CASHNER SHUTS DOWN ASTROS, NAPOLI HOMERS IN RANGERS’ 8-1 VICTORY
Andrew Cashner pitched eight strong innings, Mike Napoli hit a three-run homer and the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 8-1 Wednesday night in a game relocated to Florida because of Hurricane Harvey.
A crowd of 6,123 — up from 3,485 the previous night for the opener of a threegame series at Tropicana Field — watched Cashner (8-9) limit the AL West leaders to three hits, one after the second inning.
Napoli’s homer off Dallas Keuchel (11-3) capped a six-run fourth inning for the Rangers, who’ve won two straight following a three-game skid.
Houston’s third loss in four games was overshadowed by the announcement earlier Wednesday that the Astros will return home after Thursday’s finale to face the New York Mets this weekend.
After an unscheduled day off, the Astros will play a doubleheader Saturday and an afternoon game Sunday against the Mets.
WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Rafael Montero took a one-hitter into the ninth inning, and the Mets held on for a 2-0 victory that extended their dominance over the Reds. … Stephen Strasburg tossed a complete game six-hitter and also homered, Wilmer Difo added a home run and the Nationals defeated the Marlins 4-0 to complete a three-game sweep. … Domingo Santana and Jonathan Villar homered in the sixth inning, and center fielder Keon Broxton made a leaping catch over the wall for the final out in the Brewers’ 6-5 win over the Cardinals. … Ender Inciarte went 5-for-5 with five RBIs to lead the Braves to a 9-1 win over the Phillies in the first game of a doubleheader. David Freitas lined a go-ahead RBI double for his first career hit, Inciarte had three hits and the Braves beat the Phillies 5-2 to complete a doubleheader sweep. … Mitch Moreland had a pinch-hit homer and drove in four runs, Hanley Ramirez added a solo blast and the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays 7-1 to complete a three-game sweep. Rick Porcello allowed one run in 6M innings as the AL East-leading Red Sox moved 5½ games ahead of the second-place New York Yankees, who were swept in a doubleheader by Cleveland. New York and Boston begin a four-game series at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. … Welington Castillo went 4for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, Jonathan Schoop singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Orioles beat the Mariners 8-7 for their season-high seventh straight victory. … Trevor Bauer won his seventh straight decision, Jose Ramirez had four hits and the Indians took advantage of Gary Sanchez’s passed ball in a two-run first inning, beating the Yankees 2-1 in a doubleheader opener. Yandy Diaz hit a two-run single in a fourrun first inning against rookie Jordan Montgomery in the second game, and Edwin Encarnacion, Yan Gomes and Francisco Lindor added home runs in a 9-4 blowout that completed a three-game series sweep and extended the Indians’ winning streak to seven games. … Logan Morrison, Steven Souza Jr. and Adeiny Hechavarria each went deep and the Rays beat the Royals 5-3 for their latest series victory. … Kyle Schwarber hit two home runs, Ian Happ and Anthony Rizzo also went deep to back Jose Quintana, and the Cubs pounded the Pirates 17-3. … Jose Berrios pitched seven scoreless innings, Brian Dozier had four hits and Eddie Rosario homered twice as the Twins defeated the 11-1.