Escobar HRs as Mets end 3-game skid, rally past Rangers, 4-3

NEW YORK — Eduardo Escobar hit a tiebreaking three-run homer, expectant father David Peterson tied a career high with 10 strikeouts in six innings and the New York Mets beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 Friday night to stop a season-high three-game losing streak.

Mark Canha hit a tying RBI single in the fourth that ended an 0-for-14 slide. Two batters later, Escobar snapped a 0-for-10 rut by hitting a 3-2 sinker from Glenn Otto (5-5) into the right field second deck for a 4-1 lead.

Escobar’s 417-foot drive gave the Mets their first win since beating the Marlins Saturday in Miami.

Peterson (5-1) took the mound after scheduled starter went Chris Bassitt on the injured list; manager Buck Showalter hinted the right-hander was dealing with COVID-19.

With wife Alex expecting the couple’s first child, Peterson allowed three runs and five hits, including solo homers to Marcus Semien and Nathaniel Lowe. Edwin Díaz anned two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 17th save in 20 chances.

Otto made his second start since missing three weeks on the COVID-19 injured list and allowed four runs and four hits in four innings.

PHILLIES 5, CARDINALS 3

PHILADELPHIA — Darick Hall’s tiebreaking home run was his third homer since being called up, and Rhys Hoskins went deep to add an insurance run, leading Philadelphia over Nolan Arenado and St. Louis.

Hall broke a 3-all tie in the sixth when he led off by driving a 79-mph changeup from Miles Mikolas (5-6) into the seats in right. All three of Hall’s hits have been home runs since his arriving from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Hall went deep twice in Philadelphia’s 14-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night.

Hoskins gave Philadelphia a two-run cushion in the seventh by homering in his third straight game, a solo shot to deep left-center. Mickey Moniak added an RBI double for Philadelphia, which is 19-8 since interim manager Rob Thomson took over for the fired Joe Girardi last month.

José Alvarado (2-1) pitched two-thirds scoreless innings in relief for the victory, and

Brad Hand tossed a scoreless ninth for his third save in four chances.

Arenado hit for the cycle for the second time in his career and 17th time in Cardinals’ history. He had an RBI triple in the first, a two-run homer in the third, doubled in the sixth and was credited with a single in the eighth after his hard-hit grounder caromed off third baseman Matt Vierling’s glove.

BRAVES 9, REDS 1

CINCINNATI — Max Fried won his eighth straight decision, Austin Riley put Atlanta ahead to stay in the first inning with his team-high 19th home run and the Braves routed Cincinnati.

Dansby Swanson added a three-run homer in the seventh for the defending World Series champion Braves, who are 22-6 since the start of June to close within 3 1/2 games of the NL East-leading New York Mets.

Fried (8-2) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings with four strikeouts and no walks.

Mike Minor (1-5) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, his first quality start this season.

BLUE JAYS 9, RAYS 2

TORONTO — José Berríos stopped his threestart winless streak, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in three runs, and Toronto celebrated Canada Day by beating Tampa Bay for its fourth win in five games.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 3 for 3 with a solo home run and also walked. Cavan Biggio was 2 for 2 with two doubles and two walks, and also scored twice. Seven of Toronto’s 11 hits were for extra bases.

Berríos (6-4) gave up two runs and eight hits in five innings to earn his first victory since June 10 at Kansas City.

Corey Kluber (3-5) allowed five runs and seven hits in three innings, extending his winless streak to four starts.

MARLINS 6, NATIONALS 3

WASHINGTON — Brian Anderson homered, and Miami beat Washington for its ninth win in 10 games against the Nationals this season.

Jon Berti stole two bases to increase his major-league leading total to 24.

Keibert Ruiz homered for Washington, which fell to 6-25 against the the NL East. Washington lost its 50th game by the earliest date since the 2009 Nats were 22-50 after games of June 26.

Trevor Rogers (4-6) allowed one run and two hits in five innings. Tanner Scott worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save in nine chances.

Washington starter Josiah Gray (6-5) retired Miami’s first six hitters before yielding Anderson’s solo shot to lead off the third. The Marlins pushed across two more runs with two outs in the inning when Joey Wendle hit an RBI single and scored on Garrett Cooper’s double.

CUBS 6, RED SOX 5

CHICAGO — Rookie Christopher Morel homered in his third consecutive game, and Chicago rallied to beat Boston.

Jarren Duran, back in the lineup for Boston after missing a three-game series at Toronto because he’s unvaccinated, drove the game’s first pitch from Adrian Sampson for a home run. Jackie Bradley Jr. made it 4-0 with a three-run double in the second.

Rich Hill breezed through the first four innings before exiting with a sprained left knee in a three-run fifth. He gave up three runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out three.

The Cubs scored three more with two out in the sixth to go up 6-5. Morel smacked a two-run drive to left against Hansel Robles (1-3). Willson Contreras then walked and scored on a wild pitch, sending the Cubs to their fourth win in five games.

Brandon Hughes (1-0) got three outs and earned his first career win, and David Robertson worked the ninth for his 10th save in 13 chances.

ROYALS 3, TIGERS 1

DETROIT — Vinnie Pasquatino hit his first major league home run and Hunter Dozier followed with a drive into the bullpen, leading Brad Keller and Kansas City over Detroit.

Brad Keller (3-9) allowed five hits and two walks in six-plus scoreless innings.

The Tigers scored in the ninth on Eric Haase’s sacrifice fly. Royals closer Scott Barlow earned his 11th save.

Michael Pineda (1-3) threw 65 pitches in his return from the injured list, giving up three runs and seven hits in five innings. He struck out three without a walk.