Long ball helps Jays beat Sox
CHICAGO Justin Smoak hit his 31st homer, Josh Donaldson homered and drove in three runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4 on Tuesday night.
Smoak and Donaldson each connected for the second straight night and third time in five games. Donaldson also had a sacrifice fly and RBI double.
Marcus Stroman (10-5) went seven innings, allowing four runs and seven hits. He was winless in his previous three starts despite a 1.89 ERA in that stretch.
Toronto came out on top after dropping three of four and snapped a four-game road losing streak.
Chicago’s Kevan Smith hit a two-run homer batting for injured designated hitter Matt Davidson in the sixth. But the White Sox lost for the 18th time in 22 games.
RED SOX 12, INDIANS 10
BOSTON — Christian Vazquez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Boston Red Sox pulled off the final rally of a wild game, beating the Cleveland Indians despite an astonishing catch by centre fielder Austin Jackson.
In the fifth inning, Jackson robbed Hanley Ramirez of a leadoff homer with a leaping grab in the right-centre triangle at Fenway Park. Jackson reached way above the wall and tumbled head over heels into the Red Sox bullpen, steadying himself by holding onto the fence with his right arm. Following a soft landing, Jackson stood up and showed umpires he indeed had the ball, to the amazement of players on both sides.
4 RAYS 6, ASTROS 4
HOUSTON — Evan Longoria became the second Tampa Bay player to hit for the cycle and drove in three runs to lead the Rays over the Houston Astros.
He was a double shy when he came to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning and laced a laser to left field. Longoria dashed to second base and slid in to avoid the tag of Jose Altuve.
He was initially ruled out, but the call was overturned after a crew chief review.
CUBS 16, DIAMONDBACKS
CHICAGO — Jon Lester hit his first major league homer and struck out nine to reach 2,000 for his career, helping the Chicago Cubs pound the Arizona Diamondbacks.
MARINERS 8, RANGERS 7
ARLINGTON, Texas — Robinson Cano doubled twice and drove in three runs as the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers.
DODGERS 3, BRAVES 2
ATLANTA — Kenta Maeda allowed only two hits in seven scoreless innings, Cody Bellinger homered and the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves for their ninth straight win.
REDS 9, PIRATES 1
PITTSBURGH — Billy Hamilton hit a three-run homer and tripled, Eugenio Suarez and rookie Jesse Winker also went deep, and the Cincinnati Reds overwhelmed the Pittsburgh Pirates.
TIGERS 4, YANKEES 3
NEW YORK — John Hicks hit a three-run homer in his first big league game in more than a month, Justin Upton added a solo drive off CC Sabathia, and the Detroit Tigers held on to beat the New York Yankees.
A 27-year-old rookie recalled Monday for his fifth major league stint this season, Hicks drove a slider over the right-centre field wall in the second inning, capping a 10pitch at-bat.
ORIOLES 7, ROYALS 2
BALTIMORE — Dylan Bundy allowed three hits over a career-high eight innings, newcomer Tim Beckham had two hits and scored twice and the resurgent Baltimore Orioles beat the Kansas City Royals for their fourth straight victory.