Rodriguez helps Rangers stay hot, keep Royals cold

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven strong innings and the Texas Rangers defeated the Kansas City Royals 4- 2 Saturday for their seventh win in eight games.

Texas has won six straight series for the first time since 2012. The AL champion Royals have lost nine of 11.

Rodriguez ( 3- 2), a 36- year- old lefty who signed with the Rangers in early April after Atlanta released him in spring training, gave up one run and six hits. He walked none and struck out four.

Shawn Tolleson gave up a home run to Salvador Perez in the ninth, but picked up his seven seventh save in as many opportunities.

Yordano Ventura ( 3- 5) continued to struggle early, allowing four runs in the first two innings. He threw 78 pitches and was pulled after the third in his shortest outing of the season.

Blue Jays 7, Astros 2

TORONTO — Jose Reyes stole three bases and got two hits as Toronto won its season- high fourth in a row, handing the Astros their third straight loss.

Reyes scored a run, drove in one and also walked.

Drew Hutchison ( 5- 1) allowed one run and six hits in 6 1- 3 innings, improving to 4- 1 with a 2.72 ERA at home. He’s 1- 0 with a 7.80 ERA in six road starts.

Brett Oberholtzer ( 0- 1) allowed four runs, two earned, and six hits in 3 2- 3 innings. He made his third start of the season after two stints on the disabled list with a

blister on his left index finger.

Cubs 4, Nationals 2

WASHINGTON — Jason Hammel extended his mastery over Washington to an 11th impressive start, and Dexter Fowler had two hits and scored twice for Chicago.

Hammel ( 5- 2) improved to 9- 0 with a 3.01 ERA in 11 starts against the Nationals. Anthony Rizzo and Jonathan Herrera each had two hits and drove in a run for Chicago.

Hammel allowed two runs and five hits in eight- plus innings, striking out seven and walking two. He departed after Bryce Harper hit his 19th homer of the season to open the ninth.

After Hector Rondon walked Anthony Rendon, Pedro Strop entered and finished for his second save.

Brewers 4, Twins 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Carlos Gomez went 4 for 4 with a walk, tormenting his former team again with three RBIs over the last three innings for Milwaukee Brewers.

Gomez hit a two- run tiebreaking single in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth. Matt Garza ( 4- 7) threw seven strong innings, Ryan Braun homered for the first time in 12 days and the Brewers handed the Twins their second straight loss at home for the first time this year.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched a hitless ninth for his 10th save in 10 tries after Brian Dozier hit his 11th homer for the Twins off Jonathan Broxton in the eighth.

Indians 2, Orioles 1

CLEVELAND — Danny Salazar pitched into the eighth inning to reach a career high in wins and Carlos Santana had a tiebreaking double for Cleveland.

Salazar ( 6- 1) struck out 10 and allowed six hits and a run in seven- plus innings. Baltimore’s only run came on Manny Machado’s third- inning homer. Salazar hasn’t lost since May 5, a span of six starts.

Nick Swisher homered and Santana had an RBI double in the sixth off Brad Brach in the Indians’ seventh win in 10 games.

Brach ( 3- 2) retired the first two hitters in the sixth before walking Jason Kipnis. Santana’s line drive landed in the right field corner and Kipnis scored on a headfirst dive into the plate.

Giants 7, Phillies 5

PHILADELPHIA — Madison Bumgarner struck out 11, overcoming a grand slam by Jeff Francoeur to pitch San Francisco past Philadelphia.

Bumgarner ( 7- 2) gave up the slam and a solo homer by Andres Blanco. The reigning World Series MVP gave up six hits and walked none in eight innings.

Bumgarner hit two singles and drove in a run as the Giants posted their fifth straight road win. Santiago Casilla pitched a scoreless ninth for his 17th save in 19 chances.

Nori Aoki got three hits and drove in two runs. He raised his major league- leading road batting average to .407.

Padres 9, Reds 7

CINCINNATI — Yonder Alonso’s second career grand slam pulled the Padres even in the seventh inning, and Matt Kemp singled with the bases loaded in the eighth