Cole keeps Nats at bay, Pirates roll

Gerrit Cole shut down the best offense in the majors, holding the Nationals to three hits in seven innings to win for the first time in a month as the host Pirates eased to a 6- 1 victory.

Cole ( 2- 4) struck out three, walked two and received an overdue dose of support when Josh Bell smacked a three- run home run in the sixth off Jacob Turner ( 2- 2). Andrew McCutchen went 2- for- 4 with two RBI and also stole two bases for Pittsburgh.

Dodgers 6, Giants 1

Clayton Kershaw took a share of the majorleague lead with his seventh win and earned career victory No. 20 against the rival Giants, helping the visiting Dodgers avoid a sweep.

Kershaw struck out five in seven shutout innings and retired the first 10 batters he faced before Justin Ruggiano’s fourth- inning single. The left- hander moved into a tie for most wins with Houston’s Dallas Keuchel.

Astros 3, Marlins 0

Lance McCullers paid tribute to the late Jose Fernandez and pitched like him, allowing no earned runs for the third start in a row, and visiting Houston completed a three- game sweep.

McCullers ( 4- 1) wore cleats with Fernandez’s initials and uniform number. Their friendship began when they were high school pitchers in the Tampa area, before Fernandez became the Marlins’ ace and then died in a boating accident last September.

Yankees 11, Royals 7

Aaron Hicks hit a three- run homer to cap a fiverun fourth inning, and the Yankees piled up 16 hits to roll past the host Royals.

The Yankees teed off on Jason Vargas ( 5- 2), who came into the game with a major league- leading 1.01 ERA. The left- hander allowed as many earned runs in the fourth as he had in his first seven starts combined, and was lifted after allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks in four innings.

Rays 7, Indians 4

Corey Dickerson hit a three- run homer, Alex Cobb pitched seven innings and the Rays beat the host Indians to finish their first winning road trip in a year. Indians slugger Edwin Encarnacion continues to struggle. The team’s $ 60 million man went 0- for- 3 and struck out with the bases loaded.

This and that

Tests on tissue removed from Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon last week confirmed he is dealing with testicular cancer. Taillon will be re- evaluated next week before deciding the next course of treatment. Mariners reliever Edwin Diaz has been removed as the team’s closer, manager Scott Servais said. Sun- Times wires