Verlander, Astros end Yanks’ home win streak
Justin Verlander pitched four-hit ball over seven innings, Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer and the Houston Astros beat the Yankees 3-1 Friday night to stop New York’s 15-game home winning streak.
Hours after Aaron Judge agreed to a $19 million, one-year contract with the Yankees that avoided an arbitration hearing, New York was greeted with loud ovations by just its third home sellout crowd this season. Judge went 0-for-4 as the majors-best Yankees (52-19) lost for just the fourth time in their past 23 games.
Verlander (9-3) averaged 95.5 mph with his fastball, up from 94.8 mph coming in during his first season since Tommy John surgery. The 39-year-old righthander, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, struck out three and walked one, lowering his ERA to 2.22.
Dodgers 4, Braves 1: Trea Turner had three hits, including a home run, Freddie Freeman reached base three times in his emotional return to Atlanta and Los Angeles handed the Braves just their fourth loss in June. The Braves, who remained four games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East, fell to 18-4 this month. The Dodgers absorbed bad news for their pitching staff: left-hander Andrew Heaney was placed on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation, and right-hander Daniel Hudson exited in the eighth with an apparent left knee injury.
Mets 5, Marlins 3: Francisco Lindor
homered, doubled and drove in four runs; Mark Canha also went deep and Taijuan Walker pitched six-plus innings of three-run ball for NL East-leading New York in Miami. Walker (6-2) allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out five. All three runners scored on Lindor’s bases-loaded double in the sixth that gave New York a 5-2 lead. Miami starter Sandy Alcantara (7-3), who entered with a 1.72 ERA, gave up
five runs — four earned — and six hits in seven innings.
Red Sox 6, Guardians 3: Christian Arroyo hit a two-run homer in the seventh and had three RBIs in his return from the COVID-19 injured list, powering red-hot Boston Red at Cleveland. Arroyo’s go-ahead homer to leftcenter off Bryan Shaw (3-1) gave the Red Sox a 4-2 lead, paving the way for their fifth straight win and moving them a season-high nine games over .500.
Rockies 1, Twins 0: German Marquez pitched 72⁄3 scoreless innings and for Colorado in a rare trip to Minnesota. Charlie Blackmon’s run-scoring fielder’s choice was the difference for the Rockies.
Rays 4, Pirates 3: Harold Ramirez scored Vidal Brujan with a gameending pinch-single in the 10th inning, lifting host Tampa Bay.
Briefly: Mets right-hander Max Scherzer (oblique strain) will not be activated to start the series finale Sunday. Manager Buck Showalter said Scherzer is making progress but isn’t where he needs to be. He could make a second minor league rehab start before rejoining the big league rotation . ... Royals catcher Salvador Perez underwent surgery on his left thumb and was placed on the IL. The seven-time All-Star, who hit .273 and led the majors with 48 home runs and 121 RBIs last season, is batting .211 with 11 homers and 34 RBIs in 57 games this season . ... Infielder Jonathan Villar was designated for assignment by the Cubs, who activated infielder David Bote from the 60-day IL . ... Former Giants left-hander Connor Menez announced on Instagram that he has signed a deal with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.