Hamels shines in return to rotation

CHICAGO — Cole Hamels pitched five shutout innings after spending five weeks on the injured list, Albert Almora Jr. hit a tiebreaking home run and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1.

Out since June 28 because of a strained left oblique, Hamels allowed four singles, walked none and struck out six.

The four-time All Star picked up where he left off before his injury. In five starts before getting hurt in a game at Cincinnati, the 35-year-old lefty pitched at least seven innings and was 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA.

YANKEES SWEEP RED SOX: DJ LeMahieu homered twice off an enraged Chris Sale, who screamed and pointed at the plate umpire when he was removed during a seven-run fourth inning, and host New York beat Boston 9-2 in the doubleheader opener.

Sale was angry with Mike Esterbrook’s strike zone throughout his brief outing and tied his career high by allowing eight earned runs in 3 2⁄3 innings.

In the second game, Gleyber Torres unleashed a pair of solo homers, two of his three hits on the night, as New York again topped Boston, 6-4.

RAYS 8, MARLINS 6: Eric Sogard homered twice and finished with a career-high five RBIs as host Tampa Bay beat Miami.

ORIOLES 6, BLUE JAYS 4: Trey Mancini homered and drove in four runs, Jonathan Villar also went deep, and host Baltimore beat Toronto.

INDIANS 7, ANGELS 2: Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis homered during a five-run fifth inning as Cleveland beat visiting Los Angeles.

BRAVES 5, REDS 4 (10): Ronald Acuna Jr. came through in the clutch, lacing a walk-off single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th as Atlanta toppled visiting Cincinnati.

PIRATES 7, METS 5: Wilson Ramos had a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning and added a three-run double in a win over Pittsburgh.

PHILLIES 3, WHITE SOX 2: Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins both homered, and host Philadelphia edged Chicago.