Red Sox win 9th consecutive game
MINNEAPOLIS — Alex Verdugo had three hits, including a two-run single in a six-run fifth inning, and the Boston Red Sox extended their winning streak to nine games, beating the Minnesota Twins 7-1 to sweep Wednesday’s doubleheader.
Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0) pitched five innings and gave up one run on five hits for Boston. The Red Sox have their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2018, a season that ended with a World Series title.
Verdugo had five hits in the doubleheader and capped the day with his second homer of the season in the seventh inning.
The Red Sox won the first game 3-2 as Alvin High product Nathan Eovaldi (2-1) gave up two runs on five hits in five innings. Matt Barnes earned his second save.
RANGERS 5, RAYS 1: Nate Lowe hit a solo homer and Texas rookie Kohei Arihara got his first major league victory as the Rangers beat host Tampa Bay. Arihara (1-1) allowed two singles and a double over 5 2⁄3 scoreless innings in his third start since signing with the Rangers after six seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Japan’s Pacific League.
BLUE JAYS 5, YANKEES 4: Bo Bichette homered twice, including a game-ending drive leading off the ninth inning that lifted Toronto over New York at Dunedin, Fla. Bichette drove a pitch from Chad Green (0-2) the opposite way to right-center field as Toronto took two of three. Bichette tied his career high with an 11game hitting streak. Aaron Judge hit two home runs for the Yankees, who went 2-4 on a road trip.
NATIONALS 6, CARDINALS 0: Joe Ross pitched six sharp innings and Washington posted its first regularseason shutout at Busch Stadium. Ross (1-0) improved to 3-0 in four career starts against the Cardinals. He allowed four hits, struck out five and walked one.
BREWERS 7, CUBS 0: Corbin Burnes struck out 10 in six dominant innings and also delivered a two-run single for his first career RBIs as Milwaukee won at home. Burnes (1-1) has 30 strikeouts while allowing only four hits and no walks in 18 1⁄3 innings.
GIANTS 3, REDS 0: Johnny Cueto pitched neatly into the sixth inning before exiting with a tight lat muscle, and host San Francisco blanked Cincinnati. Cueto (2-0) removed himself from the game after fanning Nick Castellanos for the second out in the sixth.
PIRATES 5, PADRES 1: Gregory Polanco homered and host Pittsburgh beat Joe Musgrove in his first start since throwing the first no-hitter in San Diego franchise history. Polanco hit a solo shot into the right-field stands in the second inning. That ended a 32-inning scoreless streak by Musgrove that dated to last season.
METS 5, PHILLIES 1: David Peterson matched a career high with 10 strikeouts in six innings and battery mate James McCann hit his first home run as New York won at home.
MARLINS 6, BRAVES 5 (10): Jesus Aguilar drove in the winning run with a 10th-inning double and Miami overcame two homers by the Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. for their third straight win in Atlanta.
ROYALS 6, ANGELS 1: Salvador Perez homered and doubled, leading Brad Keller and Kansas City to a win at home. Carlos Santana also homered as the Royals took two of three from the Angels.