Bautista, Jays win 9th in row

Jose Bautista hit a solo home run, Drew Hutchison pitched seven strong innings and the Blue Jays won their ninth straight game, beating the Oakland Athletics, 4-2, in American League action last night in Toronto.

Toronto starting pitchers have held the opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 15 consecutive games.

Hutchison (11-2) allowed two runs and four hits in seven-plus innings. The right-hander hadn’t completed seven innings since a complete-game victory over the Chicago White Sox on May 25.

Hutchison is 9-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 12 home starts and 2-1 with a 9.00 ERA in 11 road outings. Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for his 11th save.

Indians 5, Yankees 4 — Michael Brantley’s RBI single with one out in the 16th inning lifted host Cleveland over skidding New York, which lost its fourth straight game. The Yankees’ lead in the AL East is down to a half game.

Royals 6, Tigers 1 — Lorenzo Cain went 4-for-4 with a home run and Yordano Ventura (7-7) pitched six scoreless innings as host Kansas City defeated Detroit.

Twins 3, Rangers 2 — In Minneapolis, after Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano tied the game with RBI doubles in the eighth, Eduardo Escobar’s two-out double in the ninth inning drove in the winning run, capping a late rally by Minnesota for a much-needed victory over Texas.

White Sox 3, Angels 0 — Carlos Rodon (5-4) threw seven scoreless innings, Trayce Thompson hit his first career home run and host Chicago beat Los Angeles.

National League

Cardinals 4, Pirates 3 — Carlos Martinez (12-4) was strongest at the end of his eight innings and Jason Heyward had two hits and two RBI, helping host St. Louis edge Pittsburgh in a matchup of the National League’s top two teams.

Mets 4, Rockies 0 — Matt Harvey pitched four-hit ball for eight innings, Ruben Tejada had a go-ahead single in the sixth and New York beat Colorado for the eighth straight time at Citi Field. Harvey (11-7) walked none for the third straight outing and struck out four.

Cubs 6, Brewers 3 — Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler each drove in two runs, and Dan Haren picked up his first victory for host Chicago, which won for the 11th time in 12 games, beating Milwaukee.

The Brewers announced earlier in the day Doug Melvin is moving into an advisory role after 13 years as general manager.

Diamondbacks 13, Phillies 1— In Phoenix, David Peralta hit a grand slam in an 11-run second inning and tied a career high with five RBI, leading Arizona to a rout over Philadelphia.

Padres 11, Reds 6 — Colin Rea pitched well into the sixth inning in his major league debut and Jedd Gyorko homered and drove in four runs as host San Diego beat Cincinnati.

Dodgers 5, Nationals 0 — Yasiel Puig drove in a career high-tying five runs with a homer and a triple, Zack Greinke (12-2) pitched six sharp innings and host Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a season-worst four-game skid by beating Washington.

Interleague

Rays 2, Braves 0 — Erasmo Ramirez pitched efficiently into the eighth inning for his first win in more than a month, Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer in the seventh and Tampa Bay beat Atlanta in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Giants 3, Astros 1— Madison Bumgarner (13-6) pitched a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts, Brandon Belt broke up a pitcher’s duel with two solo homers, and host San Francisco beat Houston.

Earlier in the day, the Giants placed center fielder Angel Pagan on the 15-day disabled list with patella tendinitis in his right knee.