Indians tie Twins again
After watching their AllStar closer lose a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Cleveland Indians bounced right back to win their four-game series in Minneapolis and forge another tie for the AL Central lead.
The three-time defending division champions have made a remarkable summer rebound, setting up a tense race with the Twins for the final stretch.
Carlos Santana hit a grand slam in the 10th, after Tyler Naquin and Francisco Lindor teamed up to throw out what would have been the winning run for the Twins in the ninth, and Cleveland beat Minnesota, 7-3 yesterday.
The Indians host the Red Sox tonight in the start of a three-game series.
Rays 1, Mariners 0 — Ryan Yarbrough came within an out of his first career shutout, Eric Sogard hit a solo homer and the Tampa Bay won in Seattle.
Yarbrough (11-3) retired his final 14 batters and struck out eight while throwing 8 2/3 innings of three-hit ball, but he was replaced after 99 pitches by Emilio Pagan for the final out.
Tampa Bay has won 10of-12 and remained in position for the second AL wild card.
Yankees 1, Blue Jays 0 — Masahiro Tanaka and Aroldis Chapman combined on a four-hitter, Brett Gardner had an RBI double, and New York won in Toronto to end a two-game skid.
Tanaka (8-6) allowed three hits while pitching into the ninth inning, walking none and striking out four.
The right-hander was pulled after Brandon Drury singled to begin the ninth.
Chapman came on to face pinch-hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who fell behind 0-2, worked back to a full count, hit a foul ball off the fifth deck and finally grounded into a double play to end the 13-pitch encounter.
Athletics 2, White Sox 0 — Chris Bassitt threw seven sharp innings, Matt Olson homered and visting Oakland beat Chicago.
National League
Nationals 7, Mets 4 — Asdrubal Cabrera hit a tiebreaking two-run double against his former team and the Nationals bullpen finally locked down a lead in Flushing, lifting host Washington over streaking New York.
Nationals star Juan Soto was injured on Cabrera’s bases-loaded hit in the seventh inning. Soto went from first to third but turned his right ankle after getting a late stop sign from third base coach Bob Henley. He spiked his helmet, was worked on by trainers in the outfield grass and ultimately came out of the game.
The Mets ended an eight-game winning streak and lost for the second time in 17 games, dropping 1 1/2 games behind Washington for the top NL wild card.
Cubs 6, Reds 3 — Kris Bryant capped visiting Chicago’s four-run seventh with a three-run homer.
Dodgers 9, Diamondbacks 3— Justin Turner hit two of host Los Angeles’ four homers and Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball in a win over Arizona.
Cardinals 11, Pirates 9 — Lane Thomas ripped a goahead grand slam in the seventh inning, Paul Goldschmidt and Dexter Fowler also homered, and host St. Louis powered past Pittsburgh.
Braves 5, Marlins 4 — The Atlanta’s bullpen overcame the residue of a punctured fire extinguisher from the previous night, with four relievers combining to pitch three nervous innings and finish off host Miami.