Sanchez helps Yanks stop Red Sox streak
Astros, Tigers close in on Orioles in wild-card race
NEW YORK — Gary Sanchez is hitting home runs at a record pace for a rookie.
The catcher connected for a tworun homer off David Price in the first inning as the New York Yankees beat the Red Sox 6-4 Tuesday night to end Boston’s 11-game winning streak and delay its AL East title celebration.
Brought up from the minors Aug. 3, Sanchez matched Wally Berger of the 1930 Boston Braves as the major leaguer to hit his first 20 home runs in the fewest number of game — 51.
“Everybody on the team calls home run when he steps up there,” said Tyler Austin, who broke a 4-all tie in the seventh with a two-run homer off Price.
Having replaced Brian McCann as the Yankees’ primary backstop, the 23-year-old Sanchez is batting .316 with 42 RBIs. He never hit more than 18 home runs in a minor league season.
ASTROS 8, MARINERS 4: In Houston, George Springer had three hits, including a two-run double during a six-run sixth inning, as Houston beat Seattle.
The victory leaves Seattle two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card and cuts Houston’s deficit in the race to 2½ games.
The Astros got five hits off Felix Hernandez (11-7) in the sixth, but only two of the six runs scored in the inning were earned.
TIGERS 12, INDIANS 0: In Detroit, Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in five runs in the first two innings, and Justin Verlander struck out 12 to lift Detroit to a victory against a Cleveland lineup full of backups.
The Indians clinched the AL Central title Monday night in Detroit, and their starting lineup Tuesday was without Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Mike Napoli and Jose Ramirez. Detroit took full advantage and closed to one game behind Baltimore for the final wild card.
Verlander (16-8) went 7⅔ innings, allowing four hits and a walk. NATIONALS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2: In Washington, Max Scherzer struck out 10 and allowed two runs in six innings, and Anthony Rendon hit a go-ahead three-run homer as Washington beat Arizona to inch closer to home-field advantage in the NL Division Series.
Scherzer (19-7) allowed six hits for the Naitonals, who dropped their magic number for home-field advantage against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS to four, counting the Dodgers’ loss to San Diego.
BLUE JAYS 5, ORIOLES 1: In Toronto, Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer and Aaron Sanchez (14-2) struck out 10 as Toronto beat Baltimore in the opener of their AL wild-card showdown.
Ezequiel Carrera also homered as the Blue Jays won for the sixth time in eight games. They lead the wild-card standings by two games over the Orioles with five to play.
Orioles slugger Chris Davis was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Will Little after striking out against Joe Biagini in the seventh. Baltimore manager Buck Showalter also was tossed after he came out to argue.
METS 12, MARLINS 1: In Miami, Noah Syndergaard (14-9) struck out eight and allowed one run in six innings as the Mets totaled 19 hits to beat Miami.
Jay Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes each hit his 31st homer for the Mets, who took a one-game lead over the Giants in the battle for the first NL wild-card berth. The Cardinals also won and remained 1½ games behind in the season’s final week.
CARDINALS 12, REDS 5: In St. Louis, Aledmys Diaz hit his first career grand slam and the St. Louis Cardinals finished with five home runs Tuesday night in a 12-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Chasing the Giants and Mets in a tight race for the two NL wild cards, St. Louis moved within a half-game of San Francisco for the league’s final playoff spot — pending the Giants’ late game against Colorado. CUBS 6, PIRATES 4: In Pittsburgh, Chris Coghlan hit a three-run triple and John Lackey worked in and out of trouble over five innings, helping Chicago beat Pittsburgh.
Coghlan’s second-inning drive off the wall in right-center against Ryan Vogelsong (3-7) gave the NL Central champions all the offense they would need. RANGERS 6, BREWERS 4: In Arlington, Texas, Jonathan Lucroy hit a goahead, two-run double against his former team in the sixth inning to help Texas beat Milwaukee.
The Rangers have a half-game lead over Boston for the best record in the American League. WHITE SOX 13, RAYS 6: In Chicago, Melky Cabrera and Leury Garcia homered to back Chris Sale (17-6) as Chicago routed Tampa Bay. PADRES 7, DODGERS 1: In San Diego, Hunter Renfroe hit a three-run home in the first inning to lead San Diego past Los Angeles. ROYALS 4, TWINS 3 (11): In Kansas City, Mo., Billy Burns’ sacrifice fly scored Raul Mondesi in the 11th inning as Kansas City defeated Minnesota, staving off postseason elimination.
ANGELS 8, ATHLETICS 1: In Anaheim, Calif., rookie Jefry Marte hit his first career grand slam as Los Angeles beat Oakland. BRAVES 7, PHILLIES 6: In Atlanta, Freddie Freeman hit his 33rd homer and stretched his hitting streak to 29 games as Atlanta beat Philadelphia.