Red Sox celebrate win over Tampa Bay.
BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale struck out 12 while pitching seven solid innings and Mookie Betts hit a tworun homer, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
It was Sale's seventh straight start with double-digit strikeouts. The 6-foot-6 left-hander allowed three runs and two hits, both homers.
Joe Kelly worked the eighth before Craig Kimbrel finished the three-hitter for his 11th save.
Betts also doubled in a run in Boston's four-run fifth inning. Deven Marrero drove in two runs, helping the Red Sox to their 14th win in their last 19 games against the Rays.
Kevin Kiermaier and Logan Morrison homered for Tampa Bay, which has dropped seven of 11. Blake Snell (0-4) allowed six runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
CARDINALS 5, CUBS 3
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Carlos Martinez pitched into the seventh inning and collected two hits, leading the Cardinals to the win.
St. Louis also got another solid performance
from Tommy Pham, who had two hits and two RBIs. The outfielder is batting .387 with seven extrabase hits in eight games since being recalled from Triple-A this month.
In a rematch of the season opener, Martinez (3-3) again topped Jon Lester (1-2). Martinez allowed three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven.
Top Cubs prospect Ian Happ homered off Martinez in the seventh for his first hit in his major league debut. Lester was charged with four runs, three earned, and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Seung Hwan Oh pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 11 opportunities.
BLUE JAYS 7, MARINERS 2
TORONTO (AP) — Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer, and the Blue Jays earned their sixth win in seven games.
Kendrys Morales also connected for Toronto, and Kevin Pillar had three hits, raising his AL-leading total to 47. Devon Travis became the first player to steal home for the Blue Jays since June 2, 2015, scoring on a double steal in the eighth.
Dominic Leone (1-0) got one out for the win as Toronto improved to 8-4 in May.
Seattle right-hander Ryan Weber left with a sore shoulder after 3 2/3 innings in his season debut. Nick Vincent (1-1) got the loss.
GIANTS 3, REDS 1
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brandon Belt and Justin Ruggiano homered, Matt Moore pitched into the eighth inning and the Giants beat the Reds in a matchup of weary teams.
San Francisco and Cincinnati had a quick turnaround after they played 17 innings Friday night, with the Giants winning 3-2 on Buster Posey's game-ending homer.
Moore (2-4) provided a lift with 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball. He allowed eight hits, struck out seven and walked three.
The last-place Giants (14-24) won consecutive games for just the second time this season. They have won three of four overall.
Scott Schebler homered for Cincinnati, and Lisalverto Bonilla (0-1)
pitched a six-hitter for his first career complete game.
TWINS 4, INDIANS 1
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jose Berrios pitched neatly into the eighth inning in his first start of the season and the Twins beat the Indians in a game delayed several minutes when a squirrel ran around the field.
Max Kepler connected to give the Twins a home run in 14 straight games, their longest streak since 1988. He also had an RBI single in a three-run fourth for the AL Central leaders, who handed Cleveland its third straight loss.
The squirrel appeared from right field with Michael Brantley batting in the Cleveland sixth. Play was halted as the squirrel cut across the infield. It eventually hopped into the stands and play resumed.
Berrios (1-0), called up from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, gave up one run and two hits in 7 2/3 innings. Brandon Kintzler pitched the ninth for his 10th save.
Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger (1-1) allowed three runs and three hits while walking five in 4 1/3 innings.