Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Rendon’s RBI double lifts Nats to win over Brewers
WASHINGTON >> Anthony Rendon hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series between National League playoff contenders.
The Nationals’ five-game winning streak matched their longest of the season. At 66-55, they improved to 11 games over .500 for the first time since June 9, 2018. Milwaukee lost for just the third time in nine games.
Washington shortstop Trea Turner led off the eighth with a walk off Junior Guerra (6-4), moved to second on Adam Eaton’s sacrifice and scored on Rendon’s double off the wall in right.
Rendon, who drove in Washington’s first run on a double in the third, is hitting .354 with six homers and 34 RBIs in 34 games since July 6. YANKEES 3, INDIANS 2 >> Masahiro Tanaka pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Aaron Judge broke out of his slump with two hits and two runs, and New York rebounded from its worst home loss of the season with a victory over Cleveland.
New York (82-42) clinched its 27th consecutive winning record since 1993, the second-longest streak in major league history behind the Yankees’ run of 39 seasons from 1926-64.
Gary Sánchez and Gleyber Torres each had an RBI single for the AL East leaders, who increased their cushion to 10½ games over Tampa Bay. They won for the 15th time in 18 tries and bounced right back from a 19-5 defeat Thursday night in the opener of this fourgame series. RED SOX 9, ORIOLES 1 >> Andrew Washington’s Victor Robles steals second as Milwaukee second baseman Keston Hiura, left, can’t catch the ball on a throwing error by catcher Manny Pina during the fourth inning at Nationals Park on Friday in Washington. Robles advanced to third on the error. Benintendi and Mitch Moreland each hit RBI triples in the fourth inning, Rick Porcello held the Orioles to one run over six innings, and Boston topped Baltimore.
Porcello (11-9) allowed four hits and a pair of walks while striking out two to hand the 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner his sixth victory in eight starts. TIGERS 2, RAYS 0 >> Daniel Norris, Drew VerHagen and Joe Jimenez combined on a five-hitter to outpitch Charlie Morton, and Detroit beat Tampa Bay.
Norris went the first three innings, VerHagen pitched five and Jimenez earned his seventh save by striking out Eric Sogard with two men on base to end the game. BLUE JAYS 7, MARINERS 3 >> Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Randal Grichuk hit backto-back home runs, Jacob Waguespack won his third straight decision and Toronto beat Seattle.
Derek Fisher and Danny Jansen also went deep for the Blue Jays, who have hit 110 home runs since June 16. The New York Yankees entered play Friday with a major league-leading 112 homers in the same span.
Cubs recall Russell, option Almora
PITTSBURGH >> Addison Russell, who began the season on the suspended list, has been recalled from TripleA Iowa for the second time this season.
The Cubs also activated right-handed reliever Brandon Kintzler from the injured list. Outfielder Albert Almora Jr. and right-hander James Norwood were optioned to Iowa.
Russell was suspended for 40 games last September for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic abuse policy.
He was with the Cubs from May 8-July 24 this season before being sent to the minors.
In 15 games with Iowa, Russell hit .333 with four home runs and 13 RBIs. The 25-year-old was an All-Star in 2016 when he helped the Cubs win their first World Series since 1908.