Harper’s homer, Taylor’s game winning walk-off double lifts Nats past Padres
Chris Sale strike nine runs as Boston beat Tampa Bay
WASHINGTON: Michael A. Taylor hit a walk-off double with one out in the ninth inning, giving the Washington Nationals a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Nationals Park. Rookie Juan Soto started the ninth inning with a walk against Mark Strahm (0-2). Soto moved to second when Wilmer Difo grounded to third baseman Cory Spangenberg, who momentarily dropped the ball, which forced him to throw to first for the out. Taylor followed by capping an eight-pitch at-bat with a double off the wall in center that easily scored Soto from second. Sean Doolittle (22) earned the victory after striking out the side in the top of the ninth. Washington’s Bryce Harper hit his 15th homer of the season in the fifth, an inning after San Diego’s Franchy Cordero hit his seventh home run.
RED SOX 4, RAYS 2
Mookie Betts hit his major-league-leading 16th home run, and Chris Sale struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball as Boston beat Tampa Bay in St Petersburg, Fla. Betts’ blast was a three-run shot. Rafael Devers launched a solo homer for Boston, which won for the fifth time in six games. Sale (5-1) was charged with one earned run on four hits and two walks. Willy Adames’ first hit in his major league debut was a solo shot against Sale, and Daniel Robertson also had an RBI for Tampa Bay. The Rays have lost back-to-back games after a six-game win streak.
BREWERS 1, DIAMONDBACKS 0
Domingo Santana, robbed of a homer earlier, drove in the only run with asacrifice fly, and four Milwaukee pitchers limited visiting Arizona to three hits. Lorenzo Cain had two hits, a walk and two outfield assists for the Brewers. The Diamondbacks got only two runners as far as second base and had four runners thrown out on the bases while losing their sixth straight and 12th of 13. Brewers right-hander Jhoulys Chacin pitched five scoreless innings before Matt Albers (3-1), Josh Hader and Corey Knebel finished up. Knebel recorded his third save.
INDIANS 10, CUBS 1
Jose Ramirez and Yonder Alonso drove in three runs apiece and Trevor Bauer pitched six scoreless innings as Cleveland cruised to a win at Chicago. Jason Kipnis added two RBIs, and Michael Brantley finished 2-for-6 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Ian Happ hit a 433-foot home run in the ninth inning to help Chicago avoid its fourth shutout loss.
Flowers had two hits for the Braves
BRAVES 3, PHILLIES 1
Brandon McCarthy pitched 5 2/3 solid innings, Ozzie Albies homered and scored three runs, and visiting Atlanta defeated Philadelphia. McCarthy (5-2) allowed four hits and one run while striking out five and walking two. Four Braves relievers held the Phillies to no runs on three hits in the last 3 1/3 innings. Arodys Vizcaino pitched the ninth inning for his ninth save. Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr., Freddie Freeman and Tyler Flowers had two hits each for the Braves, who won for the third time in four games.
REDS 7, PIRATES 2
Scooter Gennett slugged a grand slam as part of a seasonbest six-RBI night to help Cincinnati post a victory against visiting Pittsburgh. Matt Harvey (1-2) pitched six strong innings to win for the first time in three starts since joining the Reds. Harvey allowed one run, three hits and two walks while striking out five. Tucker Barnhart went 3-for-4 and scored twice for Cincinnati. Gennett went 2-for-3 and scored twice, and Eugenio Suarez also had two hits. Colin Moran and Austin Meadows hit solo home runs for the Pirates, who have dropped four consecutive games.
ROYALS 5, CARDINALS 1
Jason Hammel picked up his first victory of the season, and Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez homered as Kansas City won at St Louis. Hammel (1-5) was winless in his first nine starts this season, but he delivered seven strong innings to help the Royals snap a three-game slide. He scattered nine hits, allowing only one run with six strikeouts and no walks.
Gordon and Alcides Escobar each had three hits for the Royals, and Jon Jay added two hits. Yairo Munoz went 4-for-4 to lead the Cardinals, and Marcell Ozuna finished 3-for-4.
TWINS 6, TIGERS 0
Brian Dozier drove in three runs with a pair of doubles, Lance Lynn tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings, and Minnesota downed Detroit in Minneapolis. Ehire Adrianza also hit a pair of run-scoring doubles and he scored twice, while Byron Buxton also scored two runs and drove in another. Lynn (2-4) allowed five hits and a walk while striking out four. A trio of relievers completed the shutout. The Twins have won three straight following a three-game losing streak. They have given up just three runs during the upswing. Nicholas Castellanos, James McCann and JaCoby Jones had two hits apiece for the Tigers, who have lost five straight.
RANGERS 6, YANKEES 4
Cole Hamels pitched seven effective innings as Texas recorded a victory over visiting New York. Pitching for the first time in 11 days after being scratched from a start due to neck stiffness, Hamels (3-4) held the Yankees to two runs and four hits. In his longest outing of the season, the left-hander recorded his first home win of the year and 150th career victory overall. Keone Kela tossed a perfect ninth and notched his ninth save in as many opportunities. Jurickson Profar hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and Ronald Guzman hit a solo shot in the fourth. Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar and Austin Romine homered for the Yankees. — Reuters