Jays cut O’s lead
Marco Estrada is still dealing with the sore back that forced him to skip his first All-Star Game. Even so, he was effective enough for the Blue Jays.
Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki hit solo home runs in the first inning, Estrada snapped a four-start winless streak and the Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles, 6-5, last night in Toronto.
Encarnacion reached base three times and scored twice as the Blue Jays won the opener of a three-game series between the top two teams in the AL East, cutting Baltimore’s division lead to half a game. The Orioles have lost four straight.
Estrada (6-4) allowed three earned runs and five hits in six innings.
Rays 5, Yankees 1 — In St. Petersburg, Fla., Jake Odorizzi pitched masterfully into the seventh inning, Logan Forsythe and Corey Dickerson hit solo homers in the first, and Tampa Bay cooled off surging New York.
The Yankees had won eight of their last 11 to get 31⁄ 2 games behind the Red Sox for the second AL wild card. Indians 5, Athletics 3 — Abraham Almonte scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in Cleveland’s fourrun seventh inning in the comeback victory over visiting Oakland.
Cleveland erased a 3-1
deficit after being held to four hits through six innings. Jason Kipnis’ basesloaded single tied it, and Almonte scored from third on Ryan Dull’s wild pitch one batter later.
Twins 2, White Sox 1 — In Minneapolis, pinch-hitter Joe Mauer drew a basesloaded walk with one out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give Minnesota a win over Chicago.
Tigers 14, Astros 6 — Tyler Collins and Justin Upton each hit a three-run homer to lead host Detroit to its fourth straight win, beating Houston.
James McCann added a solo shot in the eighth and Cameron Maybin had three hits and scored three times for the Tigers, who moved a half-game behind Houston, with both chasing the Red Sox for a wild card spot. Rangers 8, Royals 3 — Rougned Odor homered twice, A.J. Griffin pitched into the sixth inning and Texas beat Kansas City in Arlington, Texas.
Jurickson Profar also went deep for the Rangers, and scored three runs.
Interleague
Cubs 12, Mariners 1 — Jon Lester recovered from a rut of bad starts, pitching six shutout innings, while Jason Heyward and David Ross homered as host Chicago beat Seattle for its third straight win.
National League
Cardinals 11, Marlins 6 — Tommy Pham homered and drove in three runs, leading St. Louis over host Miami.
Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki went 0-for-4 to remain at 2,998 career hits.
The Marlins acquired the pitching reinforcements they sought in a trade that cost them four players, including two minor leaguers. Righthanders Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea were sent to Miami by the San Diego Padres in a seven-player deal. Nationals 4, Giants 1— Max Scherzer tossed seven frames of one run ball and Jayson Werth had two hits and a RBI to lead Washington to the win in San Fransciso. Braves 2, Phillies 1— Tyrell Jenkins earned his first career victory, pitching six innings and helping host Atlanta beat Philadelphia.
Rockies 6, Mets 1 — Tyler Chatwood kept winning on the road, Carlos Gonzalez homered and drove in four runs and Colorado defeated host New York for its fourth straight victory.
Brewers 3, Pirates 1 — Junior Guerra limited Pittsburgh to four hits over 82⁄ 3 strong innings, Chris Carter hit a two-run home run and host Milwaukee won.