Astros throw combined no-hitter against Mariners
HOUSTON — Aaron Sanchez looked like a reinvented pitcher in his Houston debut, throwing six stellar innings to start the Astros on a combined no-hitter Saturday night in their 9-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Sanchez was an All-Star in 2016 and led the American League in ERA, but he’s struggled badly this season and had lost 13 straight decisions to lead the majors with 14 losses. Three days after he was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline, the 27-year-old righthander teamed with Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski to shut down Seattle.
“Just trying to have a good first impression,” Sanchez said.
It was the second time in less than a month the last-place Mariners were nohit by multiple pitchers. The Los Angeles Angels used two pitchers in a combined no-hitter July 12 against Seattle on a night when they honored late left-hander Tyler Skaggs by all wearing his No. 45 in their first home game since his death.
Sanchez (4-14) was replaced by Will Harris to start the seventh after throwing 92 pitches.
Harris and Joe Biagini, also obtained from the Blue Jays in the same deal that netted Sanchez, each worked one inning before Devenski tossed a perfect ninth. He retired All-Star slugger Daniel Vogelbach on a routine fly for the final out, setting off an Astros celebration on the field.
Posey’s pinch-hit double lifts Giants over Rockies
DENVER — Pinch-hitter Buster Posey came through with a two-run double in the eighth inning to rally the San Francisco Giants past the Colorado Rockies 6-5 on Saturday night.
Scooter Gennett homered and Pablo Sandoval had three hits, including an RBI double, for San Francisco.
Posey batted with two on against reliever Carlos Estevez (1-2) and lined a ball to right field to score pinch-runner Kevin Pillar and Austin Slater. Will Smith got three outs for his 27th save.
Sam Coonrod (2-0) worked the seventh for the win.
Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon homered for the Rockies.
Sale fumes as Red Sox get swept by Yankees
NEW YORK — Chris Sale threw an 0-2 fastball at the letters past Gio Urshela in the fourth inning and didn’t get the call. He raised both arms as if to say, “What’s wrong?” and muttered at plate umpire Mike Estabrook. Sale’s outing in a doubleheader opener spun out of control from there, just like Boston’s season.
Cruz hits 3 homers as Twins beat K.C., 11-3
MINNEAPOLIS — Nelson Cruz hit three home runs in a game for the second time in 10 days, powering the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins over the Kansas City Royals 11-3 on Saturday night.
A day after he homered, doubled twice and drove in five runs, Cruz again had five RBIs.
Cruz hit a two-run homer in the first inning, a solo drive in the second and a two-run homer in the sixth. He didn’t get a chance at a record-tying fourth home run — he was left on deck when Jorge Polanco grounded out to end the eighth.
Cruz connected for a career-high three home runs on July 25 against the White Sox, and matched that mark against the Royals. He has 30 homers this year and 390 for his career, tying Graig Nettles for 62nd on the all-time list
Odor homers in 10th inning to lift Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas — Rougned Odor somehow managed to check his swing to get to a full count. The Texas Rangers second baseman, who has been climbing out of a season-long slump, ended the game on the next pitch.
Odor hit an opposite-field homer with two outs in the 10th inning Saturday night, depositing a ball into the visitors bullpen in left-center, to give the Rangers a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers and their first series victory in more than a month.
Diamondbacks hit 5 HRs in 18-7 rout of Nationals
PHOENIX — Eduardo Escobar had two of Arizona’s five home runs and drove in a career-high seven runs to help the Diamondbacks beat Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals 18-7 Saturday night.
Nick Ahmed, Jake Lamb and Alex Avila also homered as Arizona knocked Strasburg around for the second time this season.
Strasburg (14-5) entered with a sevengame winning streak, but gave up three homers and nine runs before leaving with two outs in the fifth inning. The Diamondbacks have roughed up the Nationals’ right-hander for seven homers and 15 runs in his two starts against them, and were the last team to beat him with a 10-3 victory June 15.