Angels earn emotional 9-4 win in Texas after Skaggs’ death
ARLINGTON, Texas — Justin Bour delivered a two-run single on the first pitch he saw after replacing injured American League All-Star Tommy La Stella, and the grieving Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 9-4 on Tuesday night.
The emotional win came a day after the death of 27-year-old pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who was found unresponsive in his room at the team’s hotel before what was supposed to be the series opener Monday. That game was postponed.
A few hours after watching with his teammates as manager Brad Ausmus struggled to keep his composure in a news conference to discuss Skaggs’ shocking death, Jonathan Lucroy had a tying two-run single in the sixth inning and finished with three RBIs.
Bour entered the game on a full count with two outs in the sixth after La Stella fouled a 97 mph fastball from Texas reliever José Leclerc off his right leg, just below the knee. The second baseman had to be helped off the field.
Kole Calhoun connected for his 18th homer for Los Angeles.
Texas’ Delino Deshields circled the bases without the usual fanfare after his second homer of the season. Elvis Andrus stole home for a major league-leading third time.
Los Angeles starter José Suarez honored Skaggs with “RIP 45” written next to what appeared to be a cross on one side of his ballcap. The initials “TSK” were just above the bill on the other side of the Angels logo. He gave up three runs — two earned — with seven strikeouts in four innings.
Phillies 2, Braves 0
ATLANTA — Aaron Nola pitched eight innings, Jay Bruce hit a two-run double and Philadelphia spoiled Dallas Keuchel’s home debut with Atlanta.
Nola (7-2) allowed four hits, struck out eight and walked three in his second consecutive scoreless outing. He threw a career-high 117 pitches before Héctor Neris finished for his 17th save in 19 chances, striking out the side.
The second-place Phillies, winners of six of eight, trimmed the Braves’ NL East lead to 4½ games in front of the seventh sellout at SunTrust Park this season.
Keuchel (1-2) allowed five hits in seven innings in his third start with the Braves.
Astros 9, Rockies 8
DENVER — Yuli Gurriel homered twice and drove in four runs to lead Houston over Colorado.
Jose Altuve had four hits and Gurriel and George Springer finished with three hits as the Astros won their fourth straight.
Houston rallied from an 8-5 deficit in the seventh. Gurriel’s two-run homer off of reliever Jake McGee (0-1) capped a four-run inning that was started by three straight doubles.
Gurriel also homered in the second inning and doubled home a run in the third.
Will Harris (3-1) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth to get the win and Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for his 18th save.
Pirates 5, Cubs 1
PITTSBURGH — Adam Frazier hit a three-run home run after a long rain delay to lead Pittsburgh past Chicago.
Frazier finished 4 for 4 and scored three runs as the Pirates won for the ninth time in 13 games.
Kyle Hendricks (7-6) ran into early trouble, giving up two runs in three innings with a walk and four strikeouts as Chicago dropped its third straight.
Clay Holmes (1-0) worked two scoreless innings to pick up the win.
Starling Marte had two hits for the Pirates and Josh Bell picked up his major-league leading 78th RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Mariners 5, Cardinals 4
SEATTLE — Tim Beckham hit a pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning and Seattle beat St. Louis.
Omar Narvaez also homered for the Mariners, who overcame early and late bullpen troubles and snapped a four-game losing streak. Beckham hit the third pinch-hit homer of his career and 13th home run of the season off Giovanny Gallegos (1-1) to break a 4-all tie.
Yairo Munoz, in the lineup for the injured Matt Carpenter, tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh with a two-out, two-run homer. Mariners reliever Austin Adams (1-0) entered and struck out the four batters he faced to set up Beckham. Roenis Elias pitched the ninth for his 11th save.
Jose Martinez had two solo home runs for the Cardinals, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Mets 4, Yankees 2
NEW YORK — Michael Conforto hit a two-run double that snapped an eighth-inning tie and lifted the Mets over the Yankees in their Subway Series opener at Citi Field.
J.D. Davis homered and delivered a tying double to help the Mets rally in the eighth for the second consecutive game.
The Yankees did not hit a home run for the first time in 32 games, ending their record streak. They had their five-game winning streak stopped and lost for only the second time in their past 15.
Seth Lugo (4-2) worked a hitless eighth and Edwin Díaz got three outs to earn his 18th save in 22 attempts.
Zack Wheeler struck out eight over 6 1/3 solid innings for the Mets, who play their crosstown rivals for the final time this season Wednesday night.
Adam Ottavino (3-3) took the loss, working a 1/3 of an inning and allowing two hits and two earned runs.
Rays 6, Orioles 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Charlie Morton struck out six straight batters and a season-high 12 overall, and Tampa Bay beat Baltimore for its fourth straight win.
Morton (9-2) pitched seven innings, giving up four hits and a walk.
Brandon Lowe had a homer among his three hits and drove in two for the Rays before leaving the game in the sixth with a leg contusion. Avisail Garcia had a two-run single and Tommy Pham added a two-run double.
Asher Wojciechowski, making his first start for Baltimore, pitched into the sixth inning, giving up four runs and five hits while striking out six.
Chris Davis’ sixth home run accounted for the only run off Morton. Chance Sisco hit a two-run homer off reliever Chaz Roe in the ninth for Baltimore’s final two runs.
Red Sox 10, Blue Jays 6
TORONTO — David Price pitched six innings to win his fifth straight decision, Rafael Devers homered twice and matched his career-high with six RBI, and Boston snapped a three-game losing streak.
Christian Vázquez had a homer among his three hits and Mookie Betts had two singles, walked twice, and scored three runs for the Red Sox. Devers finished 4 for 5.