Soto’s 1st HR powers Nats
Juan Soto, the youngest player in the majors at 19, hit a three-run homer in his first career start as the Nationals defeated the San Diego Padres, 10-2, last night in Washington.
Mark Reynolds had two solo home runs for the Nationals, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Bryce Harper had a homer and an RBI double.
Soto’s drive highlighted a five-run second inning for Washington. The promising outfielder, who played for three minor league teams this season, hit the first pitch from Robbie Erlin (1-3) over the Nationals bullpen in leftcenter field.
Soto also had a single. In other Nationals news, Howie Kendrick was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.
Phillies 3, Braves 0 — Nick Pivetta struck out seven over seven innings, and Nick Williams and Aaron Altherr each homered to lead Philadelphia over visiting Atlanta.
The Phillies took the opener of the three-game series and moved a half game behind Atlanta for first place in the NL East.
Mets 2, Marlins 0 — Jason Vargas returned to the rotation with five excellent innings, AJ Ramos pitched out of a basesloaded jam in the sixth to lift host New York over Miami.
The Mets got their fourth straight win, following up a three-game sweep of NL West-leading Arizona. New York is 6-2 in its past eight games, 5-1 on this homestand and 2419 overall.
Brewers 4, Diamondbacks 2 — Travis Shaw, Domingo Santana and Lorenzo Cain each hit home runs off Zack Greinke as Milwaukee beat visiting Arizona.
Greinke (3-3) struck out nine, walked none and gave up five hits in six innings, but the home runs did him in.
Shaw hit a two-run homer in the first, Santana sliced an opposite-field solo shot in the fourth and Cain homered leading off the sixth. Greinke hadn’t allowed more than two home runs in a game this season.
american league
Twins 4, Tigers 2 — Logan Morrison forced in the go-ahead run with a fourpitch walk in the eighth inning after striking out in his first three at-bats, propelling Minnesota over Detroit in Minneapolis.
Jose Berrios (5-4) struck out nine, giving up just three hits and two walks over eight innings.
Fernando Rodney closed for his 10th save in 13 tries. Rodney, whose first eight seasons of his major league career were with the Tigers, has converted eight straight saves in 10 consecutive scoreless innings.
Interleague
Cardinals 6, Royals 0 — Miles Mikolas pitched a four-hitter for his first career shutout and Tyler O’Neill homered for the third straight game and drove in four runs, leading host St. Louis over Kansas City.
Mikolas needed just 109 pitches to remain unbeaten and struck out a careerhigh nine. The Cardinals won for the third time in four games and beat the Royals for the fifth straight time.
Mikolas (6-0) retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. The only trouble he faced came after he allowed back-to-back singles to start the third, but got out of it with the help of a double play.
Elsewhere in baseball — Major League Baseball has extended the administrative leave of Toronto closer Roberto Osuna for a third seven-day period through May 28 as it investigates an assault charge filed against the All-Star.