Hamilton smashes two homers in Texas’ win
ARLINGTON, Texas—Josh Hamilton homered in his first two at-bats, his first homers since he belatedly began his major league season this week back with Texas, helping the Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 7-4 on Friday night.
Hamilton pulled both homers into the seats in right field off knuckleballer Steven Wright (2-2). The homers came in the second and fourth innings, on pitches measured at 74 and 66 mph. Wright uncorked a third-inning wild pitch to score a run.
Rangers right-hander Yovani Gallardo (5-6) limited the Red Sox to one earned run and four hits through six innings. Shawn Tolleson, who became Texas’ primary closer last week, recorded his sixth consecutive save.
Robinson Chirinos went 2 for 4 for Texas with a two-run double in the eighth inning.
Cardinals 3, Dodgers 0
ST. LOUIS—John Lackey worked seven scoreless innings and the St. Louis Cardinals got just enough off Mike Bolsinger to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 for their fifth straight victory on Friday night.
The Cardinals ended Bolsinger’s streak of 18 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings on Randal Grichuk’s bases-loaded double play ball in the first. Jhonny Peralta doubled twice with an RBI and Grichuk, starting in left field in place of ailing Matt Holliday, batted cleanup for the first time and had an RBI double in the third.
The Dodgers have been shut out four straight times on the road, inclduing getting outscored 10-0 in a three-game sweep at San Francisco May 19-21.
Lackey (3-3) struck out nine and allowed five hits.
Bolsinger (3-1) gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings.
Royals 8, Cubs 4
CHICAGO—The Kansas City Royals were sailing along with a three-run lead.
In a flash, they lost it. Then, they regrouped for a win they sorely needed.
Lorenzo Cain hit a tiebreaking RBI double and scored in a three-run eighth inning, and the Royals beat the Chicago Cubs 8-4 Friday to snap a four-game losing streak.
Alcides Escobar homered on the game’s first pitch. Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez also went deep, and the Royals came out on top after squandering a 4-1 lead.
Orioles 2, Rays 1
BALTIMORE—J.J. Hardy did what the Tampa Bay Rays could not: Come up with a clutch hit in the ninth inning.
Hardy’s single drove in the decisive run with two outs, Chris Davis homered and the Baltimore Orioles won 2-1 on Friday night to extend the Rays’ losing streak to six games.
Travis Snider led off the ninth with an infield hit off Brandon Gomes (1-2). With two outs, Davis greeted Xavier Cedeno with a single that advanced pinch-runner Everth Cabrera to third. Hardy then lined a single to left against Steve Geltz.
As the sellout crowd of 45,505 roared its approval, the Orioles mobbed Hardy between first and second base.
Reds 5, Nationals 2
CINCINNATI—A day after they learned they’ll miss outfielder Jayson Werth indefinitely, the Washington Nationals lost starter Stephen Strasburg at least temporarily.
Strasburg left after only 16 pitches because of a stiff neck, and Zack Cozart had three hits as the Cincinnati Reds rallied against Washington’s bullpen for a 5-2 victory on Friday night.
The Reds took advantage of Strasburg’s quick exit to win for only the second time in 12 games.
Marlins 4, Mets 3
NEW YORK—Matt Harvey came out blazing, quickly putting aside any of those “dead arm” issues the New York Mets worried about.
Throwing 99 mph heat, Harvey began with three perfect innings, striking out six. But then a bunt single broke the spell, and a three-run homer by rookie Justin Bour sent the Miami Marlins to a 4-3 victory Friday night.
The Mets’ three-game winning streak ended while Harvey’s winless string extended to five starts.
Rockies 4, Phillies 1
PHILADELPHIA—Cody Asche altered his approach against a shift and broke up a no-hit bid in the eighth inning.
The rest of the Philadelphia Phillies couldn’t do anything against Chad Bettis.
The right-hander retired the first 18 batters and took a no-hitter into the eighth, Troy Tulowitzki hit two solo homers and the Colorado Rockies beat the Phillies 4-1 on Friday night.