Ohtani homers in final home game before deadline
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 36th homer in the two-way superstar’s final home game before the trade deadline, and the Angels wrapped up a strong homestand with a 7-5 win over the Pirates.
Ohtani is eligible for free agency this winter and could be on the move ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline. But general manager Perry Minasian has said the Angels (51-49) are highly unlikely to deal Ohtani if they remain in playoff contention.
Tyler Anderson (5-2) yielded eight hits while pitching into the seventh inning for the Angels. Carlos Estévez worked the ninth for his 23rd save.
Bryan Reynolds homered for the Pirates, who have lost seven of nine out of the break. Mitch Keller (9-6) got the loss.
More Sunday games
Orioles 5, Rays 3: Gunnar Henderson and Ryan O’Hearn homered as the AL East-leading, visiting Orioles took three of four in a weekend series. The Orioles have a two-game lead over the Rays after winning for the 12th time in 15 games. Mike Baumann (7-0) pitched 22⁄3 hitless innings for the win. Félix Bautista gave up ninth-inning singles to Manuel Margot and Yandy Díaz before securing his 28th save. Díaz homered for the Rays, who are an AL-worse 4-14 in July. Colin Poche (7-3) got the loss.
Rangers 8, Dodgers 4: Jonah Heim and Leody Taveras each hit a two-run double, and the host Rangers overcame Max Muncy’s first-inning grand slam. Missing All-Star sluggers Corey Seager (sprained right thumb) and Adolis García (sore right hand), the Rangers avoided a three-game sweep in a matchup of division leaders. Texas left-hander Martín Pérez (8-3) allowed six hits in six innings.
Yankees 8, Royals 5: Anthony Rizzo hit his first home run since May 20 and went 4-for-4 as the host Yankees completed their third series sweep of the season. Gleyber Torres’ two-run homer sparked New York’s four-run first inning against Jordan Lyles (1-12). Torres extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games but exited in the seventh because of left hip tightness.
Braves 4, Brewers 2: Atlanta star Ozzie Albies hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, ending host Milwaukee’s run of bullpen dominance. Albies’ 407-foot shot to left-center on a first-pitch sinker from Elvis Peguero (1-3) ended a string of 282⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings by Brewers relievers. Atlanta slugger Austin Riley went 0-for-4 to end his streak of five straight games with a homer, which matched a Braves record.
Blue Jays 4, Mariners 3: Pinch-hitter Santiago Espinal singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning for the visiting Blue Jays as closer Jordan Romano escaped a ninth-inning jam. Seattle put runners on second and third with one out in the ninth, but Romano struck out Julio Rodríguez on a 2-2 slider and retired Eugenio Suárez on a flyout for his 27th save. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Brandon Belt each homered for the second straight game.
Phillies 8, Guardians 5 (10 inn.): Bryce Harper drove in the go-ahead run with a 10th-inning single and flashed more solid defense in his second career start at first base, leading visiting Philadelphia. Craig Kimbrel (6-1) blew his first save in 17 chances this season when David Fry hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth. Kyle Schwarber began the 10th as the automatic runner at second base. Trea Turner drew a walk before Harper singled up the middle off Tim Herrin (1-1). J.T. Realmuto hit a sacrifice fly and Alec Bohm had a two-run single that made it 8-4.
Nationals 6, Giants 1: Lane Thomas matched a Nationals record with four stolen bases, and host Washington recorded its first series sweep in nearly two years. Riley Adams homered and MacKenzie Gore (6-7) threw five shutout innings for Washington, which completed its first sweep since taking two games from Toronto in August 2021. Joc Pederson homered for San Francisco, which dropped its fifth consecutive game. Scott Alexander (6-1) got the loss.
Reds 7, Diamondbacks 3: Elly De La Cruz hit his first career leadoff homer and Nick Senzel connected for a two-run shot, helping the host Reds finish the three-game sweep. Christian Encarnacion-Strand had two hits and two RBIs as Cincinnati earned its fifth straight victory overall. Corbin Carroll hit his 21st homer for the Diamondbacks, and Ketel Marte went 2 for 2 with three walks.
Cubs 7, Cardinals 2: Cody Bellinger homered and drove in three runs for the host Cubs, and Jameson Taillon pitched into the sixth inning. Dansby Swanson had two hits and Yan Gomes drove in two runs as Chicago took three of four from their division rivals. Nolan Arenado had three hits for the disappointing Cardinals, who could be one of baseball’s most active sellers ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Marlins 3, Rockies 2 (10 inn.): Luis Arraez singled home the winning run with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, and the host Marlins ended an eight-game losing streak. With the Rockies playing five infielders, Arraez hit a line drive to an empty right field off Pierce Johnson (1-5). Arraez went 3-for-4, raising his major league-leading batting average to .379. Randal Grichuk and Brenton Doyle homered for Colorado.
Twins 5, White Sox 4 (12 inn.): Ryan Jeffers hit a two-out RBI single in the 12th inning to cap a late rally by the host Twins that secured a series sweep over the White Sox. Jesse Scholtens (1-3) loaded the bases with nobody out before enticing Christian Vázquez to hit a 2-0 fastball into a shortstop-to-home-to-first double play. That left a runner on third for Jeffers, who lifted the Twins (53-48) to a three-game lead on Cleveland in the AL Central for their largest margin in more than five weeks.
Astros 3, Athletics 2: Mauricio Dubón homered with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting visiting Houston. Yainer Diaz connected for his 11th homer for the Astros, who have won four of five and remain three games back of the AL West-leading Rangers. Dubón then went deep for his fifth homer this season. JJ Bleday homered and scored twice for the last-place A’s.