MLB: Yanks rally past Astros for wild win.
HOUSTON — Aroldis Chapman struck out AL MVP Jose Altuve on three straight 101 mph fastballs with two on to end the game, and the New York Yankees got a key hit from rookie Gleyber Torres during a three-run rally in the ninth inning to seesaw past the Houston Astros 6-5 Thursday.
The Yankees won a wild one to take three of four from the team that beat them in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series last October. Astros closer Ken Giles, who punched himself in the face after a rough outing earlier in this series, didn’t pitch during New York’s late comeback.
New York took a 3-0 lead into the seventh, trailed 5-3 going into the ninth and let a bounced third strike give the Astros their final chance.
Pinch hitter Evan Gattis fanned but reached on Chapman’s twoout wild pitch that catcher Gary Sanchez couldn’t find near the plate, and George Springer followed with a single. Altuve went down swinging, giving Chapman his seventh save and the Yankees a 6-1 record on their road trip against the top two teams in the AL West.
Houston, which had been shut out two days in a row, scored four times in the seventh and Carlos Correa added a solo homer in the eighth. The Yankees quickly loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Will Harris (1-2) on a walk and singles by Miguel Andujar and pinch hitter Aaron Hicks.
Brad Peacock came in and Torres, who finished with three RBIs, hit a two-single to left that made it 5-all. With one out, Aaron Judge chopped a grounder that third baseman Alex Bregman charged — instead of trying to get Hicks at the plate, Bregman threw to second, hoping to start an inningending double play.
Altuve caught the ball for the forceout, but dropped it as Torres slid in. Hicks scored on the play for a 6-5 lead.
NATIONALS 3, PIRATES 1
In Washington, Trea Turner and Ryan Zimmerman homered in the sixth inning, helping the Nationals complete a four-game series sweep.
Jeremy Hellickson and four relievers combined on a five-hitter for Washington, which has won a season-high five in a row.
Sammy Solis (1-1) retired the only
batter he faced, ending the sixth to keep the game scoreless. Sean Doolittle recorded the last five outs for his sixth save.
Pittsburgh’s Trevor Williams (4-2) allowed only two runners over the first five innings. Wilmer Difo led off with a single, and after Bryce Harper flied out, Turner hit his second home run of the season.
Two batters later, Zimmerman connected for his fifth homer.
BRAVES 11, METS 0
In New York, Julio Teheran took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, 20-year-old Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his second big league home run and Atlanta finished a three-game sweep that vaulted the young Braves into the NL East lead.
Kurt Suzuki, Acuna and Nick Markakis homered as Atlanta built a 6-0 lead against Jason Vargas (0-2), and 21-year-old Ozzie Albies went deep off an equally shaky Matt Harvey.
The Braves opened a 1½-game division lead, the latest in a season they have been in first place since July 20, 2014.
Teheran (2-1) was virtually untouchable until Asdrubal Cabrera doubled down the right field line with two outs in the seventh.
DODGERS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 2
In Phoenix, Arizona reliever Jorge De La Rosa threw a pair of run-scoring wild pitches during an eighthinning rally that sent the Dodgers to the victory.
The Dodgers scored four times in the eighth and handed Arizona its first two-game losing streak this year. The four-game split ended the Diamondbacks’ string of nine straight series victories to start the season.
J.T. Chargois (1-0) pitched a
scoreless seventh to get the victory. Kenley Jansen earned his fifth save with a perfect ninth.
Fernando Salas (3-2) got the loss.
BLUE JAYS 13, INDIANS 11, (11 INNINGS) GAME 1; INDIANS 13, BLUE JAYS 4, GAME 2
In Cleveland, Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer and Adam Plutko won his first major league start as the Indians split an extra-long doubleheader with Toronto.
The victory in the second game was No. 1,500 for Terry Francona, who became the 24th manager to reach the milestone.
Erik Gonzalez had four RBIs for Cleveland. Plutko (1-0) allowing three runs — all on homers — and six hits in 7⅓ innings.
Blue Jays right-hander Joe Biagini (0-1) was tagged for 10 hits and six runs in 4⅓ innings.
In the opener, Toronto’s Yangervis Solarte hit his first career grand slam with two outs in the 11th inning. Solarte went 8 for 10 with seven RBIs in the doubleheader.
Tim Mayza (1-0), Toronto’s sixth reliever, pitched one inning for the win.
Francisco Lindor homered twice for the Indians. Tyler Olson (0-1) got the loss.
RANGERS 11, RED SOX 5
In Arlingon, Texas, Nomar Mazara drove in five runs while homering in his third straight game, and the Rangers handed former AL Cy Young Award winner David Price his third loss in a row.
Mazara hit a two-run double off Price (2-4) in the third. He belted a towering three-run homer in the fourth as the first batter after Price was pulled from the game. Mazara’s sixth homer gave Texas a 10-3 lead.
Mookie Betts connected again
for Boston in the third, his major
league-leading 12th homer coming a day after he went deep three times
at Fenway Park against Kansas City. Betts also had a two-run double and
a sacrifice fly. Mike Minor (3-1) worked six
innings for the win.
WHITE SOX 6, TWINS 5
In Chicago, Trayce Thompson homered with two out in the ninth, and the White Sox stopped a fourgame slide.
Thompson connected against former White Sox reliever Addison Reed (0-2), driving a 3-1 pitch 403 feet to left. It was Thompson’s third homer in 43 at-bats this season and third game-ending shot of his career.
Chicago trailed 5-1 in the fourth inning. Nate Jones (2-0) got the win, retiring his only batter.
Logan Morrison went deep in his first three-hit game for the Twins.
ROYALS 10, TIGERS 6
In Kansas City, Mo., Lucas Duda had three hits and drove in four runs, leading Kansas City to the victory.
Salvador Perez, Jorge Soler and Alex Gordon homered for the Royals, who have quietly gotten on track offensively after a miserable start.
Kansas City pounded out 13 hits in all against Mike Fiers and the Tigers’ bullpen. Reliever Chad Bell (0-1) allowed five runs and five hits in 1⅔ innings.
Eric Skoglund wasn’t much better on the mound for Kansas City, but Kyle McCarthy (3-0) wiggled out of a key sixth-inning jam before pitching a clean seventh to earn the victory in relief.
Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera left with a strained hamstring in the sixth inning. He planned to test it on Friday.
MARINERS 4, ATHLETICS 1
In Seattle, Dee Gordon had a big night on the bases, Nelson Cruz hit a two-run home run and the Mariners beat Oakland in their first game since Ichiro Suzuki was moved from the roster to the front office.
Hours after the Mariners announced Suzuki’s new role for the rest of 2018, Gordon gave the longtime Japanese star a fitting tribute. With “Thanks 51” written on his cap, Gordon went 3 for 4, stole two bases, scored twice, and set the table for the three-run third inning that proved the difference against the A’s and their emerging left-handed ace, Sean Manaea.
Gordon opened the game with an infield single and stolen base against Manaea, who threw this season’s only no-hitter April 21 against Boston. Jean Segura sacrificed Gordon to third, and Robinson Cano singled him in to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead.