Yankees can’t top Verlander
Justin Verlander tamed the Yankees again, slowing down the highest-scoring team in the majors and pitching the Houston Astros to a 5-1 win in New York yesterday.
Verlander exited in the seventh inning with a major league-best 1.11 ERA. J.D. Davis hit an early three-run homer and Jose Altuve had a solo drive, helping Houston win for the sixth time in eight games.
Closer Ken Giles, tagged Sunday as the Astros blew a five-run lead in the ninth at Cleveland, pitched the final inning and worked around a leadoff single.
Facing the only club in baseball that hasn’t been shut out this season, Verlander (7-2) blanked the Yankees until Greg Bird hit a leadoff home run in the seventh.
As he left, Verlander took off his cap and waved it toward a solid contingent of Astros fans wearing bright orange behind the dugout.
Mariners 2, Rangers 1 — Marco Gonzales pitched into the seventh inning and did not allow an earned run for a third consecutive start, helping host Seattle edge Texas.
The M’s won for the ninth time in 10 games and reached 13 games above .500 for the first time since late in the 2014 season.
Indians 9, White Sox 6 — Edwin Encarnacion homered and had four RBI, and host Cleveland took advantage of leaky defense to score five times in the fifth inning and beat Chicago.
Encarnacion tied the game in the fifth with a three-run bloop double. Yonder Alonso’s double drove in the go-ahead run later in the inning and Encarnacion hit a leadoff homer in the seventh.
Rays 1, Athletics 0 — Mallex Smith hit an RBI single with two outs in the 13th inning, Jonny Venters got his first save in seven years to cap a seven-hit shutout and visiting Tampa Bay outlasted Oakland.
Twins 8, Royals 5 — In Kansas City, Mo., Miguel Sano belted a two-run homer, Eddie Rosario hit a three-run double and Minnesota snapped a four-game skid with a win over the Kansas City.
Tigers 9, Angels 3 — James McCann hit a grand slam in the third inning, and host Detroit routed Los Angeles.
National League
Braves 4, Mets 3 — Charlie Culberson’s pinch-hit, two-run homer off Seth Lugo gave host Atlanta a win over New York in the first game of a doubleheader.
Before the game, the Braves placed Ronald Acuna Jr. on the disabled list with a mild ACL sprain in his left knee. Acuna’s leg buckled while running out a grounder Sunday at Fenway.
Brewers 8, Cardinals 3 — Jonathan Villar and Christian Yelich homered, while Ryan Braun had three hits to lead host Milwaukee past St. Louis.
Marlins 7, Padres 2 — Caleb Smith was brilliant in dominating a matchup of rookie left-handers, and Cameron Maybin had three hits and two RBI against his old team to lead visiting Miami over San Diego.
Diamondbacks 12, Reds 5 — In Phoenix, Nick Ahmed, Chris Owings and John Ryan Murphy each homered as Arizona’s offense came alive for a win over Cincinnati, just its third win in its last 18 games.
Cubs 7, Pirates 0 — Mike Montgomery pitched twohit ball into the sixth inning, Anthony Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, and sleepdeprived Chicago topped host Pittsburgh.
Interleague
Nationals 6, Orioles 0 — Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer to back a sharp pitching performance by Gio Gonzalez, and surging Washington blanked host Baltimore.