Cardinals get pounded, fire manager Matheny

The visiting Cincinnati Reds defeated St. Louis 8-2 in a rainsoaked affair Saturday, prompting the firing of Cardinals manager Mike Matheny after 6 1/2 seasons at the helm of the club.

St. Louis (47-46) announced the decision after the loss. Bench coach Mike Shildt will serve as the team’s interim manager, and hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller were also dismissed.

Cincinnati second baseman Scooter Gennett had two hits and two RBIs and Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run single to cap a go-ahead four-run seventh inning in the Reds’ win. Jose Peraza had five singles, his first career five-hit game.

Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 2 (10 innings)

Xander Bogaerts delivered a walkoff grand slam to center field as Boston got back in the win column with a victory over visiting Toronto. It was Boston’s first walk-off grand slam since Rico Brogna’s slam on Aug. 14, 2000, against the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Martinez contributed a solo shot for his major-league-leading 29th home run.

Astros 9, Tigers 1

Alex Bregman reached base three times while Josh Reddick and Evan Gattis recorded back-to-back home runs as Houston pounded visiting Detroit.

The Astros struck early and often against Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer (3-9), whose struggles continued unabated. Fulmer surrendered season highs in hits (10) and earned runs (seven) in extending his personal losing skid to four decisions over five starts. Fulmer has recorded only one victory over his last nine outings.

Diamondbacks 3, Braves 0

Zack Grienke pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings and won his fifth straight decision as Arizona shut out host Atlanta.

Grienke (10-5) allowed just four hits, no walks and struck out seven in winning his fifth straight road start. Over his last six starts, Grienke has a 1.67 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 38 innings. Brad Boxberger pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 24th save, his second of the series.

Mets 7, Nationals 4

Zack Wheeler tossed 7 2/3 solid innings in his longest outing in more than four years for New York in a win over visiting Washington.

The Mets have won the middle two games of the four-game series to give themselves a chance Sunday to close out their first series win since they swept the Arizona Diamondbacks from May 18-20. Since then, New York has lost 11 series and split four others. Wheeler (3-6) allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Pirates 2, Brewers 1 (Game 1)

Pittsburgh made back-to-back homers by Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco in the first inning hold up for its fourth straight win, topping visiting Milwaukee in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Brewers were 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven runners.

Pittsburgh right-hander Ivan Nova pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up one run and seven hits, with three strikeouts and no walks.

Pirates 6, Brewers 2 (Game 2)

Rookie right-hander Clay Holmes pitched six scoreless innings for his first career win as Pittsburgh swept its doubleheader with visiting Milwaukee for a five-game winning streak.

Max Moroff, Jordan Luplow (two), Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco hit solo homers, and David Freese added a two-out RBI double for the Pirates, who have won seven of eight.

Marlins 2, Phillies 0

All-Star right-hander Aaron Nola took a rare loss as last-place Miami surprised first-place Philadelphia at Marlins Park.

The Marlins, held to just four hits, were led on offense by third baseman Martin Prado, who went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Nola (12-3), who will appear on his first All-Star roster on Tuesday, allowed four hits, one walk and two runs in six innings, striking out five. He was outdueled by Marlins rookie right-hander Trevor Richards (3-5).

Rays 19, Twins 6

C.J. Cron and Jake Bauers each hit two-run homers and Joey Wendle had a two-run triple to highlight three consecutive five-run innings for Tampa Bay, which pounded out 20 hits in a rout at Minnesota.

Tampa Bay tied a franchise record with 19 runs and became the seventh team in the live ball era (since 1920), and the first since the 1991 Giants, to score five or more runs in three straight innings. Bauers drove in four runs, and six other Rays finished with two RBIs.

Royals 5, White Sox 0

Left-hander Danny Duffy pitched seven scoreless innings and Jorge Bonifacio drove in three runs as Kansas City defeated host Chicago.

Duffy (5-8) allowed only four hits, walked three and struck out eight as the Royals won for just the second time in their past 14 games. Jason Hammel and Wily Peralta each pitched an inning of relief to complete the shutout. Bonifacio hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning, and added a run-scoring triple in the fifth. All-Star Salvador Perez added a two-run homer in the eighth for the Royals.

Rockies 4, Mariners 1

Jon Gray, demoted to Triple-A Albuquerque in June, pitched into the eighth inning in his return to the rotation, Carlos Gonzalez homered and host Colorado beat Seattle.

Gray (8-7) allowed just the one run on five hits, walked one and struck out six. Wade Davis pitched the ninth for his 27th save. Nolan Arenado and Ian Desmond had two hits and an RBI apiece for the Rockies.

Angels 5, Dodgers 4 (10 innings)

Kole Calhoun hit a go-ahead home run in the 10th inning as the Los Angeles Angels held on for an interleague victory over the host Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers had the tying run on third base with one out in the 10th, but Chase Utley hit a shallow fly ball to left field and Yasmani Grandal struck out to end it against Angels reliever Jose Alvarez (4-3).

The Dodgers forced extra innings with a run in the ninth. Utley delivered a pinch-hit single for the second consecutive night and scored on a double from Grandal. Alvarez ended the rally when he got Joc Pederson to fly out to the base of the center field wall with the bases loaded. (Reuters)