Astros, A’s brawl after hit by pitch
Benches cleared and even the stands emptied during Oakland’s 7-2 victory over Houston on Sunday, tempers flaring at last between the AL West rivals months after the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal was brought to light by Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers.
The Athletics’ ninth straight win was overshadowed by what erupted in the seventh inning at the Coliseum.
Oakland’s Ramon Laureano got hit by a pitch — for the third time in the threegame series — this one by Humberto Castellanos. Laureano began exchanging words with animated Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron, then left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began sprinting toward him.
Astros catcher Dustin Garneau tackled Laureano and a wild scene ensued in which players sitting in the seats, observing COVID-19 social-distancing protocols, also rushed onto the field.
“Obviously we don’t want to get into a brawl like that and we understand the protocol,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “Unfortunately, it happened.”
at Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3: Mitch Moreland hit two home runs, including a walkoff shot over the Green Monster.
at Padres 9, Diamondbacks 5: Dinelson Lamet took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Fernando Tatis Jr. continued his power surge with a two-run homer off winless Madison Bumgarner, who yielded four of San Diego’s clubrecord six long balls.
at Mariners 5, Rockies 3: Justus Sheffield struck out seven in his longest stint of the season and Dylan Moore hit a two-run homer as Seattle ended Colorado’s threegame win streak.
Braves 5-8, at Phillies 2-0: Ronald Acuna Jr. homered twice and Freddie Freeman also went deep to spoil Spencer Howard’s big league debut and lead Atlanta to a doubleheader sweep. Acuna also homered in the first game.
at Mets 4, Marlins 2: Jacob deGrom dodged trouble for five innings, rookie Andres Gimenez had three hits and scored three runs and New York won a home series for the first time this season.
at Rays 4, Yankees 3: Michael Perez had an RBI single with two outs in the ninth as Tampa Bay rallied.
Indians 5, at White Sox 4, 10 innings: Delino DeShields snapped a tie with a perfectly placed squeeze bunt in the 10th inning to lift Cleveland after a 46-minute rain delay.
at Brewers 9, Reds 3: Christian Yelich homered, tripled and drew a basesloaded walk as Milwaukee avoid its first 0-5 home start since 1970.
at Royals 4, Twins 2: Hunter Dozier hit a two-run single in his first at-bat since testing positive for COVID-19 and prospect Brady Singer earned his first major league win.
Tigers 2, at Pirates 1: Spencer Turnbull pitched seven strong innings and Miguel Cabrera singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth.
Pirates at Cardinals, postponed
Orioles at Nationals, suspended