Perez’s homer lifts Rays
Michael Perez hit a goahead solo homer in the eighth inning and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Perez homered to center off Mychal Givens (0-1). It was his first long ball since Aug. 10, 2018.
Ryan Sherriff (1-0) worked a perfect eighth in his first big league game since May 7, 2018, because of Tommy John surgery.
Diego Castillo pitched the ninth to get his first save. Ten Tampa Bay relievers have a save this season.
Brandon Lowe hit his 10th homer for the Rays, who have won nine of 11.
The Orioles are 8-3 on the road after losing the first two games of the series. Their only other defeat away from home came opening day at Boston.
at Braves 2-12, Yankees 1-1: Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning off Chad Green and Atlanta rallied to beat New York 2-1 to sweep a doubleheader.
The Yankees have lost five straight.
In the opener, Ian Anderson dazzled in his big league debut, holding the Yankees hitless into the sixth inning and ending Gerrit Cole’s 20game winning streak as the Braves beat the Yankees 5-1.
Phillies 3, at Nationals 2: Aaron Nola bounced back from the shortest outing of his career to throw seven strong innings, and Philadelphia took advantage of Washington’s sloppy outfield defense to rally for a victory.
at Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 1: Rowdy Tellez drove in four runs with two homers and a double, and Toronto defeated Boston.
at Indians 6, Twins 3: Mike Clevinger pitched effectively in his first start since breaking COVID-19 protocols and Tyler Naquin doubled home the go-ahead run in a three-run eighth inning as Cleveland beat Minnesota to tighten the AL Central.
at Tigers 7, Cubs 6: Niko Goodrum hit a two-run double to cap Detroit’s five-run sixth inning, and the Tigers held on to beat Chicago. Detroit finished with a seasonhigh 18 hits. Jonathan Schoop, Miguel Cabrera, Cameron Maybin and Austin Romine had three each.
at White Sox 10, Pirates 3: Jose Abreu homered again, Dallas Keuchel followed Lucas Giolito’s no-hitter with six dominant innings, and surging Chicago pounded Pittsburgh for its ninth win in 10 games. Abreu’s 12th home run and seventh in five games, a tworun shot in the seventh, was Chicago’s fourth of the game and broke it open.
at Mets 5, Marlins 4: Wilson Ramos singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning after hobbled New York closer Edwin Diaz and the bullpen blew another lead provided by Jacob deGrom, and the Mets beat Miami.
Athletics 3, at Rangers 1: Mike Fiers extended his mastery over Texas, giving up only an unearned run over six innings as Oakland beat the Rangers. Fiers (4-1) struck out seven and scattered three hits in his six innings.
at Cardinals 6, Royals 5: Kolten Wong drew a basesloaded walk to cap off a fourrun rally in the ninth inning that lifted St. Louis. Tyler O’Neill tied the score at 5 with a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded off the glove of third baseman Maikel Franco.
Rockies 8, at Diamondbacks 7: Charlie Blackmon hit a grand slam to help Colorado build a big lead and the Rockies held on during a tense ninth inning to beat Arizona.
Mariners at Padres, postponed
Reds at Brewers, postponed