Arraez’s slam lifts Twins over Rays

MINNEAPOLIS — Big league batting leader Luis Arraez hit his first career grand slam and the Minnesota Twins spoiled Shane Baz’s season debut, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 on Saturday.

Arraez got at least three hits for the seventh time this season, raising his average to .367. He has three home runs this year, including two in the last three games.

Arraez homered as part of a five-run third inning against Baz (0-1), Tampa Bay’s top pitching prospect who returned after elbow surgery in March. Baz allowed five runs in 21⁄3 innings on three hits.

Trevor Megill (2-1), one of five Twins relievers who each pitched a scoreless inning, worked the fifth.

Braves 10, Pirates 4: Dansby Swanson blooped a three-run single, Ozzie Albies added a grand slam in an eight-run seventh inning and host Atlanta beat Pittsburgh for the Braves’ 10th consecutive win.

Cardinals 5, Reds 4: Tommy Edman hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning for the first walkoff RBI of his major league career, lifting St. Louis over Cincinnati at St. Louis.

Paul Goldschmidt’s streak of reaching base ended at 46 games with an 0-for-4 day for the NL Central-leading Cardinals.

St. Louis pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina made their 316th start together, tying the Boston and Milwaukee Braves’ Warren Spahn and Del Crandall for second-most behind the 324 of Detroit’s Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan.

Cincinnati led 4-1 in the eighth inning but blew a save for the seventh time in 17 chances, and the Cardinals won despite getting outhit 12-7.

Phillies 4, Diamondbacks 0: Zack Wheeler and four relievers combined on a six-hitter and Bryson Stott hit a two-run home run as Philadelphia blanked Arizona at Philadelphia.

The Phillies have won nine straight for the first time July 29-Aug. 6, 2011.

Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson improved to 8-0 since he took over for the fired Joe Girardi. He’s the first manager to win his first eight games since Joe Morgan did it for the Red Sox in 1988. He’s the first Phillies manager to start his career 8-0 since Pat Moran did the same in 1915.

The Phillies will try on Sunday for 10 straight wins for the first time since 1984.

Wheeler (5-3) the 2021 NL Cy Young Award runnerup, has been sensational since the end of April. He was 4-0 with 1.61 ERA and 56 strikeouts over his last seven starts.