A’s make it 7 straight
NEW YORK — James Kaprielian finally made it to the Bronx, six years after New York took him in the first round of the amateur draft, and beat the Yankees by pitching three-hit ball over 5 2/3 innings in a 5-3 victory Friday night that extended the Oakland Athletics’ winning streak to seven.
Tony Kemp hit a three-run homer in the sixth on a hanging slider from Wandy Peralta (1-1), overcoming a 3-2 deficit with the first home run by a left-handed hitter this year off the southpaw reliever.
Kaprielian, a 27-year-old right-hander, was taken 16th overall by the Yankees out of UCLA in 2015 and signed for a $2.65 million bonus, but his career was slowed by Tommy John surgery on April 13, 2017. He was traded to Oakland on July 31, 2017, in the deal that brought pitcher Sonny Gray to New York.
Kaprielian made his major league debut last Aug. 16, and has been a rotation regular this season for AL West-leading Oakland, which improved to 13-2 in June. He struck out four of his first five batters, threw 44 four-seam fastballs that averaged 93 mph and mixed in 22 sliders, two curveballs and 12 changeups.
On the first night coronavirus attendance restrictions were lifted in the Bronx, Kaprielian (4-1) got to pitch before a crowd of 24,037 at Yankee Stadium.
With the A’s wearing kelly green jerseys for a rare road game, he allowed three runs, struck out seven and walked one.
National League
Nationals 1, Mets 0 — Yan Gomes hit a game-ending single in the ninth inning, Erick Fedde extended his scoreless streak to 20 innings and Washington two-hit firstplace New York.
Juan Soto opened the ninth with a walk and moved to third on Ryan Zimmerman’s single to right. Gomes then singled to left to beat Edwin Díaz (1-2).
Brad Hand (4-2) pitched the ninth to close out Washington’s gem. The Nationals have won a season-high five straight.
Fedde pitched seven dominant innings, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out six. His last out was Tomás Nido’s grounder to third, and the typically stoic Fedde yelled and flexed his arms on his way off the field.
Interleague
Pirates 11, Indians 10 — Gregory Polanco hit a two-run homer in a five-run first inning and Pittsburgh nearly squandered a 10-run lead in the late innings before hanging on to beat Cleveland, snapping a 10-game losing streak.
Ke’Bryan Hayes had a threerun double that highlighted a five-run outburst in the sixth inning, staking the Pirates to an 11-1 lead.
The Indians rallied by scoring six runs in the seventh inning and three runs in the eighth, cutting the deficit to a run.
Cesar Hernandez’ hit a grand slam off Sam Howard in the seventh inning, pulling the Indians within 11-7. A two-run single by Rene Rivera and a throwing error by center fielder Bryan Reynolds an inning late made it a one-run game.
Richard Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing a pair of singles, for his eighth save in 10 chances.