Dickerson breaks slump in big way with game-winning homer
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. » Corey Dickerson finally delivered a big hit for the Tampa Bay Rays with men on base.
Dickerson’s broke out of an 0-for21 slump with a three-run homer in the eighth inning that carried the Rays to a 4-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night. Tampa Bay had scored only four runs in its previous five games.
“It’s been a pretty tough couple of weeks for the whole team, not just me,” Dickerson said. “I was just trying not to miss my pitch and not to think too much. When you’re struggling you tend to think too much and change stuff.”
Dickerson’s two-out blast off Nick Goody (1-2), his 22nd, came after Adeiny Hechavarria singled and Jesus Sucre was hit by a pitch.
Tommy Hunter (2-2) worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Blake Snell to get the win. Alex Colome pitched the ninth for his 34th save in 39 opportunities.
Snell (0-6, 4.69 ERA) made his 15th start, the most of any winless pitcher in the majors this season.
“We had a chance to win the game simply because of Blake Snell’s performance,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He was outstanding. A couple walks here and there, but as far as commanding the baseball (and) making big pitches when he had to, it was a huge step in the right direction.” CARDINALS 8, ROYALS 6 » Dexter Fowler hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs to lead St. Louis to a victory over Kansas City.
St. Louis tied a season-high with its sixth straight win, and climbed within one game of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. TWINS 7, BREWERS 2 » Byron Buxton and Joe Mauer each had three singles and Minnesota beat Milwaukee for the fourth consecutive game.
The Twins, who have won five straight and are 7-3 in August, had 12 hits — 11 singles and a double — to sweep a home-and-home, four-game set with Milwaukee. The Brewers are 7-17 since July 16 and fell into third place in the NL Central with the loss. BLUE JAYS 4, YANKEES 0» Marco Estrada and two relievers combined on a six-hitter, Jose Bautista hit a solo home run and Toronto beat New York.
Estrada (5-7) pitched seven innings to win for the first time in 13 starts. The right-hander came in 0-5 with a 7.39 ERA since beating Texas on May 27.
Making his second start for the Yankees, Sonny Gray (6-7) allowed three runs, two of them earned, in six innings. He walked four and struck out six. Acquired from Oakland at the trade deadline, Gray lost at Cleveland in his Yankees debut. NATIONALS 3, MARLINS 2 » Brian Goodwin had two hits, including a home run leading off the eighth inning, and Washington rallied past Miami.
Goodwin broke a 2-2 tie when he connected on a 1-0 fastball from Junichi Tazawa (1-2) for his 13th homer of the season and second RBI of the night.
Ryan Madson (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Sean Doolittle worked around a one-out double by Miguel Rojas in the ninth for his seventh save since coming to Washington. PIRATES 7, TIGERS 5 » Rookie Josh Bell hit his 20th home run and drove in three runs, leading Pittsburgh past Detroit.
Gerrit Cole (10-8) allowed six hits and three earned runs in eight innings, his longest outing of the season. He improved to 3-1 since the All-Star break and is 6-3 in his last 10 starts. Felipe Rivero closed for his 11th save.
Sean Rodriguez of the Pirates had a run-scoring single in the second to make it 2-2. Rodriguez hit a solo homer in the eighth for his fourth of the season. REDS 10, PADRES 3 » Scooter Gennett hit a grand slam in the seventh inning, ending left-hander Brad Hand’s long scoreless streak and rallying Cincinnati over San Diego.
San Diego took a 3-2 lead into the seventh, leaving Dinelson Lamet in line for a fourth straight victory. The Padres’ best reliever of late let it get away.
The Reds loaded the bases against Kirby Yates (2-3) and Hand, who had a streak of 24 scoreless innings. Gennett’s third career grand slam made it 6-3, the first runs allowed by Hand since June 10.