PIRATES EDGE PHILLIES BY ONE IN RAIN AFTER FREESE HIT BY PITCH

pittsburgh» Chad Kuhl and four relievers combined on a three-hitter, and the Pirates scratched out the only run of a rainy game Sunday when David Freese was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in a 1-0 victory over the Phillies.

Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola (2-1) returned from the disabled list and threw seven strong innings. The right-hander, who had been sidelined with a back injury, gave up four hits and faltered just briefly in the sixth.

Adam Frazier and Josh Harrison started the inning with consecutive singles, putting runners at the corners. Harrison stole second and, after Andrew McCutchen grounded out, Josh Bell was intentionally walked to load the bases. Nola hit Freese with a pitch, forcing in a run, before John Jaso grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Wade LeBlanc (3-0) pitched 1L innings to earn the win in relief.

SUNDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

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 Twins 6-4 in the doubleheader opener. In Game 2, Robbie Grossman, Max Kepler and Chris Gemenez all homered to help the Twins to an 8-4 victory. … Mike Napoli homered to the camera platform beyond center field, and Yu Darvish beat Detroit yet again, helping the Rangers to a 5-2 victory over the Tigers. Darvish (5-2) has won all seven of his starts against the Tigers … Brett Gardner hit his eighth home run, one more than this 2016 total, and CC Sabathia won consecutive starts for the first time in nearly a year to help the Yankees beat the Rays 3-2 and avoid a three-game sweep. … Mike Trout homered, doubled and drove in three runs, C.J. Cron hit a grand slam and the Angels bolted to a big lead in beating the Mets 12-5. The Angels built a 9-0 lead by the third inning. … Marco Estrada matched his career high with 12 strikeouts, Devon Travis hit a three-run homer and the Blue Jays beat the Orioles 3-1 to avoid a three-game sweep. … Stephen Strasburg struck out a season-high 11 and kept up his recent domination of the Braves, leading Washington to a 3-2 win that stopped the Nationals’ four-game losing streak. Strasburg (5-1) allowed five hits in 7M innings, beating Atlanta for the second time this season and improving to 7-1 in his last nine starts against the Braves. … Yan Gomes homered and tied a career high with five RBIs to lead the Indians over the Astros 8-6 and complete a threegame sweep. … Matt Carpenter homered and Adam Wainwright turned in his second successive strong outing to lead the Cardinals over the Giants 8-3. … Kris Bryant hit two home runs and Jake Arrieta tossed six strong innings to lead the Cubs to a 13-6 rout of the Brewers .… Mitch Moreland homered in his third consecutive game and the Red Sox beat the Athletics 12-3 to avoid a four-game sweep. … Yolmer Sanchez had a two-run single in Chicago’s five-run first inning, Derek Holland pitched eight strong innings and the White Sox beat the Mariners 8-1. … Brandon McCarthy retired his first 14 batters and allowed one run over six innings, leading the Dodgers over the Marlins 6-3. … Clayton Richard gave San Diego a strong pitching performance with a five-hitter that helped the Padres beat the Diamondbacks 5-1 to snap a five-game losing streak. The 33-year-old Richard (3-5) also had an RBI single.