Braves edge Athletics in interleague action
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kurt Suzuki led off the 12th inning with his second home run of the game, lifting the Atlanta Braves over the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
One inning after closer Jim Johnson got his sixth blown save, Suzuki lined a shot to left on a 3-1 pitch from John Axford (0-1). Suzuki also homered off starter Sean Manaea to begin the second.
It's the third multihomer of Suzuki's career and first since 2011 when he was with Oakland. The veteran catcher had not gone deep against his previous club until these homers helped Atlanta finish its six-game West Coast trip on a positive note after a rocky beginning.
Johnson (6-1) got the win despite three walks, and Arodys Vizcaino retired three batters for his second save. Vizcaino got Franklin Barreto to fly out with two runners on to end it.
The Braves wasted leads of 2-0 and 3-2 but held on to win for the 11th time in 15 games.
Khris Davis hit his 23rd home run and reached base four times for the A's. Oakland has lost five straight.
The A's wasted multiple opportunities to win in extra innings. They stranded two runners in the 10th, and Rajai Davis struck out looking against Johnson with the bases loaded to end the 11th.
Atlanta took a 3-2 lead when Kemp doubled off the wall in center with two outs in the 11th. Oakland rookie Jaycob Brugman attempted to make a leaping catch but missed.
Bruce Maxwell's RBI single off Johnson in the bottom of the inning tied it.
Phillies 7, Mets 1
NEW YORK — Nick Pivetta allowed one hit in seven impressive innings for his second major league win, and the Philadelphia Phillies stopped the New York Mets' four-game winning streak.
Maikel Franco had a two-run double in a four-run second aided by a pair of sacrifice bunts. Rookie catcher Andrew Knapp added an RBI single and dashed home from second on a wild pitch by Rafael Montero.
Leadoff man Daniel Nava had three hits and two RBIs to help the major league-worst Phillies prevent a three-game sweep and finish their 4-5 road trip on a positive note. Philadelphia outhit the Mets 12-2.
Making his 10th major league start, Pivetta (2-4) permitted only T.J. Rivera's home run on an 81 mph slider with one out in the fifth. He struck out four and walked four.
Marlins 10, Brewers 3
MILWAUKEE — No matter the bat, Marcell Ozuna feels right at home at the plate.
Ozuna hit two home runs — the second moments after having his bat thrown out for having too much pine tar on it — and the Miami Marlins beat the Milwaukee Brewers.
The sticky situation began in the seventh, when Brewers second baseman Jonathan Villar had his bat tossed from the game for the same issue by plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.
Wendelstedt also checked Ozuna's bat to start the eighth and told him to get a new one. The bat boy handed him Giancarlo Stanton's model, and Ozuna deposited his 22nd homer of the season — a 455-foot drive — into the bleachers in left.
It appears to be the park, more than the bat, as a reason for Ozuna's success. The big center fielder has nine home runs in 16 career games at Miller Park.
Cubs 6, Reds 2
CINCINNATI — Jake Arrieta pitched one-hit ball for seven innings without allowing a stolen base, and Ian Happ homered twice in the ballpark where he played as a college star, leading Chicago past Cincinnati.
Arrieta (8-6) was coming off a subpar performance that created friction and a surprise move. The Nationals stole seven bases off Arrieta during their 6-1 win on Tuesday, and catcher Miguel Montero complained afterward about the pitcher's move to the plate with runners on base. Montero was cut loose the following day.
Giants 5, Pirates 3
PITTSBURGH — Brandon Belt started San Francisco's comeback with an RBI single in a three-run seventh inning, then added a two-run homer in the eighth as the Giants got their season-high sixth straight win.
Jordy Mercer's two-run homer in the third off Jeff Samardzija (4-9) put the Pirates ahead.
Diamondbacks 4, Rockies 3
PHOENIX — Ketel Marte lined a run-scoring single in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame the first earned run allowed by Fernando Rodney in 21 games to beat the Colorado Rockies.
Rodney (2-2) had his hitless outings streak end at 11 with three straight singles in the ninth inning, including Charlie Blackmon's tying hit. Rodney got a pair of pop ups with two on to end the inning.
Brandon Drury hit a one-out single in the bottom half and Chris Iannetta followed with a double off Adam Ottavino (13). Marte fell into a 1-2 hole against Chris Rusin before lining a one-hopper off the wall, sending the Diamondbacks rushing out of the dugout to mob him.
Chris Owings hit a two-run homer and Drury had three hits for Arizona, off to the best start in franchise history at 52-31.
Colorado has lost 10 of 11.