Astros’ pitchers continue mastery

HOUSTON — Another day, another dominant pitching performance by the Houston Astros.

Justin Verlander struck out

10 on Sunday and the Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

A day after Astros newcomer Aaron Sanchez and three relievers combined on a no-hitter, Verlander (15-4) took over the major league wins lead and left with an AL-best 2.68 ERA.

Houston’s starters are 141 in the last 17 games, and Verlander has won his last five starts for the AL West leaders, striking out a combined 53 in that span.

“Each guy, when you create a competitive atmosphere like we have here, not that you want to oneup the guy before you, but you want to go out there and compete against some of the best in the world, and we’ve got a lot of the best in the world right here in the starting rotation,” Verlander said.

He didn’t give up a hit until Kyle Seager singled with two outs in the fourth inning. The Astros ace took a two-hit shutout in the seventh and exited after Seager led off with a home run.

“Verlander was really good today,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Oftentimes you see him with one or the other, the curveball or the slider going, and he had them both going today.”

Verlander’s 206 strikeouts rank second in the majors behind teammate Gerrit Cole (216). This is the fourth straight season

the 36-year-old Verlander has fanned at least 200 batters and his ninth overall.

He’s reveling in the work of Houston’s rotation as the Astros roll toward the postseason.

“It’s pretty incredible,” he said. “You just kind of stay in your own lane and try to keep doing what’s making you great, and at the same time you appreciate everything that’s going on around you.”

Next up for the Astros: Newly acquired All-Star Zack Greinke makes his Houston debut.

Roberto Osuna struck out one in the ninth for his 25th save. The victory improved Houston to 12-1 against Seattle this season and 38-12 against the AL West.

The Mariners couldn’t get much going on offense throughout this series, getting four hits on Sunday and managing just seven hits and three runs in the three games.

Houston manager AJ Hinch raved about the work of not just his starters, but also the bullpen in this series.

“Everything from the attention to detail to the game planning to the execution and then to the bullpen coming in and getting huge outs, it’s a really good stretch for us,” he said. “One of the things that we pride ourselves in is preparation, and I think this series and leading up to this series it’s been excellent.”

Seattle opener Sam Tuivailala walked two in one-plus innings before Tommy Milone (1-6) came in. He yielded four hits and two runs in five innings for the loss.

The game was scoreless until the fourth, when Alex Bregman singled, Yordan Alvarez doubled and Carlos Correa singled for a run.

Bregman doubled with one out in the sixth and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Alvarez then hit a ball to the warning track in center field for a sacrifice fly. Alvarez got shaken up earlier in that at-bat when he fouled a ball off his knee.

Moore tripled with two outs in the Seattle fifth, but was left stranded when Verlander retired Mallex Smith for the third out.

Seager finished Verlander with his home run, and reliever Joe Smith worked around a single by J.P. Craw- ford.

Jake Marisnick singled in the Houston seventh, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Reddick.

ORIOLES 6, BLUE JAYS 5

BALTIMORE — Trey Mancini drove in two runs and Baltimore took advantage of a wild major league debut by Toronto reliever Yennsy Diaz.

Mancini has 15 RBIs in 13 games against Toronto this season.

INDIANS 6, ANGELS 2

CLEVELAND — Shane Bieber became the first pitcher this season to throw three complete games, lead- ing the Cleveland Indians over the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Bieber (11-4) allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none. Bieber, the All-Star Game MVP, is 9-2 in his last 15 starts.

TWINS 3, ROYALS 0

MINNEAPOLIS — Devin Smeltzer pitched two-hit ball into the seventh inning for his first major league win, and Minnesota finished off a three-game sweep.

Jason Castro homered and Eddie Rosario drove in two runs for the Twins, who maintained their threegame lead over Cleveland in the AL Central.

RANGERS 9, TIGERS 4

ARLINGTON, Texas — Willie Calhoun hit a tiebreaking three-run triple in the seventh inning, helping the Rangers finish a three-game sweep.

Calhoun pulled a 2-0 pitch from Nick Ramirez just inside the rightfield line and into the corner. Calhoun later scored on a wild pitch.

NATIONAL LEAGUE METS 13, PIRATES 2

PITTSBURGH — Mets star Robinson Canó appears headed back to the injured list after straining his left hamstring, an injury that overshadowed Noah Syndergaard’s sparkling outing in a 13-2 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday that pulled New York within one game of .500 for the first time since mid-June.

Canó lined a hit to right in the fourth inning, his third hit of the game and ninth hit in his last 15 atbats. He pulled up after rounding first and grabbed at the back of his leg. Melky Cabrera threw to shortstop Kevin Newman, who tagged out Canó.

REDS 6, BRAVES 4, 10 INNINGS

ATLANTA — Tucker Barnhart hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the 10th inning off new Atlanta closer Shane Greene.

A day after blowing a save chance in his Braves debut, Greene (0-1) gave up four hits and three runs in one inning.

CUBS 7, BREWERS 2

CHICAGO — Jason Heyward drove in three runs, Yu Darvish pitched five effective innings and the Cubs finished a three-game sweep.

Heyward and Kyle Schwarber homered as the NL Central leaders won for the 11th time in 13 games at Wrigley Field.

ROCKIES 6, GIANTS 2

DENVER — Kyle Freeland earned his first win in nearly four months and Nolan Arenado homered twice for Colorado.

Trevor Story homered for the fifth straight game against San Francisco. It’s tied for the longest home run streak against an opponent in Rockies history.

DODGERS 11, PADRES 10

LOS ANGELES — Max Muncy’s fourth hit was a game-ending, tworun double, and the Dodgers rallied from a late three-run deficit for a wild victory.

Muncy had a homer and two doubles while driving in three runs. Four Dodgers added two RBIs apiece as the NL West leaders took three of four from San Diego with a huge comeback at Chavez Ravine.

DIAMONDBACKS 7, NATIONALS 5

PHOENIX — Ketel Marte hit an inside-the-park home run off former Arizona ace Patrick Corbin, and Adam Jones drove in four runs for the Diamondbacks.

Marte’s third-inning line drive got by diving center fielder Gerardo Parra and rolled to the wall, near the 413-foot mark in left-center. Marte beat a high throw to home plate, eluding the tag by catcher Yan Gomes, for a solo homer and a 4-2 lead.

INTERLEAGUE ATHLETICS 4, CARDINALS 2

OAKLAND, Calif. — Tanner Roark pitched five innings to get the win in his Oakland debut.

Jurickson Profar connected for his 15th homer as the A’s won for the sixth time in seven games. Dustin Garneau had two hits and two RBIs after he was claimed off waivers Saturday.

WHITE SOX 10, PHILLIES 5

PHILADELPHIA — Leury Garcia hit a grand slam and Eloy Jiménez added a three-run shot, powering the White Sox to the victory.

The Phillies are still in the NL wild-card hunt but lost two of three at home to the below-.500 White Sox. Not even appearances by Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pedro Martinez and the rest of the 2009 NL champions could inspire the Phillies and they trailed all the way against Reynaldo Lopez (6-9) and three relievers.

RAYS 7, MARLINS 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Yonny Chirinos allowed one run in five innings before leaving with a hand injury, and Tampa Bay matched its longest winning streak this season at six games.

Chirinos (9-5) gave up two hits but was pulled after 63 pitches due to right middle finger inflammation. Diego Castillo, Colin Poche and Andrew Kittredge finished a six-hitter.

Verlander