Marlins overtake Mets in standings
MIAMI (AP) — Brian Anderson hit a two-run homer off Jacob de Grom and the Miami Marlins climbed out of last place in the NL East by rallying past the New York Mets 5-2 Saturday.
For the second game in a row, a Marlins pitcher beat the Mets while making his first major league start. Pablo Lopez (1-0) allowed two runs in six innings in his big league debut.
The Mets (32-48) lost for the 10th time in 11 games and fell into last place for the first time this year. They finished 5-21 this month for the worst June in franchise history, and they've plummeted from 10 games over .500 to 15 under at an earlier date than any team in major league history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Meanwhile, the rebuilding Marlins (34-50) went 14-14 in June, their best month this season.
DeGrom took a 2-0 lead into the sixth, but Anderson's fifth homer tied the game. J.T. Riddle beat out a dribbler up the first-base line for a twoout RBI hit that put Miami ahead to stay.
J.T. Realmuto added a two-run double in the seventh after an error by shortstop Amed Rosario prolonged the inning.
Drew Steckenrider pitched a perfect eighth, and Kyle Barraclough earned his eighth save with a 1-2-3 ninth. Steckenrider has thrown 15 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, and Barraclough has thrown 20 2/3.
The Mets' runs came on solo homers against Lopez. Jose Bautista hit his fifth of the year, his third with the Mets. Todd Frazier added his ninth.
ATHLETICS 7, INDIANS 2.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Journeyman Edwin Jackson earned his first win with Oakland, pitching neatly into the seventh inning as the Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians 7-2 Saturday for their season-high sixth straight victory.
Matt Olson, Dustin Fowler and Josh Phegley homered to help the A's win for the 12th time in 14 games. They've won seven straight against Cleveland and nine of their last 10 against the Indians in Oakland.
Jackson (1-0), who signed a minor league contract with the A's on June 6 and is now with his record-tying 13th major league team, gave up only two hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked none in his second start for Oakland.
RAYS 5, ASTROS 2.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Wilson Ramos drove in four runs in the first two innings against Justin Verlander, and the Tampa Bay Rays went on to a 5-2 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday.
Matt Duffy finished with three hits, including two in the first two innings, to help the Rays win for the seventh time in eight tames to move to .500 (41-41) for the first time since June 1. Tampa Bay has held opponents to two runs or fewer in five straight games for only the second time in franchise history.