A’s coast by Orioles for 12th win in row

BALTIMORE — The Oakland Athletics earned their 12th consecutive victory --- their longest winning streak in almost two decades --- defeating the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 on Friday night.

Oakland’s string is its longest since it won a franchiserecord 20 in a row in 2002. It is the Athletics’ third-longest winning streak since moving to Oakland in 1968, and is the longest in the majors since Houston’s 12-game run from June 6-18, 2018.

Ramon Laureano homered and Cole Irvin won consecutive starts for the first time in nearly two years as the A’s improved to 13-1 since dropping their first six games. Baltimore has lost seven of its eight home games. TWINS 2, PIRATES 0: Minnesota left-hander J.A. Happ lost his bid for a no-hitter when Jacob Stallings doubled with one out in the eighth inning, and the Twins beat visiting Pittsburgh.

METS 6, NATIONALS 0: Jacob deGrom struck out a career-high 15, pitched a two-hitter and boosted the sagging Mets’ offense with a go-ahead double from the No. 8 spot in the batting order, powering New York over Washington at home.

RED SOX 6, MARINERS 5: Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer all the way out of Fenway Park and added a RBI single as host Boston beat Seattle.

CARDINALS 5, REDS 4: Yadier Molina homered and doubled to help St. Louis build a 5-0 lead, Alex Reyes pitched out of a ninth-inning jam and the Cardinals held on to beat Cincinnati at home.

CUBS 15, BREWERS 2: Jake Marisnick homered and matched a career high with five RBIs, and Chicago pounded visting Milwaukee for their fourth straight win.

WHITE SOX 9. RANGERS 7: Rookie sensation Yermin Mercedes added to his scorching start with four more hits, including a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning, and Chicago held off Texas at home.

ROYALS 6, TIGERS 2: Mike Minor held host Detroit hitless until the fifth inning, and Andrew Benintendi and Ryan O’Hearn homered off Casey Mize to lift Kansas City Royals to a victory over the Tigers.

YANKEES 5, INDIANS 3: Giancarlo Stanton busted out of his slump with two rocketed home runs — one with the highest exit velocity this season — and New York connected four times, sending the visting Yankees to a win over Cleveland.

BLUE JAYS 5, RAYS 3: Steven Matz won his fourth consecutive start, Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer, and Toronto beat Tampa Bay on the road.

GIANTS 5, MARLINS 3: Alex Wood pitched seven crisp innings after allowing a home run on the game’s third pitch, and San Francisco kept rolling at Oracle Park by beating Miami.

BRAVES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4: Huascar Ynoa earned his first career win, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies homered and host Atlanta beat the Arizona Diamondbacks.

ROCKIES 5, PHILLIES 4: Raimel Tapia hit a solo home run with one out in the ninth inning and Colorado rallied past Philadelphia at home for its third straight victory.

PADRES 6, DODGERS 1: Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a home run and had three RBIs as San Diego defeated Los Angeles on the road.