Verlander, Castro thrive as Astros stymie Mets
Houston’s Justin Verlander pitched two-hit ball for eight innings, Jason Castro lined a two-run homer in the ninth and the Astros beat the Mets 2-0 on Wednesday to send host New York to its first threegame losing streak this season.
Houston left fielder Yordan Alvarez and shortstop Jeremy Peña were hurt when they collided in the eighth while running down Dominic Smith’s pop-up. Both called for the ball and as Peña caught the pop, and they hit each other in the face with their gloves. Alvarez was removed on a cart, sitting up, and Peña walked back to the dugout during the eightminute delay.
Verlander (10-3) became the major leagues’ first 10-game winner, striking out six and walking one. The right-hander, a two-time Cy Young Award winner and the 2011 AL MVP, lowered his ERA to 2.03 ERA.
“He’s the guy that stops losing streaks,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “He creates winning streaks.”
Pirates 8, Nationals 7: Bryan Reynolds hit three homers and drove in six runs as visiting Pittsburgh ended a five-game losing streak.
Reynolds’ third homer, a three-run shot in the seventh, was Pittsburgh’s only hit in 18 at-bats with runners in scoring position during the series.
“I guess it feels kind of surreal,” Reynolds said. “It was a good day at the plate.”
Padres 4, D’backs 0: Mike Clevinger held host Arizona to one hit in six innings as San Diego prevailed.
Clevinger, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, had been working with limited pitch and inning counts prior to this game.
“Six innings, 90 pitches was what we were looking for from him today, and he did exactly that,” San Diego manager Bob Melvin said. “Now we just treat him like another pitcher.”
Brewers 5, Rays 3: Rowdy
Tellez hit two home runs and center fielder Jonathan Davis made a spectacular catch for visiting Milwaukee.
Davis robbed Randy Arozarena of an extra-base hit in the second when he made a flying, over-the-shoulder catch. After hitting the fence, Davis stayed in the game before leaving with back and rib cage discomfort.
“Spectacular, scary … those two words,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said of Davis’ play. “He is sore.”
Braves 4, Phillies 1: Adam Duvall hit a two-run homer and Kyle Wright and two relievers combined on a four-hitter as visiting Atlanta improved to 21-5 in June.
Stanford alum Mark Appel, 30, made his major-league debut with a scoreless ninth for Philadelphia.
Royals 2, Rangers 1: Zack Greinke pitched six innings of one-run ball in his 500th career start, helping host Kansas City avoid a three-game sweep.
Mariners 9, Orioles 3: Julio Rodriguez hit a two-run homer as part of Seattle’s six-run fourth inning and the host Mariners won for the seventh time in nine games.
Marlins 4, Cardinals 3: Avasail Garcia hit a two-out, tworun homer in the ninth to lift visiting Miami to a victory.
Guardians 7, Twins 6: Josh Naylor’s two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th gave Cleveland the win.