Four Cubs plunked in defeat by Braves
Kyle Wright plunked four Cubs batters but still left with the lead after a lastminute callup, Will Smith stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Atlanta Braves escaped with a 52 win Friday in Chicago.
Wright was recalled from the club’s alternate site to replace former Giant Drew Smyly, who was scratched and placed on the 10day injured list with left forearm inflammation Friday morning.
Wright hit four batters, including Javier Baez twice, but limited Chicago to two runs and three hits over 41⁄3 innings. He also doubled for his first career hit. Angels 10, Twins 3: Justin Upton hit a grand slam in the seventh inning, and Jared Walsh homered and drove in three runs for host Los Angels. Mike Trout delivered a goahead, two-run single as the Angels returned from a .500 road trip and opened a sixgame homestand with a prolific offensive performance.
Nationals 1, Diamondbacks 0: Kyle Schwarber hit a gameending homer in the ninth inning, helping Washington win as Max Scherzer passed Cy Young on baseball’s career strikeouts list. Scherzer struck out 10, giving him 2,808 — two
Pirates 6, Brewers 1: JT Brubaker struck out eight in six innings and Pittsburgh extended its recent surge with a win in Milwaukee. Colin Moran and Gregory Polanco homered for the Pirates.
Reds 10, Indians 3: A sevenrun outburst in the third inning, featuring a Joey Votto homer, propelled Cincinnati at home.
Rays 8, Yankees 2: Brandon Lowe hit a two-run double in the first inning off opener Nick Nelson, and Tampa Bay won in New York. The Rays arrived in New York with eight defeats in 11 games and had not held a lead in 25 innings. But they spurted to an 8-0, seventhinning lead and beat the Yankees for the 16th time in their past 21 meetings, including during last year’s Division Series.
Phillies 9, Cardinals 2: Zach Eflin pitched into the eighth inning, J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer and Philadelphia won at home.
Orioles 5, Rangers 2: Rio Ruiz and D.J. Stewart homered while Jorge Lopez struck out eight in five innings to propel Baltimore on the road.
Postponements: Toronto’s game at Kansas City was rained out and the Mets’ game against Colorado in Denver was snowed out. Both contests were rescheduled as part of doubleheaders Saturday . ... The White Sox-Red Sox game in Boston was postponed because of inclement weather and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader Sunday.