Rookie outduels Sale as Rays beat Red Sox
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. » For a change, the story with Chris Sale on Thursday night wasn’t all the bats he missed, but the ones he didn’t.
Wilson Ramos homered and drove in three against Sale despite the All-Star’s record-setting performance, rookie Jake Faria remained unbeaten and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1.
Ramos homered on a first-pitch fastball for two runs in the sixth inning, the second homer allowed by Sale in the game.
“I was trying to get ahead,” Sale said. “He had other plans.”
Sale (11-4) struck out 12 while giving up four runs and seven hits in seven innings. He became the first Red Sox pitcher to strike out 10 or more in 12 games before the All-Star break, surpassing the 11 games of Pedro Martinez in 1999.
“The one thing with Chris — you look at the walk totals (22 walks in 18 starts), he’s going to be around the plate,” Boston manager John Farrell said. “If guys are aggressive against him, they may end up getting a pitch that’s on the plate because he attacks everyone.”
Faria (4-0) gave up a run and four hits while walking four in six innings. The rookie right-hander has pitched at least six innings in each of his six starts.
Ramos’ homer capped the scoring. “It sucked the energy out of us, and that’s on me,” Sale said. “It’s easier to fight when you’re down one than when you’re down three, so I put our guys in a bad spot.”
Peter Bourjos had homered earlier to put the Rays up 2-1. BLUE JAYS 7, ASTROS 4 » Russell Martin homered and matched a season high with three hits, Josh Donaldson broke out of his slump with a go-ahead single and Toronto beat Houston.
Francisco Liriano (5-4) pitched six solid innings and Roberto Osuna converted his 21st consecutive save opportunity as the Blue Jays, who began the night last in the AL East, won their third straight. Houston, which has the best record in the majors at 58-28, had won four in a row and eight of 10.
Marwin Gonzalez and Carlos Beltran homered for the Astros, handed a rare defeat on the road. The AL West leaders fell to 31-10 away from home as All-Star pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (7-2) lost for the first time since April. BREWERS 11, CUBS 2 » Ryan Braun homered to ignite a seven-run third inning and Milwaukee beat Chicago for its fourth straight victory.
The Brewers opened a 4½-game lead over the second-place Cubs in the NL Central and are guaranteed to hold the top spot at the All-Star break. This was a makeup of a May 20 rainout.
Willson Contreras homered for the Cubs. Kyle Schwarber went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in his return following a two-week stint in the minor leagues. TIGERS 6, GIANTS 2» Anibal Sanchez pitched six strong innings, and Dixon Machado hit his first career home run to lift Detroit over San Francisco.
Sanchez (1-0) earned his first victory since Aug. 23, allowing two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts and no walks. INDIANS 11, PADRES 2 » Edwin Encarnacion homered and matched a career high with four hits, AllStar Jose Ramirez hit a home run and had three RBIs, and Cleveland, playing its third straight game without manager Terry Francona, defeated San Diego.
Francona remained hospitalized at the Cleveland Clinic, where
he has been undergoing tests to resolve the causes of him becoming light-headed over the past month. The 58-year-old was hospitalized twice last month and doctors admitted him Tuesday, about one week after he began wearing a heart monitor. REDS 6, ROCKIES 3» Sal tossed five innings to Romano earn his
first major league win, beat Colorado. CARDINALS 4, MARLINS 3 » Luke Voit homered and drove in three runs and St. Louis beat Miami.
Voit, who also doubled, and third baseman Jedd Gyorko each had two hits. The Cardinals’ eight hits backed another good outing from Michael Wacha (6-3).
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Cincinnati