RAYS WIN, BUT IT WASN’T PERFECT

Dodgers outlast Red Sox; Astros mess with Texas

Tampa Bay was three outs from the first perfect game shared by two pitchers before the Orioles struck for three hits in the ninth Sunday afternoon in Baltimore.

BALTIMORE — Zipping through the Baltimore Orioles’ lineup with incredible ease, Ryan Yarbrough was blissfully unaware of his role in a potentially historic performance until the Tampa Bay Rays left-hander was deep into the finest outing of his baseball career.

After taking over for Ryne Stanek in the third inning Sunday, Yarbrough was poised to be part of the major leagues’ first combined perfect game.

“I was so locked in, not until I went out there in the eighth to warm up and I heard a kid yell, ‘Don’t blow it,’ did I realize what the situation was,” Yarbrough said.

Hanser Alberto beat the shift with a leadoff opposite-field single in the ninth inning, wrecking history in the making and taking some of the edge off Tampa Bay’s 4-1 victory.

Mixing a cut fastball with a sinker and a deceptive changeup, Yarbrough was literally unhittable — until the ninth. DODGERS 7, RED SOX 4 (12 INNINGS): In Boston, Max Muncy drew a basesloaded walk to force home the go-ahead run in the 12th inning and Los Angeles added two more runs to beat the Red Sox in a marathon game.

Xander Baerts and J.D. Martinez hit back-to-back homers in the eighth to tie the game for Boston.

ASTROS 12, RANGERS 4: In Arlington, Texas, Justin Verlander followed a tworun first inning with five no-hit innings and José Altuve hit Houston’s franchiserecord ninth grand slam of the season as the Astros beat Texas.

Verlander (11-4) gave up four hits, all singles, and struck out seven. He retired his last 15 batters following a leadoff walk in the second inning.

CUBS 8, PIRATES 3: In Chicago, Jason Heyward, Albert Almora Jr. and Kyle Schwarber hit home runs as Chicago beat Pittsburgh for a three-game sweep.

Robel Garcia had a pair of doubles and Anthony Rizzo added two hits for Chicago.

INDIANS 4, TWINS 3: In Cleveland, Carlos Santana hit a solo home run that broke a seventh-inning tie as Cleveland avoided a sweep against AL Central-leading Minnesota.

After the Indians lost the first two matchups, All-Star MVP Shane Bieber helped Cleveland salvage the finale and close within 6½ games of the Twins.

PHILLIES 4, NATIONALS 3: In Philadelphia, Maikel Franco homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Philadelphia a win over Washington.

Franco drove the first pitch he saw from Matt Grace (0-2), a 93-mph fastball, over the wall in left. It was Franco’s 15th homer of the season and second career walkoff..

CARDINALS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 2: In St. Louis, Paul Goldschmidt homered and Adam Wainwright pitched seven scoreless innings as St. Louis beat Arizona.

Wainwright (6-7), who was scratched from Friday’s start due to back spasms, allowed four hits and struck out seven.

BRAVES 4, PADRES 1: In San Diego, Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer in the eighth and All-Star rookie Mike Soroka struck out a career-high nine to win his 10th straight decision for Atlanta. The Braves have won seven of eight.

ATHLETICS 3, WHITE SOX 2: In Oakland, Calif., Chad Pinder scored from first base when White Sox shortstop Jose Rondón made a throwing error trying to start a double play in the ninth inning as Oakland beat Chicago.

Pinder singled as a pinch-hitter off Jace Fry (1-4) to begin the ninth. Ramón Laureano, who homered in the eighth to tie it at 2, then followed with a sharp grounder to the left side of the infield.

GIANTS 8, BREWERS 3: In Milwaukee, Tyler Beede pitched effectively into the seventh inning, had two hits and drove in the go-ahead run for San Francisco. Brandon Belt homered for the Giants.

YANKEES 4, BLUE JAYS 2: In New York, Masahiro Tanaka pitched six strong innings and Gio Urshela drove in two runs as New York beat Toronto.

Tanaka (6-5) allowed two runs, four hits and struck out five without issuing a walk.

ANGELS 6, MARINERS 3: In Anaheim, Calif., rookie Matt Thaiss hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the eighth as LA completed a three-game sweep of Seattle.

TIGERS 12, ROYALS 8: In Kansas City, Mo., Jeimer Candelario hit a bases-clearing double and Gordon Beckham added a two-run homer during a seven-run third inning as Detroit pounded Kansas City.

METS 6, MARLINS 2: In Miami, Robinson Cano homered for the second consecutive game to help New York top Miami.