo Cain homered on Jose Quintana’s second pitch. Braun hit a two-run drive in the first and third. Erik Kratz added a solo homer in the sixth and an RBI double in the eighth. CARDINALS 6, NATIONALS 4: In St. Louis, John Gant homered for his first major league hit and pitched one-run ball into the sixth inning, helping St. Louis beat Washington for its season-high seventh consecutive victory.
Kolten Wong had three hits and three RBIs as St. Louis (6555)
pulled within four games of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs and moved within one game of the Philadelphia Phillies for the second NL wild card.
ROCKIES 5, ASTROS 1: In Houston, Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story each went deep, German Marquez pitched well in a clash with Justin Verlander, and Colorado beat Houston.
Houston has matched a season high with five straight losses and extended its home skid to nine games, its longest of the season.
GIANTS 2, DODGERS 1: In Los Angeles, Yasiel Puig took a swing at Giants catcher Nick Hundley during a benches-clearing scrap in the seventh inning, then Alen Hanson hit an RBI single in the ninth to lift San Francisco over Los Angeles.
The fracas starter when Puig swatted his bat in frustration after fouling off a pitch from Tony Watson, and Hundley said something to the mercurial slugger while still in his crouch. Puig turned around and walked toward Hundley, the catcher stood up, and they stood face to face and argued for a moment before Puig shoved Hundley twice.
ATHLETICS 3, MARINERS 2: In Oakland, Calif., Jed Lowrie hit his 100th career homer after his line drive knocked Mariners ace James Paxton out of the game, and Oakland beat Seattle to move within one game of Houston for the AL West lead.
Felix Hernandez replaced Paxton in the first relief appearance of his career after 398 starts. DIAMONDBACKS 6, RANGERS
4: In Arlington, Texas, Paul Goldschmidt hit his 27th homer to put Arizona ahead to stay, All-Star lefty Patrick Corbin worked seven innings for his 10th victory and
the NL West-leading Diamondbacks beat Texas.
Corbin (10-4) struck out seven without a walk while allowing three runs and throwing 66 of 96 pitches for strikes.
TWINS 5, PIRATES 2: In Minneapolis, Jorge Polanco got two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs and Miguel Sano hit a two-run homer, leading Minnesota to a victory over Pittsburgh.
INDIANS 8, REDS 1: In Cincinnati, Jose Ramirez hit his 36th home run and Corey Kluber extended his dominance of Cincinnati and Cleveland rolled to a win.
The Indians won the first two games of the series by a combined 18-4. RED SOX 2, PHILLIES 1: In Philadelphia, pinch-hitter Brock Holt hit a tie-breaking solo homer, Rick Porcello threw seven impressive innings and major league-leading Boston beat Philadelphia.
Sandy Leon also went deep for Boston, which improved to 86-35.
ORIOLES 6, METS 3: In Baltimore, Chris Davis, Adam Jones and Tim Beckham each homered to back a strong performance by starter Andrew Cashner, and the Orioles beat New York. BLUE JAYS 6, ROYALS 5: In Kansas City, Mo., Kevin Pillar hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to lift Toronto over Kansas City. YANKEES 4, RAYS 1: In New York, J.A. Happ allowed one soft single in seven shutout innings to win his third consecutive start as New York beat Tampa Bay. WHITE SOX 6, TIGERS 3: In Detroit, Ryan LaMarre hit his first major league home run and Lucas Giolito escaped a basesloaded, no-out jam as Chicago beat Detroit.