Rockies rout Paxton, Yanks
James Paxton allowed a leadoff home run for the second straight outing when Charlie Blackmon shook out of a slump and started the Colorado Rockies to an 8-4 win against the Yankees yesterday in New York that halted a six-game losing streak.
On the second consecutive day with a 94-degree temperature at game time, DJ LaMahieu homered on the first pitch from German Márquez (9-5) in the bottom half.
But Márquez rebounded from his worst big league start and cooled the Yankees’ bats after that. Colorado took a 5-1 lead in the third, knocked out Paxton (5-5) in the fourth and ended New York’s five-game winning streak.
Acquired from Seattle during the offseason, Paxton has failed to finish five innings seven times in 17 starts and has a 4.20 ERA.
Blackmon was 4-for-5.
American League
Rays 4, White Sox 2 — Blake Snell (6-7) struck out 10 in six scoreless innings, Travis d’Arnaud hit his first grand slam and Tampa Bay stopped its longest losing streak of the year at five games by beating Chicago in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Rays, now nine games behind the Yankees in the AL East, placed oftinjured center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left thumb.
Indians 5, Royals 4 — Francisco Lindor homered after originally being scheduled to get the day off, José Ramírez hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning and host Cleveland held off Kansas City
Tigers 4, Blue Jays 3 — Nicholas Castellanos led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run, and host Detroit snapped a six-game losing streak by beating Toronto.
Astros 5, Rangers 3 — Michael Brantley homered twice, Jose Altuve also went deep, and Rogelio Armenteros pitched five solid innings in his first major league start as host Houston beat struggling Texas for its fifth straight victory.
Twins 7, Athletics 6 — In Minneapolis, Max Kepler drove in four, including the game-winner to cap a tworun rally in the ninth as Minnesota edged Oakland.
Angels 9, Mariners 3 — Resurgent slugger Albert Pujols and Mike Trout homered, Brian Goodwin connected twice and Los Angeles rolled in Seattle.
National League
Phillies 2, Pirates 1 — A fan casually walked to home plate and approached Philadelphia’s Brad Miller for a handshake before being apprehended, and host Pittsburgh lost on Rhys Hoskins’ homer in the 11th.
Braves 7, Nationals 1 — Josh Donaldson and Nick Markakis had two RBI each, Ronald Acuna added a two-run homer and host Atlanta cruised past Washington to stretch its NL East lead to 6½ games.
Cardinals 3, Reds 1 — Yairo Munoz celebrated a rare start with a home run and a triple to help St. Louis prevail in Cincinnati.
Padres 5, Cubs 1 — Francisco Mejía homered, Fernando Tatis Jr. drove in three runs and San Diego avoided a three-game sweep, beating host Chicago.
Dodgers 9, Marlins 0 — Walker Buehler struck out 11 in seven innings and host Los Angeles hit a trio of home runs (Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, A.J. Pollock) to complete a three-game sweep of Miami.
Brewers 7, Diamondbacks 4 — In Phoenix, Tyler Saladino had his first career grand slam, Mike Moustakas hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning and Milwaukee beat Arizona.
Giants 3, Mets 2 — Mike Yastrzemski homered with one out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give host San Francisco a walkoff victory against New York.