Cubs notch another victory over Padres
Joc Pederson and Sergio Alcantara homered, and Jake Arrieta threw five strong innings for the visiting Chicago Cubs, who beat former teammate Yu Darvish and the San Diego Padres 3-1 Wednesday to take two of three.
The Cubs beat the Padres five times in six games in a 10-day stretch, including a threegame sweep at Wrigley Field last week.
Darvish (6-2) retired the first nine Cubs batters before Pederson hit a towering homer to right-center leading off the fourth to tie it at 1.
Darvish pitched well but took the hard-luck loss when the Cubs scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Anthony Rizzo’s double-play ball. Darvish opened the inning by walking Ian Happ and allowing a single to right by Patrick Wisdom before Rizzo hit into a 4-6-3 double play to bring in Happ.
Arrieta gave up one run and four hits in five innings, struck out six and walked one. He allowed Manny Machado’s RBI single in the third. METS 14, ORIOLES 1 >> Kevin Pillar and Billy McKinney each homered twice, and New York beat Matt Harvey decisively for the second time this season, routing Baltimore.
Harvey, who helped New York win the NL pennant in 2015, has faced the Mets twice this year, on May 12 and on Wednesday. New York won the May matchup at Citi Field 7-1.
Harvey (3-7) allowed seven runs and eight hits in both games. He lasted 4 1/3 innings the first time and three innings Wednesday.
Pete Alonso and Mason Williams also homered for New York. Taijuan Walker (5-2) allowed a run and five hits in seven innings, with a walk and nine strikeouts.
PHILLIES 2, BRAVES 1 >> Luke Williams walked Philadelphia off with his first big league homer, hitting a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth to lift the Phillies over Atlanta.
The Phillies had just four hits and made 15 straight outs before Andrew McCutchen drew a one-out walk off Will Smith (1-5) in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Brad Miller popped out to second, bringing up Williams, who was promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday for his first taste of the majors. Williams drove an 0-1 slider over the wall in left. ASTROS 8, RED SOX 3 >> Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman homered to help Jake Odorizzi pick up his first win since 2019, and Houston rolled past Boston.
Houston has won three straight and will look to sweep the series in Thursday’s finale. Boston led 2-0 early, but the Astros responded with five quick runs to take control.
Odorizzi (1-3) allowed three runs and three hits over five innings, striking out six to post his first victory since Sept. 24, 2019 when he was still with Minnesota.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY PUSHED BACK >> The Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony has been moved to Sept. 8 and will take place with a limited crowd in an outdoor setting.
Originally scheduled for Sunday, July 25, the event honoring Class of 2020 members Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker will now be held on a Wednesday afternoon in Cooperstown, N.Y., based on Centers for Disease Control and New York state health guidelines.