Nats blanked by Fish, fall 9½ behind Mets

MIAMI — Jose Fernandez returned from the disabled list and became only the third pitcher since 1914 to win his first 16 career decisions at home when the Miami Marlins beat the skidding Washington Nationals, 2-0, Saturday night.

Pitching for the first time since he was sidelined by a right biceps strain Aug. 7, Fernandez (5-0) threw five innings, allowed two hits and struck out seven. Johnny Allen (1932-33) and LaMarr Hoyt (1980-82) also started 16-0 at home, according to STATS.

The reeling and ailing Nationals lost their fifth consecutive game as they fade from contention in the NL East. Their mood was further soured by news that right-handed reliever Drew Storen broke his right thumb in a fit of temper following his latest outing against the Mets Wednesday and will likely miss the rest of the season.

ATHLETICS 5, RANGERS 3: Mark Canha had a three-run homer and Danny Valencia a two-run shot in the fifth inning, leading visiting Oakland over Texas, who gained a half-game on the AL wild cardleading Yankees,

WHITE SOX 8, TWINS 2: Adam Eaton had three hits, Carlos Sanchez hit a two-run double and host Chicago used a seven-run fourth inning to beat Minnesota, who is one game behind Texas in the race for the second AL wild card.

PIRATES 10, BREWERS 2: . Jeff Locke pitched one-run ball into the seventh inning and Michael Morse hit a pinch-hit grand slam as host Pittsburgh drew within 2.5 games of first-place St. Louis, the closest Pittsburgh has been since it was two games back at the All-Star break after winning three in a row at home against the Cardinals.

REDS 5, CARDINALS 1: Skip Schumaker hit a threerun homer, rookie Anthony DeSclafani pitched six strong innings and host Cincinnati won its second game of the day, beating struggling St. Louis.

Earlier, Adam Duvall’s two-run homer in the eighth lifted the Reds to a 4-2 win in the completion of a game suspended.

ROYALS 14, ORIOLES 6: Mike Moustakas hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and finished with a franchiserecord nine RBI as Kansas City beat host Baltimore Orioles.

GIANTS 8, PADRES 0: Madison Bumgarner lost his bid for a perfect game on a base hit with two outs in the eighth inning, the only blemish for host San Francisco ace in victory over San Diego. Bumgarner (18-7) retired his first 23 batters before pinch-hitter Melvin Upton Jr. sent a clean single up the middle.