Red Sox rout Rays, win 8th straight
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. » Eduardo Nunez chased Jake Odorizzi when he lined a single off the pitcher’s foot, starting a five-run fifth inning for the Red Sox in an 8-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night that extended Boston’s winning streak to a season-high eight.
Struck on the right foot, Odorizzi was face down on the mound, his face extending onto the infield grass, for several seconds. He hobbled off with one arm wrapped around Rays manager Kevin Cash, the other around assistant athletic trainer Paul Harker. Tampa Bay said Odorizzi sustained a bruise and Xrays were negative.
Rick Porcello (6-14) won consecutive starts for the first time this year, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings. Porcello was 22-4 last year, when he won the AL Cy Young Award. Boston is on its longest winning streak since taking 11 in a row last September. YANKEES 11, BLUE JAYS 5 » Todd Frazier homered and had three RBIs, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius also went deep and New York overcame a shaky start by Masahiro Tanaka to beat Toronto.
Rookie Garrett Cooper had four hits for the Yankees, who had not scored in double figures since a 13-4 win at Houston on June 30. New York’s 17 hits were one shy of its season high, set June 10 against Baltimore. NATIONALS 10, MARLINS 1 » Ryan Zimmerman had four run-scoring hits, including two solo home runs, drove in five runs and became the franchise’s all-time RBI leader as Washington defeated Miami.
Gio Gonzalez (10-5) allowed one run over seven innings after nearly tossing a no-hitter against the Marlins in his previous start. In between, he missed a turn to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. REDS 8, PADRES 3 » Joey Votto extended his longest hitting streak of the season to 14 games, Stuart Turner hit his first major league homer, and Cincinnati Reds beat San Diego. TIGERS 10, PIRATES 0 » Justin Verlander allowed one hit over eight innings and Detroit beat Pittsburgh.
Josh Bell ended Verlander’s attempt at a third career no-hitter in the sixth inning with a grounder off the glove of a diving Nicholas Castellanos at third base.
Ian Kinsler homered, scored four times and drove in four runs and Castellanos had five RBIs. The Tigers lost the first two games of the home-andhome series in Pittsburgh. The series concludes Thursday afternoon. GIANTS 3, CUBS 1 » Madison Bumgarner allowed four hits over seven innings to win for the second time since returning from a dirt bike accident, helping San Francisco defeat Chicago and complete a winning homestand for only the second time this season.
Bumgarner (2-5) struck out seven, walked one and gave up five hits — including a third-inning home run by Albert Almora Jr.
Hunter Strickland pitched a one-hit eighth and Sam Dyson completed the six-hitter with a perfect ninth for his eighth save. MARINERS 6, ATHLETICS 3» Nelson Cruz homered twice, Kyle Seager also went deep off Jharel Cotton (5-9) and Seattle completed a two-game sweep.
Khris Davis hit his 31st home run and Matt Joyce also homered for the A’s, one day after returning to the lineup following a two-game suspension for using an anti-gay slur. ANGELS 5, ORIOLES 1 » After 10 seasons in the minors and playing in his first major league game, Cesar Puello singled in the go-ahead run and C.J. Cron added a two-run homer RANGERS 5, METS 1 » Martin Perez (6-10) allowed three hits over eight innings, Joey Gallo hit his 32nd home run and Texas gained a two-game split. ROCKIES 3, INDIANS 2 » Charlie Blackmon homered against Zach McAllister (1-2) in the 12th inning, atoning for getting doubled up at first base on a foul ball inh the eighth..