Red Sox’s winning streak ends at 10; Bieber, Indians stave off Yankees’ comeback
>> BOSTON: Justin Smoak hit two home runs and had four RBIs as the visiting Toronto Blue Jays emphatically ended the Boston Red Sox’s major-leagueleading 10-game winning streak with a 13-7 victory on Friday night at Fenway Park.
Smoak (3-for-5) tied teammate Yangervis Solarte for the team lead in home runs with 16. Kevin Pillar (4-for-5) also drove in four runs and Dwight Smith Jr had a two-run blast and three RBIs for Toronto, which had lost four of five.
Mookie Betts (3-for-4) hit two triples and had two RBIs for Boston. The Red Sox lost for the first time since dropping the rubber match of an important three-game series against the rival Yankees in New York, 11-1, on July 1.
Red Sox starter Rick Porcello (11-4) surrendered a season-high eight runs over two-plus innings. He allowed seven hits and walked four batters while striking out two, suffering his first loss in six starts since June 10.
Rookie Shane Bieber pitched into the eighth inning as hosts Cleveland held off New York 6-5.
Bieber (5-1) held the Yankees to four runs (three earned) on five hits. Three of the runs were in the fifth after the Indians built a 4-0 lead.
Cleveland closer Cody Allen opened the ninth by allowing Giancarlo Stanton’s 23rd homer and a single to Greg Bird. After rookie Miguel Andujar hit into a double play, Allen walked Neil Walker but retired pinch hitter Didi Gregorius and notched his 19th save in 20 chances.
Gregory Polanco homered and rookie Nick Kingham struck out nine as hosts Pittsburgh topped Milwaukee 7-3.
Josh Bell had four hits and two RBIs, and Colin Moran had three hits and an RBI for Pittsburgh, who have won three in a row and five of six.
Brewers reliever Brandon Woodruff, recalled earlier in the day, allowed one hit in three scoreless innings and hit his first career homer. Travis Shaw also homered for Milwaukee, whho have lost three straight and five of seven.
Ryan Rua hit a tie-breaking pinchhit three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning, leading Texas to a 5-4 victory at Baltimore.
The game was tied at 1 when Robinson Chirinos got a one-out single off Baltimore starter Alex Cobb (2-12). Tanner Scott came on and walked Joey Gallo.
Rua then came on to bat for Carlos Tocci and homered to left on a 1-0 pitch, a three-run shot that gave Texas a 4-1 lead. Nomar Mazara added an RBI double three batters later that made it 5-1.
Jake Arrieta pitched seven scoreless innings to lead Philadelphia past hosts Miami 2-0.
Relievers Victor Arano and Pat Neshek (first save of the season) each pitched a scoreless inning to complete the shut-out.
Arrieta allowed just three hits and three walks, striking out three. He was supported by an RBI double from Aaron Altherr, who also started a run-saving play in the sixth inning. Maikel Franco added a solo homer in the ninth.
Noah Syndergaard wriggled in and out of trouble over five innings and earned the win in his first start in seven weeks, helping his cause with an RBI single in the second inning of New York’s 4-2 victory over the visiting Washington.
With the win in the second game of the four-game series, the Mets improved to 11-27 since June 1. The Nationals have lost 12 of 18.
Syndergaard (5-1), who was sidelined with a strained ligament in his right index finger suffered in his previous start May 25, allowed one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out three.