Romine’s double turns into game-winner for Yanks
CLEVELAND » Austin Romine came all the way around to score when Cleveland committed two errors on his routine double in the seventh inning, and the New York Yankees edged the Cleveland Indians 5-4 on Saturday night.
Didi Gregorius hit a three-run homer and Greg Bird added a solo shot for the Yankees, who moved 30 games over. 500 and kept pace with the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox.
Indians All-Star Jose Ramirez belted his 29th homer, giving the third baseman as many homers as he had all last season — and tying Mickey Mantle’s record for the most by a switch-hitter before the break.
David Robertson (7-3) struck out three, Dellin Bentances worked the eighth and Aroldis Chapman got his 26th save in 27 tries.
After the Indians tied it in the sixth when Ramirez scored from second on an infield single, the Yankees took a 5-4 lead in the seventh off Mike Clevinger (7-5) on a play that brought Little League flashbacks back to everyone in the ballpark.
Romine led off with a shot to the base of the wall in right-center. But as he neared second, Indians right fielder Brandon Guyer bobbled the ball and Romine headed to third. As he slid into the bag, second baseman Erik Gonzalez’s relay throw from the outfield skipped past Ramirez at third and headed toward Cleveland’s dugout.
Clevinger did his best to corral the wayward throw on the track, but it had too much backspin, hopped out of play and Romine was awarded home. RED SOX 6, BLUE JAYS 2 » Xander Bogaerts hit a game-ending grand slam with one out in the 10th inning, and J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 29th homer to carry Boston to a victory over Toronto.
Martinez increased his major league-leading RBI total to 80 with a solo shot and redhot Mookie Betts extended his hitting streak to 12 games with three singles to raise his majors’ best average to .362 for Boston. ROYALS 5, WHITE SOX 0 » Jorge Bonifacio homered for the first time since he was suspended for testing positive for a performanceenhancing substance, and Kansas City beat Chicago for just its second win in July.
The 25-year-old Bonifacio broke into the majors last year, hitting 17 homers in 113 games for Kansas City. But he missed the first part of this season after a positive test for Boldenone, resulting in an 80-game suspension. DIAMONDBACKS 3, BRAVES 0 » Zack Greinke added another road win to his strong first half by allowing only four hits in 7.2 innings, extending Atlanta’s offensive slump, and Arizona shut out the Braves.
Greinke (10-5), named to the NL All-Star team on Thursday as a replacement for Chicago’s Jon Lester, has won five straight decisions. The 34-year-old right-hander has been especially strong away from home, winning five straight road starts since June 8. ASTROS 9, TIGERS 1 » Gerrit Cole struck out eight in 5 2/3 strong innings, and Houston hit three home runs in a win over Detroit.
Josh Reddick and Evan Gattis hit back-toback Yankees manager Aaron Boone, left, yells at umpire Jerry Meals after being ejected for arguing a strikeout by Giancarlo Stanton during the sixth inning Saturday in Cleveland.
solo homers in the fifth to chase Detroit starter Michael Fulmer (3-9). Tyler White added a two-run shot to left in the seventh. METS 7, NATIONALS 4 » Zack Wheeler won for the first time since April 29, Michael Conforto homered and New York defeated Washington.
Wilmer Flores, Jose Reyes and Kevin Plawecki each had two hits as the light-hitting Mets scored seven runs for the first time since June 24. New York came into the game last in the National League in batting average and was tied with San Diego for the third-fewest runs scored in the majors. RAYS 19, TWINS 6 » Jake Bauers homered for the second straight game and drove in four runs, Carlos Gomez homered and had two RBIs, and Tampa Bay Ray scored 15 times in the final three innings to rally past Minnesota. PIRATES 2-6, BREWERS 1-2 » Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco hit back-to-back homers in both games and Pittsburgh swept a doubleheader from Milwaukee. REDS 8, CARDINALS 2 » Jose Peraza had a career-best
five hits, Scooter Gennett drove in two runs and Cincinnati waited out a pair of rain delays before beating St. Louis.
Upton, Verlander expecting baby
HOUSTON » Supermodel Kate Upton and Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander are expecting their first child.
Upton announced the pregnancy on Instagram on Saturday in a post with the hashtag “pregnant in Miami.” The picture of her in a red, high-waisted suit and white top revealed a slight baby bump.
Verlander, who was selected to his seventh All-Star game on Sunday, reposted her post later Saturday with the caption: “You’re going to be the most amazing Mom!! I can’t wait to start this new journey with you! You’re the most thoughtful, loving, caring, and strong woman I’ve ever met! I’m so proud that our little one is going to be raised in this world by a woman like you! I love you so much.”