Mets roll Indians in series opener

NEW YORK — Michael Conforto hit a tiebreaking homer moments after an embarrassing error by Cleveland Indians left fielder Oscar Mercado, and the resurgent New York Mets rolled from there to a 9-2 victory Tuesday night.

J.D. Davis also went deep and Steven Matz (8-7) permitted only one earned run in 61⁄3 innings as the Mets opened a critical homestand against a trio of playoff contenders with a resounding performance. New York (65-60), which began the day two games out of a wild-card spot, improved to 25-10 since the AllStar break and matched a season best at five games over .500.

TWINS 14, WHITE SOX 4: Nelson Cruz homered and drove in three runs on four hits for Minnesota in his second game back from a wrist injury, yet another powerful outing at the plate by the 39-year-old designated hitter for the host Twins in a win over Chicago.

PHILLIES 3, RED SOX 2: Aaron Nola pitched seven innings of four-hit ball to win for the sixth time in his last seven decisions, getting three runs of support in the first as Philadelphia cruised to a win at Boston.

ORIOLES 4, ROYALS 1: Hanser Alberto hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth, and host Baltimore beat Kansas City to end an eight-game losing streak.

REDS 3, PADRES 2: Freddy Galvis hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the sixth, and Aristides Aquino added an RBI single as host Cincinnati beat San Diego.

BRAVES 5, MARLINS 1: Freddie Freeman homered twice and drove in four runs, Dallas Keuchel kept working out of trouble, and host Atlanta beat Miami.

MARINERS 7, RAYS 4: Tom Murphy hit a tiebreaking homer, his sixth in four games, in the sixth inning to lift Seattle to a victory over host Tampa Bay.

PIRATES 4, NATIONALS 1: Starling Marte hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in eighth inning, and Pittsburgh defeated visiting Washington.

CUBS 5, GIANTS 3: Anthony Rizzo homered twice, and Cole Hamels threw six innings for his first win in two months, helping host Chicago top San Francisco.