Yankees get to Kluber, Indians
Aaron Hicks drove home Didi Gregorius from first base with a one-out double in the eighth inning off Corey Kluber, sending the New York Yankees to a 7-4 win over the Indians last night in Cleveland.
Hicks drove a 3-2 pitch from Kluber (12-5) to deep center field, and Gregorius scored easily. Indians manager Terry Francona elected to stay with his ace in the eighth rather than turn things over to his shaky bullpen, which has the AL’s highest ERA.
The Yankees added another run in the inning on Greg Bird’s sacrifice fly off Oliver Perez. Brett Gardner homered twice and Gregorius also connected for the Yankees.
New York’s Adam Warren, David Robertson (6-3), Dellin Betances and AllStar closer Aroldis Chapman combined for four hitless innings. Chapman got three outs for his 25th save in his first appearance since Sunday because of a sore left knee.
Jose Ramirez and Edwin Encarnacion homered off Yankees starter Luis Severino, who lasted five innings and was denied his major league-leading 15th win.
Athletics 6, Astros 4 — Mark Canha’s two-run single in a three-run eighth inning lifted Oakland over host Houston.
The Athletics fell behind early but cut the lead to one with a three-run fifth. An RBI double by Matt Chapman tied it with no outs in eighth before Canha’s single off Chris Devenksi (2-2) with one out made it 6-4.
Nick Martini had three hits and drove in two runs for the A’s, who are 19-5 in their last 24 games.
Yusmeiro Petit (3-2) allowed one hit in 21⁄3 scoreless innings. Ryan Buchter pitched a perfect eighth and Lou Trivino struck out two in the ninth for his fourth save in five opportunities.
Oakland starter Trevor Cahill went 32⁄3 innings in his first start since June 2 after spending more than a month on the disabled list with an Achilles injury. He allowed three runs on three hits and walked three.
Houston’s Charlie Morton allowed six hits and three runs in 41⁄3 innings.
National League
Nationals 5, Mets 4 — Max Scherzer made a final pitch to start the All-Star Game on his own mound, Anthony Rendon hit two home runs and Bryce Harper also connected, leading Washington over host New York.
The Nationals won for just the sixth time in 17 games and nudged back over .500 at 47-46.
Scherzer (12-5) didn’t dominate over his seven innings, but managed to tie Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola for the NL lead in wins. He struck out five, boosting his league-leading total to 182.
Scherzer gave up three runs and five hits, including home runs to Jose Bautista and Kevin Plawecki.
Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 1 — In Denver, Gerardo Parra and Raimel Tapia had pinch-hit RBI singles in a three-run sixth inning, as Colorado beat Arizona.
Trevor Story homered for the Rockies, and Kyle Freeland pitched six-hit ball into the sixth inning. DJ LeMahieu had two hits and drove in a run.
Colorado was coming off a 19-2 victory Wednesday night, but it trailed 1-0 before its rally in the sixth.
The Diamondbacks placed right-hander Shelby Miller (right elbow) and left-hander T.J. McFarland (strained left neck) on the 10-day disabled list.
Pirates 6, Brewers 3 — Jameson Taillon had a career-high 10 strikeouts, Jordy Mercer tied his career high with four RBI and host Pittsburgh beat Milwaukee.
Interleague
Phillies 5, Orioles 4 — Jorge Alfaro homered and drove in three runs, Nick Pivetta took a three-hitter into the seventh inning and Philadelphia defeated host Baltimore.
Elsewhere in baseball — Los Angeles Angels pitcher Garrett Richards elected to undergo Tommy John surgery for his damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will miss the remainder of the season. Richards, 30, was 5-4 with a 3.66 ERA . . . .
The Minnesota Twins placed DH/first baseman Logan Morrison on the 10day disabled list with a left hip injury. Morrison is batting just .193 in his first season with the Twins.