Angels mash 7 HRs, 2 by Ohtani, in loss

The Los Angeles Angels tied a major league record with seven solo home runs, including two by Shohei Ohtani, but still lost to the Oakland Athletics 8-7 Thursday.

The Angels are the first team in the majors to hit seven solo homers and score no other runs in a game. They’re also the sixth team to hit seven homers and lose, according to STATS.

Ramon Laureano homered and drove in four runs, and Seth Brown had a two-run shot during a six-run third inning for AL-worst Oakland. Sean Murphy also drove in two runs for the Athletics, who took the final two games of the series and have won six of their last nine.

Paul Blackburn (7-6) picked up his first win since June 16 despite surrendering four home runs.

Ohtani left Wednesday night’s game due to a left forearm cramp, but he bounced back with his 11th multihomer game in the majors and fifth this season.

ASTROS 6, GUARDIANS 0

Justin Verlander pitched six scoreless innings for his MLB-leading 15th victory, Chas McCormick and Martin Maldonado each homered and had three RBIs, and AL West-leading Houston won in Cleveland.

Verlander (15-3), making his comeback from Tommy John surgery, extended his winning streak to seven starts and moved into a tie with Herb Pennock for 55th place all-time with 241 victories. He gave up two hits, both singles, and struck out five. Will Smith, Ryne Stanek and Phil Maton completed the three-hitter, helping Houston move within 11⁄2 games of the idle Yankees for the best record in the AL.

ROCKIES 7, PADRES 3

Ryan McMahon hit a three-run homer off Joe Musgrove and drove in five runs for visiting Colorado, which beat Juan Soto and San Diego to avoid a five-game sweep.

Soto had a triple and double and scored one run Thursday. The 23-year-old superstar got a break on a triple off Kyle Freeland (7-7) leading off the sixth when right fielder Charlie Blackmon and center fielder Yonathan Daza let his fly ball fall in between them while Soto chugged around the bases.

Freeland won his third straight start, holding San Diego to two runs and six hits in 52⁄3 innings. Musgrove (8-5) struggled in his first start since signing a $100 million, five-year contract on Monday and lost his fifth straight decision.

CARDINALS 4, CUBS 3

Lars Nootbaar hit a tying sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and a game-ending RBI single in the ninth, sending St. Louis to a 4-3 victory over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Thursday in the opener of a split doubleheader.

PIRATES 5, BREWERS 4

Bryan Reynolds raced home on a wild pitch with one out in the 10th inning, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-4 victory on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep of Milwaukee.

MERRIFIELD GETS VAXXED

Whit Merrifield said Thursday he is vaccinated for COVID-19 and will be cleared to play for Toronto when the Blue Jays return to Canada.

Merrifield was acquired in a trade with Kansas City on Tuesday for two minor leaguers. The twotime All-Star was in the starting lineup in center field for his first game with his new team Thursday night at Minnesota.

Merrifield was among 10 players on the Royals who were unvaccinated last month, preventing them from making their trip to Toronto. When asked about his decision, Merrifield drew the ire of Kansas City fans by saying: “Something happens and I happen to get on a team that has a chance to go play in Canada in the postseason, maybe that changes.”

Toronto leads the AL wild-card standings as it tries to make the postseason for the second time in three years. The next home game for the Blue Jays is Aug. 12 against Cleveland.

SAWX RELEASE BRADLEY JR.

The Boston Red Sox released Jackie Bradley Jr. on Thursday, ending the outfielder’s second stint with the team. Bradley is batting .210 with three homers and 29 RBIs in 92 games this season. Bradley’s release left the Red Sox with 39 players on their 40-man roster.

Bradley was drafted by Boston with the No. 40 pick in the 2011 amateur draft. He broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 2013 and helped the team win the World Series in 2018.