Tanaka solid as Yanks win
Masahiro Tanaka pitched six strong innings, Gio Urshela drove in two runs, and the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-2, yesterday in New York.
Tanaka (6-5) allowed two runs, four hits and struck out five with no walks. The righty, who had three nodecisions in his past three starts, won for the first time since a shutout against Tampa Bay on June 17.
Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 28 chances.
The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the second on Urshela’s two-run single to left field off Toronto starter Marcus Stroman (5-10).
Stroman, a New York native, started for the first time since June 29 after being sidelined with a left pectoral cramp. He gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings while striking out seven and walking two.
Rays 4, Orioles 1 — Tampa Bay took a combined perfect game into the ninth inning before Hanser Alberto beat the shift with a leadoff single against Ryan Yarbrough, wrecking history in the making and taking some of the edge off a 4-1 victory in Baltimore.
Ryne Stanek pitched the first two innings for the Rays. Yarbrough retired 18 in a row before the hit.
Indians 4, Twins 3 — Carlos Santana hit a solo home run that broke a seventh-inning tie and host Cleveland avoided a sweep against AL Central-leading Minnesota.
Tigers 12, Royals 8 — Jeimer Candelario hit a basesclearing double and Gordon Beckham added a tworun homer during a sevenrun third inning, and Detroit took advantage of host Kansas City’s late pitching switch.
The Royals traded righthander Homer Bailey to Oakland after scratching the veteran 45 minutes before the game. The A’s sent infielder Kevin Merrell to the Royals.
Astros 12, Rangers 4 — In Arlington, Texas, Justin Verlander followed a tworun first inning with five no-hit innings and José Altuve hit Houston’s franchise-record ninth grand slam of the season.
Athletics 3, White Sox 2 — Chad Pinder scored all the way from first base when shortstop Jose Rondón made a throwing error trying to start a double play in the ninth inning and host Oakland beat Chicago.
Angels 6, Mariners 3 — Rookie Matt Thaiss hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning, and host Los Angeles completed a sweep of Seattle.
Mike Trout left the game before the third because of right calf tightness.
National League
Braves 4, Padres 1 — Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer in the eighth and All-Star rookie Mike Soroka struck out a career-high nine to win his 10th straight decision as Atlanta won in San Diego for a sweep.
Phillies 4, Nationals 3 — Maikel Franco homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give host Philadelphia a victory against Washington.
Mets 6, Marlins 2 — Robinson Cano (4-for-5) homered for the second consecutive game to help lead New York past host Miami.
Cardinals 5, Diamondbacks 2— Paul Goldschmidt homered, Adam Wainwright pitched seven scoreless innings, and host St. Louis beat Arizona.
Cubs 8, Pirates 3 — Jason Heyward, Albert Almora Jr. and Kyle Schwarber hit home runs and host Chicago swept Pittsburgh.
Giants 8, Brewers 3 — Tyler Beede pitched effectively into the seventh inning, had two hits and drove in the go-ahead run as San Francisco dominated host Milwaukee.
Rockies 10, Reds 9 — Ryan McMahon singled, doubled, tripled and drove in three runs as the Colorado outslugged Cincinnati and held on in Denver.