MLB ROUNDUP
Kipnis hits three-run homer to lead Indians past Twins La Stella’s pinch-hit homer helps Cubs get a victory over Braves
CLEVELAND — Jason Kipnis kept watching and hoping.
Kipnis’ high drive barely cleared the right-field wall for a three-run homer that broke a sixth-inning tie and sent the Cleveland Indians over the Minnesota Twins 5-3 on Thursday.
Usually, when it’s close, Kipnis said he tries to study “the outfielder and see how big his eyes are getting or if he’s timing up a jump. Once the fans’ arms go up, mine goes up with them.”
Kipnis, who has struggled offensively most of the season, lofted a 2-2 pitch from reliever Alan Busenitz that was just out of the reach of leaping Max Kepler. The homer came two batters after Yonder Alonso’s tying single.
The AL Central-leading Indians opened a 14-game margin over second-place Minnesota. Cleveland is 31-11 against division opponents, and needed this win to beat the Twins 10-9 in the season series.
CUBS 5, BRAVES 4: In Atlanta, Tommy La Stella hit the first pinch-hit homer of his career against his former team, carrying Chicago to a victory over Atlanta in a matchup of NL division leaders.
Chicago stopped off at SunTrust Park for a single game before the start of a regularly scheduled 10-game road trip, making up a contest that was washed out May 17.
TIGERS 8, YANKEES 7: In New York, Victor Martinez hit his second home run of the game and Niko Goodrum followed with a homer off Dellin Betances in the ninth inning, rallying Detroit past New York.
The playoff-contending Yankees are close to completing a trade for San Francisco Giants outfielder Andrew McCutchen.
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday night the Yankees would send infielder Abiatal Avelino and another minor leaguer to San Francisco for McCutchen. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn’t finalized.
CARDINALS 5, PIRATES 0: In St. Louis, Harrison Bader and John Gant hit back-to-back home runs, Gant pitched into the sixth inning and St. Louis beat Pittsburgh.
The Cardinals have won 17 of 21 and took their tenth consecutive series, their longest series winning streak since 2009, when they also won ten in a row.
BREWERS 2, REDS 1 (11): In Cincinnati, Lorenzo Cain hit a home run off the top of the leftfield fence in the 11th inning and Milwaukee, a day after winning a slugfest that went extras, edged Cincinnati.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, DODGERS 1: In Los Angeles, David Peralta hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and NL Westleading Arizona defeated Los Angeles in the opener of a pivotal series.
RED SOX 9, WHITE SOX 4: In Chicago, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a sacrifice fly in Boston’s four-run seventh inning and a tie-breaking single in the ninth, helping the Red Sox beat Chicago.
MARINERS 7, ATHLETICS 1: In Oakland, Calif., Wade LeBlanc pitched seven scoreless innings, Mitch Haniger hit his 23rd home run and Seattle jumped on Oakland early.
ANGELS 5, ASTROS 2: In Houston, Andrew Heaney threw six scoreless innings, Andrelton Simmons capped a four-run sixth inning with a three-run double and Los Angeles beat Houston.