Judge’s single wins game for Yankees
NEW YORK » Aaron Judge lined a game-winning single on the eve of his arbitration showdown, capping a four-run ninth inning that included Aaron Hicks’ tying, three-run homer off closer Ryan Pressly in the New York Yankees’ 7-6 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night.
Batting with two on against Ryne Stanek, Judge smoked a 3-0 splitter into the left-field corner to score Jose Trevino from second base. It was the Yankees’ ninth walk-off win in 70 games this season — their most since 1943 — and one that seemed mighty unlikely when they entered the last inning with only two hits.
New York took the opener of a highly anticipated four-game series between the American League’s top two teams, winning for the 19th time in 22 games to improve to 52-18 — the third-best 70game start in the majors since 1930.
DODGERS 10, REDS 5 » Freddie Freeman homered and drove in three runs, leading Clayton Kershaw and Los Angeles past Cincinnati.
Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Will Smith and Justin Turner also homered for the NL Westleading Dodgers, who outscored the Reds 52-18 in winning all seven games against them this year.
TWINS 1, GUARDIANS 0 » Nick Gordon hit a third-inning home run that stood up for starter Devin Smeltzer, and Minnesota cooled off Cleveland to dodge a sweep.
Gordon drove a 1-2 curveball from Zach Plesac (3-4) into the grass berm beyond the wall in center.
Smeltzer (4-1) cruised through six innings, allowing only two singles and one double while striking out three.
BREWERS 6, CARDINALS 4 » Tyrone Taylor hit a threerun homer, Willy Adames added a solo shot and Milwaukee beat St. Louis to split a four-game series.
Taylor’s drive gave the Brewers a 4-2 lead.
PIRATES 8, CUBS 7, 10 INNINGS » Michael Chavis hit a tying home run in the eighth before pulling off a defensive gem and delivering a game-ending single in the 10th, sending Pittsburgh over Chicago.
MARLINS 3, ROCKIES 2 » Avisaíl García drove in the go-ahead run on a fielder’s-choice grounder in the eighth inning, and Miami completed a three-game sweep of Colorado.
ORIOLES 4, WHITE SOX 0 » Rookie Adley Rutschman homered, doubled and drove in three runs to lead Baltimore past banged-up Chicago.
PHILLIES 6, PADRES 2 » Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer and J.T. Realmuto added a three-run shot for Philadelphia, which handed Joe Musgrove his first loss of the season and snapped a three-game losing streak.