White’s late blast enough for Astros
Tyler White hit a two-run drive in the eighth inning and the Houston Astros pulled off a late rally for the second straight game, beating the Giants, 2-1, yesterday in San Francisco.
The win followed the Astros’ 3-1 win Monday in which Marwin Gonzalez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth.
This time, the AL West leaders again trailed 1-0 when Gonzalez doubled and White hit a high, arching shot to left field off Ray Black (1-1).
Houston has hit 13 home runs in its last eight games. The Astros have won six-ofseven and the Giants have lost four-of-five.
Joe Smith struck out the only two batters he faced in the seventh for the win. Hector Rondon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save in 16 tries.
Astros starter Dallas Keuchel gave up one run and three hits in six innings, striking out five and walking two. Giants starter Madison Bumgarner pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Giants infielder Chase d’Arnaud left the game with a bruised left knee after fouling a ball of himself in the fourth.
Cubs 5, Royals 0 — Mike Montgomery allowed five hits over six-plus innings, David Bote drove in a career-high three runs and Chicago won in Kansas City.
Montgomery, who the Royals drafted in the first round in 2008, picked up his first win since June 29. Montgomery is 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA in four appearances against the Royals.
The Royals have lost six straight and are 14-43 since May 30.
American League
Rays 4, Orioles 3 — Willy Adames hit a solo home run with two outs in the ninth inning, giving Tampa Bay a win over Baltimore in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Sergio Romo (2-2) got the win after retiring two batters in the ninth, helping Tampa Bay break a three-game losing streak.
Tim Beckham and Trey Mancini homered for Baltimore, and Alex Cobb pitched seven strong innings, giving up only two hits after the first inning and retiring the last 10 batters he faced.
National League
Nationals, Braves split — Ender Inciarte snapped a ninth-inning tie with a two-run triple, and Atlanta beat host Washington, 3-1, to earn a doubleheader split. In the opener, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman hit consecutive homers to spark a four-run fourth inning that carried Washington to an 8-3 victory.
Seeking to blunt the momentum of the surging Nationals, Atlanta shook off a strong pitching performance by Max Scherzer before striking against the Washington bullpen in the second game of the day-night doubleheader.
The defeat ended Washington’s run of nine wins in 12 games. Atlanta has won seven of nine.
Before the game, the Nationals picked up reliever Greg Holland, who had a 7.92 ERA with St. Louis before being designated for assignment on July 27.
Cardinals 3, Marlins 2 — Streaking Matt Carpenter hit his 30th home run, a tiebreaking drive in the eighth inning that lifted St. Louis over host Miami.
Carpenter connected for the fourth time in five games and increased his career high for home runs. He also extended his streak of reaching base safely to 26 games, the longest active string in the majors.
Elsewhere in baseball — Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is out for the season after surgery on his left hip. The expected recovery time is about six months.
The 34-year-old Ellsbury has been out all season with a number of injuries, including an oblique strain and sore back. The Yankees put him on the 60-day disabled list in May . . . .
The Milwaukee Brewers put right-hander Matt Albers on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring . . . .
Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, who had Tommy John surgery in May, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left hip yesterday. He is expected to be at full strength for the start of spring training in February.