Twins snag series in Philly thanks to Gray’s 7 strikeouts
PHILADELPHIA – Sonny Gray tossed two-hit ball over six shutout innings, reliever Caleb Thielbar pitched out of a basesloaded jam in the seventh and Jordan Luplow homered to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
The AL Central leaders bounced back from a 13-2 loss in the series opener to win the last two games. Gray (6-5) struck out seven and pitched into the sixth in his eighth straight start.
Gray allowed just two singles and otherwise quieted a Phillies’ offense that had hit 20 homers over the last eight games. Yet after 80 pitches, that was enough for Gray.
It almost cost the Twins.
Griffin Jax allowed two singles and hit a batter to load the bases with one out and to send the Philly crowd into a frenzy. Thielbar got the call from the bullpen and the lefty got lefthanded slugger Kyle Schwarber to pop out. Thielbar then went to a full count on Alec Bohm and caught him looking at strike three on a close call at the knees.
Sunday’s other games
Guardians 9, Rays 2: Rookie Tanner Bibee won his seventh consecutive decision and the Cleveland Guardians beat the AL wild-card-leading Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep. Bibee (9-2) gave up two runs, seven hits and struck out five in seven innings and is the first Cleveland rookie to win seven in row since Gene Bearden in 1948. Tampa Bay shortstop Wander Franco was out of the lineup and replaced by Osleivis Basabe, who went 1 for 3 with a double in his major league debut. The Rays issued a statement two hours after the game regarding Franco. “During today’s game, we were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco,” the Rays said. “We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence.” Tampa Bay did not detail the nature of the social media posts.
Brewers 7, White Sox 3: Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer and Freddy Peralta pitched six scoreless innings to help visiting Milwaukee complete a three-game sweep. White Sox starter Dylan Cease (5-6) gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings. The 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up missed a shot at a second straight win after striking out seven and walking two.
Angels 2, Astros 1: Shohei Ohtani hit his AL-leading 41st homer, and visiting Los Angeles avoided a three-game sweep. Ohtani’s first home run since Aug. 3 came after the Angels announced the two-way star would skip his next scheduled mound start Wednesday. Nevin said Sunday that Ohtani is not injured and will return to the rotation during a home series against Cincinnati that begins Aug. 21. Los Angeles starter Chase Silseth (4-1) allowed four hits in five scoreless innings.
Dodgers 8, Rockies 3: Julio Urías matched his career high with 12 strikeouts over seven innings of four-hit ball, and Miguel Rojas homered and drove in four runs in host Los Angeles’ season-high eighth consecutive victory. Mookie Betts broke it open with a two-run double in the sixth for the Dodgers, who have won 12 of 13.
Diamondbacks 5, Padres 4: Alek Thomas hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a game-tying,
two-run homer in the seventh and host Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to take two of three from sinking San Diego.
Orioles 5, Mariners 3 (10): Cedric Mullins robbed Ty France of a homer in the ninth inning and hit a two-run homer in the 10th, and AL-best Baltimore beat host Seattle in extra innings for the second straight day. Mullins, who entered in the sixth as a defensive replacement, leaped and reached over the wall in center field to snag France’s deep drive off Mike Baumann.
Giants 3, Rangers 2 (10): Patrick Bailey hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and host San Francisco overcame a blown save by All-Star closer Camilo Doval to stop a four-game skid.
Nationals 8, Athletics 7: Jeter Downs capped a six-run ninth with an RBI single, and host Washington completed a threegame sweep of the majors-worst Athletics. Washington, which recorded its third sweep in its last seven series, has won eight of 11 overall and 12 of its last 14 at home.
Pirates 4, Reds 2 (Game 1): Jared Triolo hit his first major league home run, a three-run drive as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, and host Pittsburgh overcame a 2-0 deficit in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader.
Reds 6, Pirates 5 (10) (Game 2): Stuart Fairchild drove in the tying run in the eighth inning and the go-ahead run in the 10th, helping visiting Cincinnati to overcome a two-run deficit and gain a doubleheader split. Bryan Reynolds homered twice, raising his season total to 17, with eight home runs in his past 20 games.
Blue Jays 11, Cubs 4: Daulton Varsho homered and had five RBIs, Hyun Jin Ryu pitched five innings to win for the first time since returning from elbow surgery, and host Toronto avoided a three-game sweep. Whit Merrifield had four hits, and Brandon Belt reached base four times as the Blue Jays used 14 hits to snap a three-game losing streak.
Marlins 8, Yankees 7: Jake Burger’s game-ending single capped a five-run, ninth-inning comeback against Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle, giving host Miami a win of the three-game series. New York is 3-8-1 in its last 12 series and has lost six straight rubber games of three-game series.