Gelof thrives, helps A’s cap series victory
Zack Gelof broke out of a season-opening slump in a big way with four hits, including a three-run homer and an RBI triple, as Oakland beat host Detroit 7-1 on Sunday.
Gelof entered the day hitting .156 (5-for-32) with 13 strikeouts this season. He drew three walks and scored three runs Saturday in the Athletics’ 4-0 win, and manager Mark Kotsay believes that set up the 24-year-old Gelof for a big day at the plate.
“It really felt like yesterday, his plate discipline, it was going to get him going,” Kotsay said. “It was a great result today.”
“For me, it’s just swinging at the right pitches and then not making the situation bigger than it is,” said Gelof, who hit .267 with 14 homers, 32 RBIS and 14 steals in 69 games as a rookie last season. “Just going out there and controlling what I can control and the results take care of themselves.”
A’s starter Joe Boyle (1-1) struck out six while pitching five scoreless innings of two-hit ball. The 24-year-old rookie has recorded two of his three major league wins against the Tigers.
Abraham Toro had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run for Oakland, which collected two wins in the three-game series.
■ Astros 3, Rangers 1: At Arlington, Texas, Ronel Blanco (2-0) followed his no-hitter by shutting out Texas on one hit — a two-out single in the sixth — over six innings. Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer in the third.
■ Royals 5, White Sox 3: At Kansas City, Mo., M.J. Melendez hit a two-run homer in the seventh, his third homer and third go-ahead hit of the series, as Kansas City capped a four-game sweep.
■ Red Sox 12, Angels 2: At Anaheim, Calif., Reese Mcguire hit a three-run homer and totaled five RBIS to back Tanner Houck (2-0), who pitched six shutout innings.
■ Cubs 8, Dodgers 1: At Chicago, Michael Busch hit a three-run double in the first to back Shota Imanaga, who pitched four shutout innings in a rain-shortened start.
■ Pirates 3, Orioles 2: At Pittsburgh, shortstop Gunnar Henderson’s throwing error after a diving stop allowed the tying and winning runs to score in the ninth.
■ Mets 3, Reds 1: At Cincinnati, Francisco Lindor hit a homer and a double and scored twice, ending an 0-for-24 slump. He had been 1-for-31 this season.
■ Marlins 10, Cardinals 3: At St. Louis, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Nick Gordon each hit a three-run homer in the first for Miami in its first win this season.
■ Braves 5, Diamondbacks 2: At Atlanta, Michael Harris II hit the second of Atlanta’s three homers, putting the Braves ahead to stay in the fourth.
■ Rays 3, Rockies 2: At Denver, Ryan Pepiot (1-1) struck out 11 while shutting out Colorado on three hits and no walks over six innings.
■ Giants 3, Padres 2: At San Francisco, Matt Chapman drove in two runs, including a go-ahead RBI single in the San Francisco eighth.
■ Nationals 3, Phillies 2: At Washington, Lane Thomas had two hits, stole three bases and scored Washington’s go-ahead run.
■ Brewers 12, Mariners 4: At Milwaukee, William Contreras’ four hits included two homers, and he drove in five runs.
■ Yankees 8, Blue Jays 3: At New York, Giancarlo Stanton’s three hits included a tiebreaking grand slam in the third.
■ Guardians at Twins, ppd., rain: The game was rescheduled as part of an Aug. 9 doubleheader.
■ Aviators 10, Space Cowboys 6: At Sugar Land, Texas, Brett Harris went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead two-run triple and a two-run single for the Aviators (2-6), who halted a three-game skid. Justin Verlander yielded seven runs, six earned, on seven hits and one walk while striking out six over three innings in a rehabilitation start for Sugar Land (5-4).