Moreland hits homer in third consecutive game as Red Sox
OAKLAND, Calif. — Former Mississippi State player and Amory native Mitch Moreland homered in his third consecutive game and the Boston Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 12-3 on Sunday to avoid a fourgame sweep.
Eduardo Rodriguez (3-1) allowed three runs over eight innings for his second straight win. The left-hander struck out eight and walked one.
Hanley Ramirez and Christian Vazquez had three hits each, while Dustin Pedroia and Jackie Bradley Jr. each had two to power a Red Sox lineup that tallied 15 hits. Every player in Boston’s starting lineup had at least one hit, and eight of the nine drove in runs.
Chad Pinder homered and drove in two runs for Oakland.
Boston, which hasn’t been swept in a fourgame series since July 2015, trailed 3-2 before scoring 10 runs over the final five innings.
Moreland was held out Saturday after homering in the first two games of the series. He returned to the lineup and was hitless in his
first two at-bats before launching a towering, two-run shot to right off starter Andrew Triggs (5-3) in the sixth that landed in the second deck.
Chad Pinder homered for Oakland in the fourth, his fourth in eight games and fifth overall.
Triggs gave up six runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three.
The A’s committed three errors, giving manager Bob Melvin’s ballclub a major league-leading 42.
Yankees 3, Rays 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brett Gardner hit his eighth home run, one more than this 2016 total, and CC Sabathia won consecutive starts for the first time since last June to help New York and avoid a three-game sweep.
Rookie Aaron Judge made a full extension diving backhand catch on the right field warning track in the sixth to rob Evan Longoria of a tying extra-base hit, starting a double play that doubled up Corey Dickerson at first.
Didi Gregorius had four hits, including an RBI single, as New York won for just the fourth time in 11 games.
Sabathia (4-2) allowed two runs and four hits in five-plus innings, and Dellin Betances got four outs for his second save.
Chris Archer (3-3) struck out a season-high 12, giving up three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Blue Jays 3, Orioles 1
BALTIMORE — An error, a three-run homer and Marco Estrada provided the Toronto Blue Jays with a feelgood victory against the Baltimore Orioles.
Estrada matched his career high with 12 strikeouts , Devon Travis took care of the offense and Toronto averted a three-game sweep with a win.
Indians 8, Astros 6
HOUSTON — In an up-and-down season, the American League champion Cleveland Indians left Houston feeling pretty good after sweeping the Astros.
Yan Gomes homered and tied a career high with five RBIs to lead the Indians over the Astros.
Gomes’ third-inning homer off Joe Musgrove (3-4) gave the Indians a 3-1 lead, and Cleveland added three more runs in the fourth. The Indians took all three games and are 5-1 against Houston this season, dealing the Astros two of their three series losses.
White Sox 8, Mariners 1
SEATTLE — Yolmer Sanchez had a two-run single in Chicago’s five-run first inning, and Derek Holland (43) gave up six hits in eight innings.
Tim Anderson had three hits and two RBIs for the White Sox.
Nelson Cruz hit his 11th home run for the Mariners, who have lost three straight.
Royals 6, Twins 4, 1st game
MINNEAPOLIS — Mike Minor won for the first time since 2014 and Brandon Moss hit two of Kansas City’s four home runs, leading the Royals over the Minnesota Twins in a doubleheader opener.
Minor (1-1) relieved Jake Junis with a 5-2 lead in the fifth, two outs and two on. The 29-year-old left-hander walked Max Kepler, then retired Kennys Vargas on a popout. Minor retired the side in order in the sixth.
He had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder in May 13, 2015, and did not appear in the major leagues in 2015 and 2016. Minor, who signed a $7.25 million, two-year contract with the Royals in February 2016, got his first major league victory since Aug. 28, 2014, for Atlanta at the New York Mets, and his first win as a reliever.
Interleague Angels 12, Mets 5
NEW YORK — Mike Trout drew a no-pitch intentional walk his first time up, a decision by Mets manager Terry Collins that prompted scattered boos around the ballpark.
All those fans who hoped to see Trout hit, well, they didn’t have to wait long.
Trout homered , doubled and drove in three early runs, C.J. Cron hit a grand slam and the Los Angeles Angels bolted to a big lead in beating New York.