Hot start lifts Pirates to win over Cubs
CHICAGO » Francisco Cervelli and Andrew McCutchen capped Pittsburgh’s 10-run first inning with consecutive homers off Jon Lester, helping the Pirates pound the Chicago Cubs 14-3 on Sunday.
Cervelli drove in five runs and Jordy Mercer had two hits and three RBIs as the Pirates closed out a 5-2 road trip with their fifth win in six games. All-Star Josh Harrison homered in the ninth and Chad Kuhl pitched three innings of one-run ball in an emergency start after Jameson Taillon was scratched due to flu-like symptoms. ROCKIES 10, WHITE SOX 0 » Hometown rookie Kyle Freeland came within two outs of the first no-hitter by a Rockies pitcher at Coors Field before surrendering a sharp single to Melky Cabrera as Colorado beat the White Sox.
Freeland, who’s from Denver and grew up going to games at the hitter-friendly park, struck out the first batter of the ninth inning and then allowed Cabrera’s hit to left field on a 2-2 count. BREWERS 5, YANKEES 3 » Travis Shaw and Stephen Vogt both homered and the Brewers lengthened their surprising lead in the NL Central, topping the Yankees.
The Brewers have won nine of 11. At 50-41, they go into the All-Star break in first place for the fifth time in franchise history, 5 ½ games ahead of the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs and St. Louis. ASTROS 19, BLUE JAYS 1 » Carlos Correa homered twice and drove in a career-high five runs as the Houston Astros romped into the All-Star break, battering the Toronto Blue Jays 19-1 Sunday.
The runaway leaders in the AL West became just the fifth team in the last 40 years to reach 60 wins before the All-Star Game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. NATIONALS 10, BRAVES 5 » Anthony Rendon reached base four times, the Washington bullpen allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings, and the Nationals beat the Braves.
Rendon scored twice and drove in a pair as the Nationals salvaged a split of the four-game series with the Braves to enter the AllStar break with a 9½-game lead over Atlanta in the National League East.
Washington starter Joe Ross left the game with an apparent injury with one out in the fourth. CARDINALS 6, METS 0 » Tommy Pham, Paul DeJong and Luke Voit homered and Lance Lynn pitched seven innings of three-hit ball as the Cardinals beat the Mets.
It was Lynn’s longest outing since May 23, when he threw 123 pitches in eight scoreless innings in a 2-1 loss to Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. Lynn’s two strikeouts is a season low, but he needed just 93 pitches while facing two batters over the minimum. MARLINS 10, GIANTS 8 » Giancarlo Stanton homered twice, the second coming after A.J. Ellis’ tiebreaking two-run home run in the 11th inning, and the Marlins held on to beat the Giants.
Miami blew a 7-4 lead when the Giants scored three runs off Kyle Barraclough in the eighth before Ellis and Stanton lifted the Marlins in extra innings.
J.T. Realmuto reached on shortstop Brandon Crawford’s throwing error leading off the 11th. After JT Riddle flew out, Ellis hit a tiebreaking two-run home run. It was Ellis’ first career pinch hit home run. REDS 2, DIAMONDBACKS 1 » Homer Bailey went 6 2-3 strong innings, Scott Schebler doubled in the go-ahead run and the Reds beat Arizona, sending the Diamondbacks to their fifth loss in six games heading into the AllStar break.
Bailey (2-2) gave up a run on seven hits in his fourth start since returning from February surgery to remove small bone spurs from his elbow. He struck out five and walked four. DODGERS 5, ROYALS 2 » Clayton Kershaw tossed a sixhitter to become the majors’ first 14-game winner, Justin Turner homered twice, and the NL West-leading Dodgers defeated the Royals to complete their major league-best 10th sweep and sixth straight victory.
The streaking Dodgers head into the All-Star break owning baseball’s best record of 61-29. They’ve won 18 of their last 19 at home, where they lead the majors with a 39-11 mark. RAYS 5, RED SOX 3 » Brad Miller hit a tiebreaking, tworun homer in the eighth inning and the Rays took three of the four from AL Eastleading Boston, beating the Red Sox.
Miller connected with two outs off Joe Kelly (3-1), sending a drive over the center field wall. Kelly had made a career-best 23 straight scoreless appearances. ORIOLES 11, TWINS 5 » Adam Jones homered twice and drove in five runs to lead a 15-hit attack and the Orioles defeated the Twins.
Ruben Tejada and Seth Smith each had three hits for the Orioles, who won their second straight and earned a split of the weekend series. ANGELS 3, RANGERS 0 » J.C. Ramirez outpitched All-Star Yu Darvish and Albert Pujols hit his 604th career home run as four Angels pitchers combined to beat the Rangers.
Ramirez (8-7) allowed two hits in six innings. Angels relievers allowed only one walk with Bud Norris earning his 13th save with a perfect ninth inning. MARINERS 4, ATHLETICS 0 » Felix Hernandez rediscovered some of his past form allowing two hits over six dominant innings, and Nelson Cruz hit his 17th home run of the season to give the Seattle Mariners a win over the Athletics.
Making his fourth start since coming off the disabled list late last month, Hernandez had the best command of his pitches perhaps all season.