Tribe trounce Yanks
Jose Ramirez hit two early homers, including his first career grand slam in a seven-run opening inning, and the Cleveland Indians pummeled the Yankees 19-5 last night in New York in the start of a four-game series between American League pennant contenders.
BASEBALL
Carlos Santana also launched two home runs as the Yankees matched a franchise record by serving up seven. Greg Allen and Santana went back-to-back in a five-run eighth against rookie designated hitter Mike Ford, a former Ivy League pitcher and player of the year at Princeton.
The smiling Ford, throwing pitches from 53-85 mph, then worked a 1-2-3 ninth and received a loud ovation from the scattered fans remaining from a crowd of 44,654, especially after he struck out a looking Roberto Perez to end the inning.
Ramirez and Jason Kipnis smacked consecutive homers off ineffective opener Chad Green (2-4) in a top of the first that lasted 29 minutes. Perez added a two-run shot against Jonathan Loaisiga, who also gave up a tworun shot to the streaking Ramirez in the second.
Every starter for Cleveland finished with at least two of the team’s 24 hits, its most since piling up 25 in April 2009 at Yankee Stadium. That made it an easy night for Adam Plutko (5-3), who was handed a 7-0 cushion before throwing a pitch and went six innings to beat the Yankees for the second time this season.
Mariners 7, Tigers 2 — Dylan Moore homered and Kyle Seager drove in three runs and visiting Seattle topped Detroit.
Mallex Smith stole two bases, giving him 34, the most in the majors. The Mariners won two of three after losing eight of their previous nine.
National League
Phillies 7, Cubs 5 — Bryce Harper blasted a grand slam with one out in the ninth inning, capping a six-run rally that sent host Philadelphia over Chicago for a threegame sweep.
Harper delivered his biggest hit yet in his first season with the Phillies, celebrating while running around the bases and then getting mobbed by teammates at the plate.
Mets 10, Braves 8 — Pete Alonso drove in six runs with five hits, including a three-run homer that helped lead to Julio Teheran’s shortest career start, and visiting New York held on in the ninth inning to beat Atlanta.
Alonso’s first-inning homer carried 451 feet before making a splash landing in the pool behind the centerfield wall.
Marlins 13, Dodgers 7 — Host Miami turned the tables on Los Angeles in their routfilled season series, winning despite giving up four home runs, including Cody Bellinger’s 40th.
Brian Anderson, Starlin Castro, Jorge Alfaro and Lewis Brinson each had three RBI for Miami, and Jon Berti scored three times in the latest laugher in the series. Castro wore a grin crossing the plate in the fifth to make it 7-1.
Reds 2, Cardinals 1 — Sonny Gray struck out 10 while pitching five scoreless innings, and host Cincinnati held off St. Louis.
Gray, Robert Stephenson, Michael Lorenzen and Raisel Iglesias combined for a twohitter. Iglesias surrendered Kolten Wong’s check-swing RBI double in the ninth before retiring pinch-hitter Matt Wieters to finish his 24th save.