Indians win 15th straight
The Cleveland Indians set a franchise record with their 15th consecutive win last night, beating the White Sox, 11-2 in Chicago behind another strong outing for Corey Kluber.
Cleveland also belted five homers while becoming the first major league team with a 15-game winning streak since Oakland won 20 in a row in 2002. Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run drive in the first and Francisco Lindor connected in the second to help the Indians get off to a fast start.
Kluber (15-4) struck out 13 in seven innings. Yolmer Sanchez and Jose Abreu homered in the first for Chicago, but Kluber allowed only one more hit for the rest of his outing.
All-Star infielder Jose Ramirez was out of Cleveland’s lineup because of a sore wrist. Ramirez aggravated the wrist on a check swing earlier in the series.
Yankees 9, Orioles 1 — Aaron Judge and Chase Headley hit two-run homers, Starlin Castro and Todd Frazier added solo shots and New York beat host Baltimore for its first series win at Camden Yards in four years.
Didi Gregorius had three hits and scored twice for the Yankees, who closed within 31⁄2 games of the AL East-leading Red Sox and fortified their grip on the top wild card.
Sonny Gray (9-9) gave up one unearned run and six hits in 52⁄3 innings. The right-hander is 3-4 since he was acquired by New York in a July 31 trade with Oakland.
By taking 2-of-3, the Yankees earned their first series win in Baltimore since Sept. 9-13, 2013.
The 11-series drought was the second-longest in franchise history, behind only a 12-series run in Oakland from 1985-91.
Twins 4, Royals 2 — Jorge Polanco drove in the goahead runs with two outs in the ninth inning, and Minnesota rallied to beat host Kansas City.
Trevor Hildenberger (32) earned the win with a scoreless eighth in relief of Twins starter Kyle Gibson, while Matt Belisle handled a perfect ninth to pick up his sixth save.
National League
Nationals 4, Phillies 3 — Trea Turner capped a three-run sixth inning rally with a two-run single, and host Washington defeated Philadelphia for its fourth straight win.
Adam Lind had two hits and scored a run for Washington, and Michael A. Taylor contributed a terrific catch in center field. Tanner Roark (12-9) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings.
Cubs 8, Pirates 2 — Albert Almora Jr. hit a tworun homer, Ian Happ had three hits and Chicago rolled over host Pittsburgh.
The Cubs had 13 hits, including eight for extra bases, as the offense broke out after totaling four runs in the last three games.
Jon Lester (10-7) worked around traffic in his first four innings but settled down to go six innings with one run and five hits allowed. He struck out five and walked four.
Mets 7, Reds 2 — Rookie Brandon Nimmo homered twice, Juan Lagares added a solo shot and host New York beat Cincinnati.
New York has won 3-of-4 and ended the Reds’ threegame winning streak to open a four-game series.
Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton (broken left thumb) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. The major league stolen bases leader was hurt while bunting in Wednesday’s game.
Rockies 9, Dodgers 1 — Nolan Arenado hit a three-run homer off a laboring Clayton Kershaw and Colorado beat host Los Angeles, its seventh straight defeat and 12th in 13 games.
The NL West leaders haven’t lost that many since May 2013, when they dropped eight in a row. Their 92-48 record is still baseball’s best.
Braves 6, Marlins 5 — Kurt Suzuki capped a tworun rally in the ninth inning when his lined single past third base drove in Freddie Freeman and lifted host Atlanta over Miami.
Padres 3, Cardinals 0 — Dexter Fowler struck out against Brad Hand with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, as host San Diego stopped St. Louis.