D-Backs keep wild-card lead
NEW YORK — Robbie Ray returned to a big league mound for the first time since being hit in the head with a line drive last month, striking out nine in five innings, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Mets 3-2 on Thursday.
Arizona won three of four in New York, staying ahead of Colorado for the NL’s top wild-card spot with the victory.
Ray was hit on the head by a 108 mph line drive off the bat of the Cardinals’ Luke Voit on July 28. He suffered a concussion.
Reinstated from the DL prior to the game, the All-Star lefthander allowed one run and two hits.
INDIANS 13, RED SOX 6: Red Sox ace Chris Sale was battered while matching the shortest start of his career, and rookie Yandy Diaz got four hits as host Cleveland beat Boston in a matchup of division leaders. Sale was tagged for seven runs on seven hits and three walks in three innings.
RANGERS 3, ANGELS 0: Martin Perez dodged a couple early jams en route to seven strong innings, Drew Robinson and Mike Napoli homered, and surging Texas won on the road.
MARLINS 9, PHILLIES 8: Giancarlo Stanton hit his major league-leading 47th home run, J.T. Realmuto hit an inside-thepark homer, and Miami overcame a five-run deficit on the road.
PADRES 4, CARDINALS 3: Carlos Asuaje’s RBI single in the ninth gave San Diego the lead, and Jose Pirela’s sacrifice fly proved to be the game-winner as the visiting Padres rallied.
DODGERS 5, PIRATES 2: Yasmani Grandal and Adrian Gonzalez hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning, and visiting Los Angeles pulled away for its 90th victory.
REDS 4, CUBS 2: Jose Peraza had a pinch-hit, basesloaded double in the eighth inning, rallying Cincinnati to a victory over visiting Chicago that avoided a series sweep.
RAYS 2, BLUE JAYS 0: Alex Cobb and four relievers combined on a six-hitter, and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier made two superb catches to help host Tampa Bay beat Toronto.
ROCKIES 3, ROYALS 2: Pat Valaika hit a two-run homer with two out in the eighth inning, and Greg Holland finished for his 36th save in Colorado’s victory at Kansas City.
WHITE SOX 5, TWINS 1: Derek Holland pitched six effective innings, Yolmer Sanchez homered, and Chicago defeated visiting Minnesota.