Indians deliver in Tito’s return
Trevor Bauer pitched into the seventh inning, Michael Brantley drove in two runs and the Indians defeated the Texas Rangers 5-3 last night in Cleveland in manager Terry Francona’s return to the team.
Francona was cleared to come back after another health scare forced him to leave Monday’s game and miss Tuesday’s contest. The 58-year-old Francona has been fitted with a heart monitor, but he said doctors have ruled out any serious health issues.
Bauer (7-6) held Texas to one run — Robinson Chirinos’ homer — and four hits in 61⁄ innings.
Yankees 12, White Sox 3— Miguel Andujar had three hits and four RBI in his major league debut, Aaron Judge added his major league-leading 27th homer and struggling New York pounded host Chicago.
Andujar made a good impression after being called up from Triple-A with Matt Holliday going on the disabled list because of an illness. The White Sox lost for the eighth time in 10 games, with Rodon struggling in his season debut and manager Rick Renteria getting ejected yet again. Masahiro Tanaka went six innings for his first win since May 8.
Blue Jays 4, Orioles 0 — Marcus Stroman pitched five-hit ball into the eighth inning, Jose Bautista and Justin Smoak hit home runs, and host Toronto beat Baltimore.
Astros 11, Athletics 8 — Josh Reddick and George Springer had three hits each and combined for five RBI as host Houston used a fiverun third to take the lead and hold on to beat Oakland.
Royals 8, Tigers 2 — Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas hit consecutive homers in a four-run fourth inning, and visiting Kansas City went on to beat Detroit.
National League
Nationals 8, Cubs 4 — Stephen Strasburg struck out 13 in seven innings, Bryce Harper had two doubles and two RBI, and Washington beat visiting Chicago.
Anthony Rendon and Matt Wieters hit back-toback homers against John Lackey (5-9) during Washington’s four-run second inning. After the Cubs pulled within 6-3, Daniel Murphy went deep in the fifth.
It was a rough day for the Cubs, who cut catcher Miguel Montero after he criticized pitcher Jake Arrieta for his role in the Nationals’ seven steals in Tuesday’s 6-1 win over the World Series champions. Then reigning NL MVP Kris Bryant departed with an apparent right ankle injury.
Giants 5, Rockies 3 — Jae-Gyun Hwang homered in his major league debut, a tiebreaking drive in the sixth that led host San Francisco over Colorado, whose losing streak reached a season-high eight games.
A 29-year-old who starred for South Korea’s Lotte Giants, Hwang was brought up from TripleA Sacramento before the game and inserted into the starting lineup at third base, batting fifth.
Reds 4, Brewers 3 — Scooter Gennett hit a tworun homer and Billy Hamilton scored the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning, rallying host Cincinnati to a victory over Milwaukee.
The Brewers lost starter Chase Anderson to a strained oblique.
Mets 8, Marlins 0 — Steven Matz pitched seven innings and two relievers completed a seven-hitter to help visiting New York blank Miami.
Interleague
Phillies 5, Mariners 4 — Tommy Joseph hit his 13th homer of the season leading off the ninth, Andrew Knapp followed with a twoout RBI single and visiting Philadelphia rallied to beat Seattle.
Pirates 6, Rays 2 — Jose Osuna doubled twice and drove in two runs and rookie Josh Bell hit his 15th homer as Pittsburgh jumped Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell (05) early in a home victory.