Yanks top Tigers, pick up McCutchen
Gleyber Torres drove in the go-ahead run one batter after a contested check swing loaded the bases for New York in the eighth inning, and the Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers, 7-5, last night as they await the arrival of 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen.
New York manager Aaron Boone fired up the Yankee Stadium crowd — and got himself ejected — for impersonating a catcher to show plate umpire Nic Lentz what he was missing in the fifth. Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks and Miguel Andujar then homered in the sixth to end Jordan Zimmermann’s bid for a second career no-hitter.
Boone gave the Bronx a jolt with his third ejection of his rookie season. After Torres complained to Lentz during an at-bat, Boone was tossed a moment later for shouting from the dugout. Boone then came to home plate, put a finger in Lentz’ face and squatted behind the plate and pretended to catch a pitch.
New York trailed 5-4 when it loaded the bases against Joe Jimenez (4-4) on a double by Gardner and walks by Hicks and Luke Voit. Voit was ruled to have checked his swing on a 3-2, two-out pitch. Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected for arguing that Voit went around.
Torres then lined an 0-1 pitch from Alex Wilson to left field for a single, and the ball ricocheted off the head of diving left fielder Mikie Mahtook, allowing two runs to score for a 6-5 Yankees lead. After an intentional walk to Neil Walker, Austin Romine brought in another run with an infield single.
McCutchen, one of several players to pass through waivers after the July 31 trade deadline, was sent from San Francisco to New York for a pair of minor leaguers.
Indians 3, Rays 0 — Corey Kluber pitched seven sparkling innings, Edwin Encarnacion homered and host Cleveland blanked Tampa Bay.
Kluber (17-7) allowed two singles, struck out eight and walked two in the Tribe’s ALbest 14th shutout this season.
AL Central-leading Cleveland won for the fourth time in five games amid speculation it was closing in on a trade for Toronto slugger Josh Donaldson.
National League
Brewers 4, Nationals 1 — Jhoulys Chacin pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Travis Shaw hit a two-run homer and visiting Milwaukee dropped Washington.
During the game, the teams reportedly worked out a trade that will send pitcher Gio Gonzalez from the Nats to the Brewers. The left-handed starter, who has struggled in 2018, will be a free agent in the offseason.
Milwaukee also acquired veteran lefthander Xavier Cedeno from the Chicago White Sox for two minor leaguers.
The Brewers also got home runs from Jesus Aguilar, his 31st, and Erik Kratz in winning their third straight game. Milwaukee holds the second NL wild card spot.
Pirates 3, Braves 2 — Gregory Polanco’s eighth-inning single drove in Adam Frazier with the tiebreaking run, and visiting Pittsburgh recovered after blowing a two-run lead to edge Atlanta.
The first-place Braves, who have lost five of their last seven, saw their NL East lead shrink to two games over Philadelphia.
Phillies 2, Cubs 1 — Asdrubal Cabrera hit a solo home run with one out in the 10th to lift host Philadelphia over Chicago in a game played through steady rain.
Cabrera connected off Steve Cishek (4-2), driving an opposite-field shot to left-center.
Interleague
Blue Jays 6, Marlins 5 — Justin Smoak connected for a pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth inning, sending visiting Toronto past Miami.
Elsewhere in baseball — The Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered their bullpen, acquiring right-hander Ryan Madson from the Washington Nationals for a minor league pitcher.
The five-time defending NL West champions have Kenley Jansen as their closer, but he’s been shaky since coming off the disabled list. …
The Oakland Athletics landed right-handed reliever Cory Gearrin from the Texas Rangers for a pair of minor league pitchers. …
The Colorado Rockies got backup catcher Drew Butera from Kansas City for a minor league pitcher.