Yanks snap losing streak
Clint Frazier scored the winning run on Dellin Betances’ wild pitch in the ninth inning, and the New York Yankees averted their longest losing streak in a quarter-century Saturday with a 2-1 victory over the crosstown Mets.
J.A. Happ pitched brilliantly into the eighth at Yankee Stadium and Luke Voit homered early for the injury-ravaged Bronx Bombers, who stopped a seven-game slide that followed six straight wins. They haven’t dropped eight in a row since August 1995.
The Mets had won three straight and six of eight, including a Subway Series doubleheader sweep Friday at Yankee Stadium. Betances (0-1) got the loss against his former team.
Wilson Ramos greeted Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino with a tying home run in the eighth. Aroldis Chapman (1-1) got three outs for the win.
Indians 2, Cardinals 1 — Tyler Naquin hit a go-ahead double for Cleveland in the 12th inning, then Yadier Molina made a baserunning blunder and got trapped for the final out.
Molina was on third in the 12th when Matt Carpenter hit a grounder that first baseman Carlos Santana fielded near the bag. He touched the base for an out, then bobbled the ball for a moment.
Molina was partly down the line toward home, and Santana cut across the diamond. Molina put up his hands, appearing to indicate he thought Carpenter’s grounder was foul, and was easily tagged out in a rundown.
Rays 4, Marlins 0 — Rookie Josh Fleming and four relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Tampa Bay pitchers extended their streak of success at Marlins Park to 36 consecutive scoreless innings.
Tampa Bay shut out the Marlins for the second night in a row.
Fleming (2-0) won for the second time in as many career starts. He allowed three baserunners and struck out six to help the Rays earn their fourth victory in a row.
Joey Wendle drove in two runs for the Al East leaders.
American League
Royals 9, White Sox 6 — Maikel Franco and Ryan McBroom homered during Kansas City’s five-run seventh.
Ryan O’Hearn and Alex Gordon also went deep for Kansas City, which had dropped five of six — including consecutive 6-5 losses where the opponent won in its final at-bat.
Tigers 8, Twins 2; Tigers 4, Twins 2 — Rookie Tarik Skubal went five innings for his first big league win, and the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins to complete a doubleheader sweep.
Matthew Boyd pitched Detroit to a victory in the opener, and Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer that put the Tigers ahead to stay in the second game.
Nelson Cruz hit a solo homer in each game for the Twins. Jeimer Candelario went deep in the second game for the Tigers.
Astros 4, Athletics 2 — Lance McCullers Jr. threw six strong innings, Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics in the first game of a doubleheader.
Josh Reddick also connected for the Astros, who won for the third time in four games. Tucker and Jack Mayfield each had two hits.
Tucker put Houston ahead to stay with his sixth homer in the first inning, a drive off Chris Bassitt (2-2) that went just inside the right-field foul pole.
Blue Jays 5, Orioles 0 — Taijuan Walker pitched six shutout innings in his Toronto debut.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio each hit a tworun single, helping the Blue Jays improve to 5-0 against the Orioles this season.
Walker (3-2), who was acquired in a trade with Seattle on Thursday, allowed four hits in his first outing since learning that his father and siblings, who live in Lake Charles, Louisiana, lost their property and belongings in Hurricane Laura.
National League
Phillies 4, Braves 1 — Rhys Hoskins had three hits, including a three-run homer, and Zach Eflin pitched seven strong innings to lead Philadelphia to its fifth straight victory.
Bryce Harper doubled and drove in a run for the Phillies. Eflin (2-1) allowed one run and four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Cubs 3, Reds 0 — Yu Darvish scattered seven hits over six innings, Anthony Rizzo homered twice and the Chicago Cubs snapped a three-game skid with a win over the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a doubleheader.
Darvish (6-1) allowed two runners past second base and won his sixth straight decision. He walked two and struck out eight.