AROUND THE HORN
Mets: RHP Noah Syndergaard encountered another hurdle in his recovery from Tommy John surgery Sunday when he was scratched from a rehab start because he tested positive for COVID-19. Mets manager Luis Rojas confirmed that Syndergaard has been vaccinated. Syndergaard, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since Sept. 29, 2019, had the surgery just after the pandemic shutdown in March 2020. He began a rehab assignment this spring but left his second start with Low-a St. Lucie on May 26 with right elbow inflammation. Syndergaard, who’s scheduled to reach free agency after the season, didn’t pitch again until Thursday’s rehab outing, when he gave up one run in one inning. Afterward, he said he wasn’t throwing his slider or curveball because doctors believed the off-speed pitches bothered his elbow. The Mets are hoping Syndergaard could rejoin the team as a reliever. He had been expected to throw at least an inning Sunday for Singe-a Brooklyn . ... Francisco Lindor forced a balk and hit a two-run double, Javier Báez and Jonathan Villar homered and the Mets beat the visiting Nationals 9-4. The Mets took two of three and won a series for the first time since sweeping the Nats in a three-game set Aug. 10-12. Josh Bell hit two HRS for the Nats. Those were the only three hits for the Nats in the game. Tylor Megill (2-3) allowed two runs on one hit and walked three with five strikeouts over five innings.
Phillies: Freddy Galvis drove in three runs and Rafael Marchand and Travis Jankowski hit backto-back RBI triples that sent the host Phillies over the Diamondbacks 7-4. Bryce Harper, Jean Segura and
Marchand each had two hits for the Phillies, who have won three in a row and remained 4 games behind NL East-leading Braves, who routed the NL Westleading Giants 9-0. Ranger Suarez (6-4) allowed only one run in 5 innings for the Phillies.
Rays: Joey Wendle hit a pair of HRS, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs to lead the visiting Rays over the Orioles 12-8 for a three-game sweep. Austin Meadows and Jordan Luplow also homered for the Rays, who finished 18-1 against the Orioles this year. The AL East-leading Rays have beaten the Orioles 12 straight times, tying a franchise record they set against them in 2008. Rays rookie SS Wander Franco went 2-for-4 and has reached base in 29 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors.
Extra innings: Luis Robert homered twice, Dylan Cease tied a career high with 11 strikeouts and the host White Sox pounded the Cubs 13-1. Eloy Jiménez, Yasmani Grandal and Brian Goodwin also connected for the AL Central-leading White Sox, who went 5-1 against the Cubs this year. Robert, Jiménez and Goodwin each drove in three runs. Cease (11-6) allowed one run and four hits in six innings . ... Salvador Perez homered for the fifth consecutive game, but Kyle Seager connected for a two-run drive to lead the Mariners past the Royals 4-3. Seager hit his careerhigh 31st HR in the seventh, lifting the Mariners to a 4-2 lead and helping them avoid a four-game series sweep at home. Perez hit a solo drive in the sixth. The catcher matched Mike Sweeney’s Royals record of five consecutive games with a HR, set in 2002. The major league record for consecutive games with a homer is eight.