Wrapup REDS PITCHER STEPHENS DRIVES IN TWO IN DEBUT TO HELP HIS OWN CAUSE
CINCINNATI» Right-hander Jackson Stephens lasted five innings in his majorleague debut and drove in the go-ahead runs with a bases-loaded single on Saturday, leading the Reds over the Cubs, 5-3.
The Cubs’ fourth loss in five games dropped them to 40-41, well off their pace from a year ago (51-30).
Stephens (1-0) gave up a solo homer by Jon Jay and a two-run shot by Willson Contreras. He was called up to help the Reds fill an opening in the rotation created by Brandon Finnegan’s arm injury.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth, Stephens singled up the middle off Eddie Butler (4-3) for two runs and a 4-3 lead, smacking his hands together as he reached base with his first major-league hit. He gave up six hits and struck out eight in five innings. Yuli Gurriel hit a two-run homer in the fifth before his two-RBI double put Houston on top in a four-run eighth inning as the Astros rallied for a 7-6 victory over the Yankees. There was a full count when Gurriel shot a grounder down the left field line to send both runners home and put Houston on top. … Chris Sale pitched seven shutout innings to win his third straight decision, Xander Bogaerts had three RBIs and the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 7-1. Sale (11-3) struck out 11, boosting his major league-leading total to 166. … Cole Hamels overcame a shaky start to win for the first time since April, and the Rangers hit three home runs in a 10-4 victory over the White Sox. … Logan Morrison homered twice, Wilson Ramos hit a three-run drive and the Rays beat Dylan Bundy and the Orioles 10-3. … Mike Moustakas hit his 22nd home run and Alex Gordon connected for a three-run shot as the Royals rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the Twins 11-6 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. … Miguel Sano belted a three-run homer, Felix Jorge pitched five-plus innings to win his major-league debut and the Twins held off the Royals 10-5 for a split of a doubleheader. Brandon Moss, Alcides Escobar and Alex Gordon, the Royals’ 7-8-9 hitters, went a combined 6-for-12 with three home runs, seven RBIs and scored six runs as the Royals rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Twins 11-6 in the opener. … Denard Span scored on a wild pitch in the 11th inning to give the Giants a 2-1 victory over the Pirates. … Dansby Swanson hit a tiebreaking double off closer Santiago Casilla in the ninth inning to drive in Danny Santana and the Braves held on to beat the Athletics 4-3. … Domingo Santana hit a two-run homer off Giancarlo Stanton’s glove, sparking a seven-run second inning that lifted the Brewers over the Marlins 8-4. … Asdrubal Cabrera hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Mets a 7-6 victory over the Phillies. … Alex Mejia’s first two major-league hits — including an eighth-inning home run — were the difference as the Cardinals
defeated the 2-1. Paulino gone for 80 games after test. Astros pitcher David Paulino received an 80-game suspension without pay Saturday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. … Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was suspended for Saturday’s game for his actions during an arguement with Padres manager Andy Green in Friday’s game.