Bell’s toll: 3 HRs, 7 runs batted in
PITTSBURGH — Josh Bell certainly looks ready for the Home Run Derby.
Pittsburgh’s All-Star first baseman hit three home runs to boost his season total to 25, leading the Pirates to an 18-5 rout over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Bell, who will be part of the eight-man derby field in Cleveland next week, hit a three-run shot off rookie Adbert Alzolay (1-1) in the first, a two-run drive off Alzolay in the second and finished off a four-hit, seven-RBI night by taking new Chicago closer Craig Kimbrel deep in the eighth as Pittsburgh began a pivotal seven-game homestand by pounding out a season-high 23 hits.
Adam Frazier finished 5-for-6 and tied a major league record with four doubles. Colin Moran had a career-high five hits for the Pirates.
Jung Ho Kang hit his seventh home run of the season off Cubs infielder Daniel Descalso, who made a cameo on the mound in the seventh with the game well out of hand. Jose Osuna hit a solo home run off Kimbrel, who came on to get some work after making his debut with Chicago last week.
Javier Baez hit his 21st home run for the Cubs. Kris Bryant and David Bote each had two hits.
BREWERS 8, REDS 6: Christian Yelich singled with the bases loaded and hit his major league-leading 30th homer, helping Milwaukee rally for its sixth consecutive victory at Cincinnati. The Brewers sent 10 batters to the plate for five runs in the seventh inning, with Yelich contributing an RBI single. The reigning National League MVP hit a two-run homer in the ninth that made him the first Brewers player with 30 before the All-Star break. Milwaukee has won 11 of 15 overall against its NL Central rival. This time, the Brewers overcame a pair of two-run homers by Eugenio Suarez.
BLUE JAYS 11, ROYALS 4: Freddy Galvis hit a pair of solo home runs, and rookie Cavan Biggio had four RBIs in Toronto’s victory over visiting Kansas City. Randal Grichuk had four hits and four RBIs, and Teoscar Hernandez added a solo home run as the Blue Jays won for the 15th time in 19 regular-season home meetings with the Royals. Clayton Richard (1-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings to win for the first time since last August.
RAYS 6, ORIOLES 3: Kevin Kiermaier’s three run home run lifted Tampa Bay to a victory over Baltimore at St. Petersburg, Fla., in a game in which two-way player Brandon McKay went 0-for-4 in his major league debut as a hitter for the Rays. McKay, who gave up one hit in six scoreless innings Saturday night in his major league pitching debut against Texas, grounded out four times and was picked off second base on a throw from catcher Pedro Severino. The crowd of 20,441 included about 10,000 fans who purchased $2 tickets.