Rays beat Twins in 18-inning clash
MINNEAPOLIS — Yandy Diaz hit a sacrifice fly for Tampa Bay in the 18th inning to break a tie that lasted since the second, and the Rays finally pulled away from Minnesota for a 5-2 victory on Thursday to avoid being swept in a series by the Twins for the first time in 13 years.
Ryan Yarbrough (7-3), the eighth reliever and the 22nd player used by the Rays during the game that lasted 5:42 after rain delayed the first pitch by 57 minutes, threw three scoreless innings for the victory.
After the first eight relievers for the Twins allowed just two hits over a combined 10 innings, Ryne Harper (3-1) faltered in the 18th while pitching for the third straight game and the sixth time in the past 10 days.
The Rays loaded the bases with nobody out, just as they did in the 10th against Blake Parker when they failed to score. Diaz hit a medium-depth fly ball with one out to left fielder Luis Arraez, whose strong throw was a little too far up the first-base line for catcher Jason Castro to catch and make the tag before Brandon Lowe’s left hand grazed the plate on his head-first slide.
CUBS 9, BRAVES 7: Craig Kimbrel dodged trouble for a save in his season debut when new teammate Anthony Rizzo dived into first base for the final out, and host Chicago rallied from five runs down to beat Atlanta. Called up from Class AAA earlier in the day, Kimbrel struck out Brian McCann looking and induced a groundout from Johan Camargo to start the ninth. Ronald Acuna Jr. then doubled into Wrigley Field’s ivy, and Dansby Swanson walked. Freddie Freeman grounded sharply down the first base line, and Rizzo fielded and had to dive for the bag to beat Freeman.
PHILLIES 6, METS 3: Jean Segura hit a three-run, walkoff homer against Edwin Diaz moments after Maikel Franco hit a tying, two run shot against the closer in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Philadelphia beat New York to complete a four-game sweep.
BREWERS 4, MARINERS 2: Orlando Arcia hit a threerun homer, and host Milwaukee avoided a three-game sweep with a win over Seattle.
RANGERS 3, TIGERS 1: Joey Gallo hit two solo homers, Ariel Jurado threw seven shutout innings, and Texas completed a three-game sweep at Detroit.
NATIONALS 8, MARLINS 5: Juan Soto and Victor Robles each homered, and Washington rallied to win at Miami and sweep a three-game series.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, GIANTS 1: Nick Ahmed hit a goahead home run leading off the fifth inning, and Arizona won at San Francisco.
DODGERS 12, ROCKIES 8: Chris Taylor drove in the go-ahead run with a bloop single in the ninth, Max Muncy hit two of Los Angeles’ six homers, and the Dodgers won their 12th straight over host Colorado.
ANGELS 8, ATHLETICS 3: Kole Calhoun and Shohei Ohtani homered, and host Los Angeles beat Oakland.