Caratini’s first career home run helps Cubs beat Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE » Victor Caratini hit his first career home run, a solo shot that broke a tie in the seventh and backed John Lackey’s solid six-inning start to help Chicago beat Milwaukee.
Caratini homered to straightaway center off a 1-2 fastball from Zach Davies (12-5) with one out in the seventh for a 3-2 lead, delighting the bevy of Cubs fans who made the trek north from Chicago. The Cubs took two of three games in an important series at Miller Park.
With the non-waiver trade deadline looming Monday, the Cubs increased their lead in the National League Central over the second-place Brewers to 2 ½ games. TIGERS 13, ASTROS 1 » Justin Verlander pitched six scoreless innings in what could be his last start with Detroit.
Justin Upton matched a career best with six RBIs for the Tigers, who handed the Astros their first back-toback losses since June 12-13.
Upton had four hits, including a seventh-inning grand slam, and scored twice.
In his last start before Monday’s trade deadline, Verlander (6-7) gave up five singles and three walks while striking out six. MARINERS 9, METS 1 » James Paxton tossed six scoreless innings, becoming the first Mariners pitcher to win six games in a single month, and Nelson Cruz had a three-run homer to pace Seattle.
Cruz provided Paxton with an early cushion with a three-run shot in the first inning and Leonys Martin, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A, homered in his first at-bat and saved a possible run with a diving catch in right field. PIRATES 7, PADRES 1 » Andrew McCutchen hit three home runs for the third time in his career to lift Pittsburgh over San Diego.
McCutchen’s big day backed Gerrit Cole (9-7), who pitched seven innings of five-hit ball for the Pirates.
It was just the second win in eight games for the Pirates, who ended the Padres’ four-game winning streak. RAYS 5, YANKEES 3 » Corey Dickerson hit a go-ahead, two-run single in a threerun third, and Tampa Bay’S bullpen allowed one hit over five scoreless innings to salvage the finale of a fourgame series.
Sergio Romo, Dan Jennings, Steve Cishek and Tommy Hunter pitched hitless relief after rookie Jacob Faria started just four of 20 batters with strikes and got only 12 outs on his 24th birthday.
Cishek (2-1) pitched 1 2/3 innings, and Colome got three outs for his 30th save in 35 chances. Brett Gardner singled with one out in the ninth, advanced on a wild pitch and Clint Frazier walked. Colome then retired Aaron Judge on a flyout and Matt Holliday on a groundout. ROYALS 5, RED SOX 3 » Alex Gordon’s two-run triple capped a four-run eighth inning, and Kansas City rallied to beat Boston a day after its season-high, ninegame winning streak was snapped.
Alcides Escobar added a two-run single in the eighth and drove in three runs for the Royals, who lost in extra innings on Saturday after taking the series opener.
Rookie Rafael Devers hit a solo homer for Boston and starter Drew Pomeranz gave up one run on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings in his 100th career start. BLUE JAYS 11, ANGELS 10 » Steve Pearce hit his second game-ending grand slam in just four days Toronto pulled off the biggest ninthinning comeback in team history, rallying for seven runs to beat Los Angeles.
Pearce connected with one out off Bud Norris (14). On Thursday, Pearce’s slam with two outs in the 10th inning lifted Toronto over Oakland 8-4.