Schwarber sends Nats past D-Backs
WASHINGTON — Kyle Schwarber hit a game-ending homer in the ninth inning, helping the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 on Friday night after Max Scherzer passed Cy Young on baseball’s career strikeouts list.
The lefty-batting Schwarber connected on a 2-1 pitch from lefthander Alex Young (0-3), sending a drive to right that traveled an estimated 463 feet for his first homer for Washington.
Brad Hand (1-0) worked a scoreless ninth for the win. The Nationals allowed just three hits.
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, struck out the side in the seventh while passing Cy Young to move into 22nd place on baseball’s strikeout list. He finished with 10 on the day, giving him 2,808 for his career.
RAYS 8, YANKEES 2: Brandon Lowe hit a two-run double in the first inning off opener Nick Nelson (0-2), and AL champion Tampa Bay kept up its domination of host New York, setting off frustrated fans who caused a brief interruption. The young, athletic Rays spurted to an 8-0, seventh-inning lead and beat the Yankees for the 16th time in their last 21 meetings, including during last year’s Division Series.
PHILLIES 8, CARDINALS 2: Zach Eflin pitched into the eighth inning, and J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer, leading Philadelphia to the home victory. Eflin (1-0) allowed six hits, struck out six and walked none in sevenplus innings. The lanky righthander retired 12 straight batters at one point and exited after surrendering a tworun homer to Justin Williams in the eighth.
BRAVES 5, CUBS 2: Kyle Wright plunked four Chicago batters but still left with the lead after a last-minute call-up, and Will Smith stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning for visiting Atlanta. Wright was recalled from the club’s alternate site to replace Drew Smyly, who was scratched and placed on the 10day injured list with left forearm inflammation. Wright hit four batters, including Javier Baez twice, but limited Chicago to two runs and three hits over 41⁄3 innings.
MARLINS 4, GIANTS 1: Starling Marte snapped an eighth-inning tie with a three-run homer, and Miami won at home. Jazz Chisholm Jr. also homered for the Marlins. Marte’s shot to left-center field off reliever Wandy Peralta sent Miami to its fifth victory in six games.
ORIOLES 5, RANGERS 2: Rio Ruiz and D.J. Stewart homered while Jorge Lopez struck out eight in five innings, leading Baltimore to another road win.
REDS 10, INDIANS 3: Joey Votto hit a two-run homer to cap a seven-run third inning as Cincinnati cruised past visiting Cleveland.
PIRATES 6, BREWERS 1: J.T. Brubaker struck out eight in six impressive innings as Pittsburgh extended its surge to five of its last seven with a victory at Milwaukee.
ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 0: Frankie Montas allowed two hits in six sharp innings as host Oakland won its sixth straight game.
ANGELS 10, TWINS 3: Justin Upton hit a grand slam in the seventh inning, and Jared Walsh homered and drove in three runs in the Los Angeles Angels’ home win.