Phillies lose on pinch-runner miscue
PHILADELPHIA — Pinch-running pitcher Vince Velasquez was called out for leaving second base early while tagging up, resulting in a game-ending double play that gave the Washington Nationals a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.
After Aaron Nola outpitched Max Scherzer for the second time in six days in a matchup of NL Cy Young Award contenders, the Phillies watched Washington rally for three runs in the ninth to take a 5-3 lead.
Ramos got Philadelphia within a run with a pinch-hit double in the ninth, and Velasquez pinch-ran for the catcher. Greg Holland relieved and retired Jorge Alfaro on a flyball to center, with Velasquez moving to third as the potential tying run.
But the Nationals appealed that Velasquez left too soon, and he was called out. A replay upheld the ruling.
RED SOX 8, MARLINS 7
In Boston, J.D. Martinez scored when Marlins shortstop JT Riddle threw away a potential double-play ball in the ninth inning, lifting the Red Sox over Miami following a wild, back-and-forth final two innings.
Boston snapped a three-game skid and avoided its first four-game losing streak of the season — barely.
Miami scored five runs in the eighth inning to lead 6-4, allowed three runs to Boston in the bottom of the inning, then tied the game at 7 in the top of the ninth against closer Craig Kimbrel (4-1).
ATHLETICS 4, ASTROS 3
In Houston, Nick Martini hit a tiebreaking double in the ninth inning and the Athletics defeated Houston, snapping the Astros’ six-game winning streak.
The A’s moved within 1½ games of the AL West-leading Astros.
Ramon Laureano drew a one-out walk from Roberto Osuna (1-2), Jonathan Lucroy singled and Martini followed with his double.
BRAVES 9, RAYS 5
In Atlanta, pinch-runner Adam Duvall scored the tiebreaking run on a delayed dash from third base in the Braves’ four-run eighth inning, and they beat Tampa Bay to snap the Rays’ eight-game winning streak.
Chaz Roe (1-3) walked Kurt Suzuki to open the eighth. Suzuki advanced to third on Ozzie Albies’ third hit, a double to the right-field corner.
Duvall, running for Suzuki, initially remained at third base on Dansby Swanson’s groundout to second. When first baseman Jake Bauers looked to possibly throw to second, where Albies was standing off the bag, Duvall took off in a desperate sprint for the plate.
YANKEES 5, WHITE SOX 4
In New York, pinch-hitter Neil Walker connected for a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Yankees rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the White Sox.
Aaron Hicks hit a tying homer in the eighth and rookie Miguel Andujar also had a two-run shot to help the injury-depleted Yankees win for the ninth time in 11 games. With the second-best record in the majors, they began the night 6½ games behind first-place Boston in the AL East.
ORIOLES 12, BLUE JAYS 5
In Baltimore, Josh Rogers won his major league debut, Tim Beckham hit a three-run homer and the Orioles rolled over the Blue Jays.
Rogers, acquired from the Yankees for closer Zach Britton in July, allowed three runs and seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk over five innings. He was the first left-handed pitcher to start a game for Baltimore this season.
Craig Gentry went 3 for 5 with his first home run and three RBIs for the Orioles, who won consecutive games for the first time this month.
Trey Mancini added a double and a triple, while Adam Jones tied a career high with four hits.
INDIANS 8, TWINS 1
In Cleveland, Carlos Carrasco struck out 11 and withstood another scary Minnesota line drive, pitching the Indians past the Twins.
Francisco Lindor matched a career high with four hits while Jose Ramirez drove in three runs for the AL Central leaders.
Carrasco (16-7) allowed four hits in 7⅔ innings. He is tied for second in the majors in wins, one behind Luis Severino of the Yankees.
In the fifth, Carrasco was hit in the glove by Ehire Adrianza’s liner. The force of the blow knocked Carrasco to the ground, but the right-hander immediately got to his feet. The ball rolled toward second baseman Jason Kipnis, who had no play at first.
ROYALS 6, TIGERS 2
In Kansas City, Mo., Jakob Junis held scuffling Detroit to six hits in his first career complete game, Adalberto Mondesi homered to spur a five-run frame and the Royals beat the Tigers.
The only runs Junis (7-12) allowed came in the third, when Jeimer Candelario managed a sacrifice fly, and the eighth, when JaCoby Jones went deep. Otherwise, the Royals’ young right-hander was brisk and efficient, striking out seven without a walk.
REDS 9, BREWERS 7
In Cincinnati, Jose Peraza started Junior Guerra’s rough outing with a two-run homer, and the Reds withstood Christian Yelich’s first multihomer game.
Since trailing the Cubs by a game on Aug. 4, Milwaukee has gone 8-11 and slid to third in the NL Central.
The Reds ended a five-game losing streak by taking advantage of Guerra (6-9), who gave up six runs and faced only 13 batters in his shortest outing of the season. Peraza had two of his four hits off Guerra, who threw 45 pitches.
DODGERS 8, RANGERS 4
In Arlington, Texas, Manny Machado drove in four runs, Brian Dozier hit his 20th homer of the season and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Rangers for their fourth win in a row.
Machado’s four RBIs were the most in his 36 games for the Dodgers since being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles last month. The shortstop put Los Angeles ahead to stay with a tworun single in the third, then added a sac fly in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth. He has nine RBIs the past three games.
Dozier, another midseason addition, had a solo shot for his fourth homer in 24 games since joining the Dodgers from Minnesota.
RIVER CATS 3, ISOTOPES 1
In Sacramento, Gregor Blanco hit a walk-off solo homer with two outs in the ninth inning, as the SRiver Cats topped the Isotopes.
The River Cats tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth when Orlando Calixte hit a solo home run.
Sacramento starter Jordan Johnson allowed one run and two hits over six innings. He also struck out four and walked two. Ray Black (3-0) got the win with a scoreless inning in relief while Yency Almonte (2-5) took the loss.