Newcomb dazzles for another win, Braves beat Nats

ATLANTA » Sean Newcomb pitched seven strong innings for his sixth straight win, leading the Atlanta Braves back into first place with a 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.

In the start of a four-game series between the top teams in the NL East, the Braves snapped Washington’s six-game winning streak and reclaimed first place by a halfgame over the Nationals.

Newcomb (6-1) was roughed up by the Nationals in his season debut April 2. Since then, he’s 6-0 with a sparkling 2.16 ERA in 10 starts.

Anthony Rendon drove in in both Washington runs with a sacrifice fly in the first and an RBI single in the third. Newcomb was dominant the rest of the way , retiring 14 of 15 hitters before he was lifted for a pinch hitter after a 1-2-3 seventh. He threw 93 pitches — 61 for strikes. ATHLETICS 7, RAYS 3 » Daniel Mengden allowed three runs over eight innings and Oakland beat Tampa Bay to avoid a fourgame sweep.

Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and Matt Joyce all homered, providing some muchneeded punch to an offense that had sputtered since their leading home run hitter Khris Davis went on the disabled list 10 days earlier.

TIGERS 6, ANGELS 2 » Victor Reyes hit a threerun triple in the five-run first to help Detroit beat Los Angeles.

Detroit starter Ryan Carpenter was on pace to pick up his first career victory, but left the game after four innings with an oblique strain. CUBS 5, METS 1 » Jose Quintana pitched six shutout innings, Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer and Chicago beat banged-up New York in the opener of a four-game series.

Zobrist also doubled and singled in the leadoff spot as the Cubs won for the fourth time in five games. Chicago improved to 2-8 at Citi Field since the 2015 NL Championship Series.

Cards’ Alex Reyes back on DL after 1st game in 20 months

ST. LOUIS » Alex Reyes’ return to the St. Louis Cardinals after a 20-month absence lasted just four innings.

The 23-year-old right-hander was put on the 10-day disabled list on Thursday because of a strained latissimus dorsi muscle in his right side.

Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Reyes was hurt on Wednesday when he allowed three hits over four scoreless innings at Milwaukee in his first big league appearance since Sept. 29, 2016.

He was 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA two years ago, striking out 52 in 46 innings.