Astros top A’s in 3-1 win

HOUSTON—Collin McHugh threw six scoreless innings, Colby Rasmus and Evan Gattis homered and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Rasmus put Houston up 1-0 with a homer in the second inning in his first at-bat since returning from the 15-day disabled list. Rasmus went on the DL on Aug. 5 with a cyst in his right ear.

Gattis hit a solo homer in the seventh to make it 3-0.

McHugh (9-10) allowed four hits and struck out five. He had allowed at least three runs in each of his previous six starts.

Houston remained two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.

Alex Bregman had an RBI single in the third for Houston.

NATIONALS 3, PHILLIES 2 PHILADELPHIA—Max Scherzer didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning and he was dominant through eight as the Washington Nationals continued their mastery of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Scherzer (15-7) allowed three hits and struck out 11 while walking one. He was perfect through the first four innings, striking out five consecutive batters—all swinging— between the second and third innings.

Ryan Howard, who got the start despite being 1 for 18 with 11 strikeouts against Scherzer coming in, hit an opposite-field two-run home run in the seventh inning to break up the

shutout and pull the Phillies within 3-2.

But Scherzer closed the door from there, striking out three more in the seventh and eighth en route to his 15th win of the season.

Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless ninth for his 37th save, getting a strikeout and inducing a game-ending double play after issuing a leadoff walk.

RAYS 4, RED SOX 3

BOSTON—Evan Longoria broke a tie with a solo homer in the eighth inning, clearing Fenway Park's “Green Monster” and rallying Tampa Bay to a victory over the Red Sox.

Luke Maile of the Rays hit a two-run homer with two outs in the seventh. It was just the second career homer for Maile, who drove a 1-2 pitch from Drew Pomeranz out to left to restore the tie after Boston had taken a 3-1 lead.

Pomeranz and Tampa Bay starter Jake Odorizzi both pitched well but didn't factor in the decision as both bullpens struggled to hold a lead.

Enny Romero (2-0) pitched a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts and got the win. Alex Colome survived a hit and a passed ball in the ninth while picking up his 29th save.

Former starter Clay Buchholz (5-10) took the loss, pitching the eighth and allowing Longoria's solo shot.