AROUND THE HORN
Mets: Marcus Stroman pitched one-hit ball for eight innings, Dominic Smith launched a grand slam and the Mets cruised to a 7-0 win over the Reds on Wednesday in Cincinnati. Stroman (7-8) gave up a clean leadoff line drive single to left by Aristides Aquino in the third and little else. He struck out seven and walked one while giving the Mets’ beleaguered bullpen precious rest going into Thursday’s day off. The Mets used a combined 12 relievers over the first two games in the series. Stroman hit Jonathan India with his first pitch of the game, then quickly settled in after going 0-4 in his previous six starts. His only difficulty came when he was struck by Jesse Winker’s comebacker to start the seventh, and Stroman recovered to throw him out. Jeurys Familia struck out three in a hitless ninth. Luis Guillorme hit his first HR of the season and Jonathan Villar also connected for the NL East leaders. The top of the Mets’ order loaded the bases with three singles to begin the third against Jeff Hoffman (3-5). Smith lofted Hoffman’s next pitch for an opposite-field drive into the seats in left for his second career grand slam. Smith’s other slam came last Sept. 11 against the Blue Jays.
Royals: Nicky Lopez hit a bases-loaded, tiebreaking double, Brad Keller earned his first win in over six weeks and the Royals completed a season sweep of the Brewers with a 6-3 road win. Jorge Soler added a towering HR in the eighth as the Royals continued their improbable seasonlong mastery of the Brewers. The Brewers lead the NL Central and the Royals are last in the AL Central, yet the Royals won all four meetings this year. The Royals swept a two-game series in Kansas City on May 18-19 and won 5-2 at Milwaukee on Tuesday. Keller (7-9) struck out six and allowed three runs and two walks in6 innings to pick up a win for the first time since June 4. Keller had gone 0-5 with two no-decisions over his last seven starts. Scott Barlow retired the side in order in the ninth for his fifth save in eight opportunities. About a dozen Brewers players had attended the Bucks’ NBA title-clinching victory over the Suns on Tuesday night in Milwaukee. The Brewers’ loss to the Royals on Tuesday ended less than two hours before the Bucks game started.
Rays, Orioles: Austin Meadows hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth and the Rays rallied past the visiting Orioles 5-4. Randy Arozarena hit two home runs and also had a key single as the Rays won for the 10th time in 13 games. He stopped a 21-game HR drought in Tuesday night’s 9-3 win over the Orioles. Collin Mchugh (3-1) worked two scoreless innings to earn the victory. Alexander Wells allowed three runs and five hits over 5 innings while filling in for scheduled Orioles starter Keegan Akin, who was placed on the COVID19 list. Wells, making his first career start and third appearance overall, struck out seven and walked two during a 93-pitch outing. The left-hander became the 13th Australian-born player and third with the Orioles to make a big league start. In addition to Akin, Orioles OF Anthony Santander also was put on the COVID-19 list.
Nationals: GM Mike Rizzo says he doesn’t plan on having INF Starlin Castro back with the team this season. Castro was placed on administrative leave July 16 by MLB as it investigates a domestic violence accusation. Rizzo, speaking with reporters about a variety of issues Tuesday, didn’t say if his statement on Castro was based on whether the process will play out in time or not. “The process is the process,’’ Rizzo said. “You asked the question, ‘Do I plan on having Starlin Castro back’ and I said I do not plan on having him back.’’