Pirates snap a 9-game skid as benches clear
CINCINNATI: Corey Dickerson homered twice and drove in a career-high five runs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates end a nine-game losing streak with an 11-4 win against the host Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night in a game marred by a wild brawl. A benches-clearing fight broke out in the ninth when Reds reliever Amir Garrett charged the Pittsburgh dugout from the mound as he was being removed from the game. Jared Hughes had been ejected earlier in the inning for hitting Starling Marte after both sides had been warned.
Reds right fielder Yasiel Puig, who minutes earlier had reportedly been traded to the Cleveland Indians, started a second skirmish that continued for several more minutes. Puig was ultimately ejected as well. Dickerson, who sat out the previous three games with left groin discomfort, had a two-run single in the third inning, a two-run homer in the fifth and a solo shot in the seventh. Jose Osuna hit a three-run homer in the ninth for Pittsburgh, which halted its longest losing streak in eight years.
CARDINALS 2, CUBS 1
Paul Goldschmidt continued his torrid stretch with a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning — his seventh homer in the past eight games — and host St. Louis held on to beat Chicago. Tommy Edman added two hits and two stolen bases for St. Louis, which broke a firstplace tie with the Cubs on the eve of the trade deadline. The Cardinals improved to 13-5 since the All-Star break. Javier Baez drove in the lone run for Chicago, which has lost three of four and six of eight. Cubs righthander Yu Darvish (3-5) drew the hard-luck loss despite holding the Cardinals to two runs on six hits in six innings. He walked none and struck out nine, two shy of his season high. Giovanny Gallegos (3-1) got the win in relief.
ASTROS 2, INDIANS 0
Justin Verlander allowed two hits and struck out 13 over seven innings as visiting Houston blanked Cleveland. Robinson Chirinos belted a solo homer and former Indians outfielder Michael Brantley added an RBI single later in the fifth inning for the Astros, who have won three in a row and 10 of their last 12 games. Houston’s Jose Altuve posted his second straight threehit performance and Yuli Gurriel had a one-out single in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. Verlander (14-4), who recorded his first win in Cleveland since 2013, has 43 strikeouts over his fourstart winning streak.
A’S 3, BREWERS 2 (10 INNINGS)
Matt Olson belted a walk-off home run off Josh Hader in the 10th inning to give host Oakland win over Milwaukee in the opener of a three-game interleague series in Northern California. Chris Bassitt and five relievers combined on a seven-hitter, helping the A’s prevail in the first meeting between the clubs since 2016. Blake Treinen (5-3) pitched the top of the 10th to get the win. Olson’s homer, his 22nd of the season, was the left-handed hitter’s ninth off a lefty pitcher this season, and just the second of his career in extra innings. It was the fourth home run Hader (1-4) surrendered to a left-handed batter this season.
BRAVES 11, NATIONALS 8
Adam Duvall had two solo home runs among four hits, Josh Donaldson crushed a three-run homer and Julio Teheran allowed just two runs as Atlanta blasted host Washington to even their three-game series. Ozzie Albies and Ender Inciarte each had three hits as Atlanta won for just the fifth time in 13 games. The Nationals, meanwhile, are still 38-19 since May 24. Washington trailed 11-1 in the seventh. Teheran (6-7) went 6 2/3 innings and allowed seven hits. Washington’s Juan Soto hit a two-run homer in the ninth, and Brian Dozier added an RBI single to trim the margin to 11-8 before Luke Jackson retired the side. Washington starter Erick Fedde (1-2) allowed nine runs on nine hits with four walks and four strikeouts as his ERA rose from 3.40 to 4.67.
PHILLIES 4, GIANTS 2
Drew Smyly tossed seven scoreless innings, Rhys Hoskins homered and host Philadelphia defeated San Francisco. Jean Segura ripped three hits while Cesar Hernandez, J.T. Realmuto and Adam Haseley added two hits each for the Phillies. Bryce Harper also walked three times and scored one run. Smyly (2-5) gave up four hits. He recorded five strikeouts against just one walk while throwing 103 pitches, 71 for strikes. Brandon Belt and Stephen Vogt each had a pinch-hit homer in the eighth for the Giants, who had won 19 of 24 entering this game.
RAYS 6, RED SOX 5
A two-hit, three-RBI performance from Avisail Garcia pushed Tampa Bay to victory over host Boston. Despite falling behind in the first and again in the fifth, the Rays responded both times to claim the first contest of a three-game set. With the victory, the Rays moved a 1 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox in the American League East standings. Rafael Devers (two runs scored) and Andrew Benintendi (home run, three RBIs, run scored) had three hits apiece for the Red Sox.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, YANKEES 2
Christian Walker and Carson Kelly hit solo homers, and Arizona recorded a victory over host New York, moving to 14-5 in interleague play this season. Adam Jones lifted a sacrifice fly in the first, and Nick Ahmed hit an RBI single in the fourth for the Diamondbacks, who won for the fifth time in their last 12 games, rebounded from dropping three of four in Miami. The Yankees lost for the sixth time in nine games and dropped to 0-3 this season against Arizona. Tyler Wade hit his first home run of the season for New York.
TWINS 2, MARLINS 1
Jake Odorizzi picked up his career-high 12th win of the season as Minnesota defeated host Miami. Odorizzi (12-5), who won 11 games in 2014, held Miami to four hits, one walk and one run in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five batters and lasted 103 pitches. Marlins rookie Zac Gallen (1-3) pitched seven solid innings but took the loss. First baseman Garrett Cooper, who leads the Marlins in batting average (.294), left the game in the third inning due to tight left hamstring. Cooper was replaced in the lineup by Martin Prado, who took over at third base with Neil Walker moving to first. — Reuters