Braves jump out to 8-0 lead on way to victory over Mets
Ronald Acuña Jr. got four hits and robbed Pete Alonso of a two-run homer as the Atlanta Braves built a big early lead and beat the host New York Mets 9-6 on Friday night to rebound quickly in their NL East showdown.
Eddie Rosario hit a three-run homer in a fourrun first inning and an RBI double in a four-run second to help the Braves open an 8-0 cushion. Rookie center fielder Michael Harris II also went deep and threw out a runner at the plate.
The Braves avoided their first three-game losing streak of the year.
Mets starter Taijuan Walker (9-3) managed only three outs in a rare but untimely flop, and his teammates were unable to recover. Atlanta moved back within 31/2 games of firstplace New York after dropping the opener of the fivegame series Thursday night.
Alonso tried to get the Mets right back in it in the bottom of the first, but Acuña leaped above the right-field wall to make a terrific catch.
Harris led off the second with his 10th homer and Walker permitted four straight hits before he was pulled. He was charged with eight runs and seven hits.
Trey Mancini hit two home runs, including his first career grand slam, to lead Houston at Cleveland.
Astros manager Dusty Baker tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the game.
Baker, 73, is in his third season as Houston's manager. Bench coach Joe Espada filled in for Baker against Cleveland.
Mancini, acquired from Baltimore on Monday, hit a solo homer in the second and capped the Astros' fiverun third with a blast that cleared the 19-foot wall in left field. Mancini has homered three times in four games with Houston.
Framber Valdez (10-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings to win it.
The Astros spoiled the big league debut of Cleveland right-hander Hunter Gaddis, who gave up eight runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Paul DeJong hit a two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting host St. Louis over New York.
In the Cardinals eighth. Nolan Arenado hit a oneout single, and Tyler O'Nell worked a two-out walk on a full count.
DeJong then doubled to right against All-Star Clay Holmes (5-3) to score both runners.
Andre Pallente (5-4) threw four scoreless innings in relief.
The Cardinals, who had just four hits in the game, have won five straight.
Yankees starter Nestor Cortes threw 5 1/3 innings before being lifted after a walk. He allowed one hit, four walks and two runs with four strikeouts.
Josh Donaldson drove in New York's first two runs.
Kyle Gibson retired his first 18 batters and pitched one-run ball over eight innings, Kyle Schwarber hit his NL-leading 34th homer and Philadelphia beat visiting Washington.
Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos and Darick Hall also homered for the Phillies, who have won eight of nine.
Washington's Victor Robles broke up the perfect game by getting plunked with a fastball in his left forearm to begin the seventh inning. The next batter, Luis Garcia, ended Gibson's no-hit bid with a clean single into left field.
Dean Kremer pitched impressively into the seventh and Baltimore defeated visiting Pittsburgh for its fourth consecutive win.
Ramón Urias singled home the game's only run in the sixth.
Kremer (4-3) allowed four hits and struck out two.
The Pirates' Mitch Keller (3-8) allowed a run and eight hits.
TWINS 6, BLUE JAYS 5, 10 INNINGS >> Nick Gordon hit a three-run homer and scored in the 10th for host Minnesota after a pair of miscues by Toronto catcher Danny Jansen.
Gordon was the automatic runner to start the bottom of the 10th. Jordan Romano (3-3) struck out Jake Cave on a low slider that got past Jansen, who threw wildly to first, allowing Cave to reach and moving Gordon to third. Tim Beckham hit a grounder to third baseman Matt Chapman, who threw home to get Gordon trying to score.
Jansen likely would have had the out but didn't catch the ball cleanly.
Willson Contreras hit a tworun homer in the eighth, Justin Steele matched a career high with 10 strikeouts in 4-2/3 innings and Chicago beat Miami at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs looked like they were on the way to their sixth straight loss before Contreras drove an 0-1 pitch from Dylan Floro (01) to left with one out in the eighth for his 16th homer, waking up a sleepy crowd.
Contreras pointed toward the roaring fans and pounded his chest after he crossed the plate.
He and Ian Happ got warm receptions in their first home game since Tuesday's trade deadline passed with neither All-Star getting dealt.
Chicago's only hits to that point were singles by Nick Madrigal leading off the sixth and eighth. Happ also doubled in the eighth.