New-look bullpen helps Yanks beat Astros
HOUSTON — Austin Romine hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning to make a winner of Michael Pineda, and the New York Yankees’ bullpen did just fine Monday night without star closer Aroldis Chapman in a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros.
Hours after New York traded Chapman to the Chicago Cubs, All-Star relievers Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller closed out Houston to help the fourth-place Yankees (51-48) move three games above .500 for the first time this season.
Betances struck out the side in the eighth before Miller, back in the ninth-inning role following Chapman’s departure, earned his eighth save. The left-hander got Carlos Gomez to ground into a game-ending double play with two on.
RANGERS 7, ATHLETICS 6
In Arlington, Texas, Adrian Beltre hit his second home run of the game with two outs in the ninth inning, a two-run shot that rallied the Rangers past Oakland for its third straight win.
Beltre, who finished with four hits, had two singles in his first three at-bats before hitting a solo homer in the seventh. His game-winning drive came on the first pitch from Ryan Madson (3-4), who had his sixth blown save in 27 opportunities.
Until then, Texas had trailed since Danny Valencia hit a two-run homer for Oakland in the first. All 13 runs in the game were scored with two outs.
TIGERS 4, RED SOX 2
In Boston, Jose Iglesias hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, Justin Verlander pitched six solid innings and Detroit spoiled Drew Pomeranz’s second start with the Red Sox.
Verlander (10-6) allowed one run and five hits and struck out five to pick up the victory. Detroit pulled within 5½ games of idle AL Central-leading Cleveland.
Francisco Rodriguez earned his 28th save.
ANGELS 6, ROYALS 2
In Kansas City, Mo., Albert Pujols drove in four runs and Hector Santiago won his fifth consecutive start for Los Angeles.
Pujols leads the majors with 26 RBIs in July, including 16 in his past eight games.
Santiago (9-4) is 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in July. He held the Royals to two runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
INTERLEAGUE BLUE JAYS 4, PADRES 2
In Toronto, Aaron Sanchez pitched seven shutout innings to win his 10th consecutive decision, Kevin Pillar had three hits and the Blue Jays beat San Diego.
Sanchez (11-1) became the first Blue Jays pitcher to win 10 straight since Roy Halladay won 15 decisions in a row in 2003. Halladay and Roger Clemens (1998) hold the club record.
Making their first appearance in Toronto, the Padres were held scoreless until Alex Dickerson hit a two-run homer off Bo Schultz in the ninth. Dickerson’s drive into the fifth deck extended San Diego’s team-record streak of games with at least one home run to 23. The 2006 Atlanta Braves were the last National League team to homer in 23 straight games.
ORIOLES 3, ROCKIES 2
In Baltimore, Adam Jones scored the winning run in the 10th inning on a low throw to the plate by pitcher Jordan Lyles, and the Orioles won their fifth straight.
Jones reached on a one-out single off the third-base bag and took third on a single by Jonathan Schoop. Manny Machado followed with a comebacker to Lyles, who fumbled the ball before throwing home. Catcher Nick Hundley caught the ball near the ground and lost the handle while attempting to tag the sliding Jones.
Lyles (2-3) was charged with an error on the play.
WHITE SOX 5, CUBS 4
In Chicago, Tyler Saladino hit a game-ending RBI single to put a damper on the Cubs’ trade for Aroldis Chapman.
J.B. Shuck sparked the winning rally with a leadoff single against Mike Montgomery (3-5), who was acquired in a deal with Seattle last week. Shuck advanced on Dioner Navarro’s sacrifice and Saladino followed with a bouncer into center field.
Dan Jennings (4-2) got two outs for the win. The White Sox also got two victories in their last at-bat on Sunday against Detroit.
NATIONAL LEAGUE BREWERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 2
In Milwaukee, Martin Maldonado hit a threerun homer and the Brewers went deep four times, spoiling the major league debut of Arizona pitching prospect Braden Shipley.
Scooter Gennett, Jonathan Villar and pinchhitter Andy Wilkins also connected for the Brewers. Chase Anderson (5-10) went five innings to beat his former team for his first win since June 8.
Shipley (0-1) was selected 15th overall by the Diamondbacks in the 2013 amateur draft. He doubled and scored in the third but was chased by Maldonado’s homer in the sixth.
PHILLIES 4, MARLINS 0
In Miami, Jeremy Hellickson dominated the Marlins for a second straight start, throwing six innings of one-hit ball.
Tommy Joseph hit a two-out RBI double in the top of the eighth to break a scoreless tie, and David Hernandez (2-3) pitched an inning in relief to earn the victory in a combined twohitter.