Sanchez helps Astros no-hit 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 right-hander teamed with Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski to shut down Seattle.

It was the second time in less than a month the last-place Mariners were no-hit 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) struck out six, walked two and hit a batter in his first victory since April 27 for Toronto.

Seattle’s Marco Gonzales

(12-9) allowed four runs in five innings.

Braves 5, Reds 4, 10 innings

ATLANTA — Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. hit an RBI single off Robert Stephenson with two outs in the 10th inning.

The Braves thought they had the game just about won in the eighth when Acuña drew a tiebreaking bases-loaded walk from Michael Lorenzen. But then Shane Greene, the new closer making his Braves debut after being acquired in a trade with Detroit, blew a save opportunity in the ninth.

Greene gave up consecutive singles to begin the inning before Tucker Barnhart’s flair single to left field scored the tying run.

Luke Jackson (6-2), who lost the closer’s job to Greene after the trade, earned the win after striking out the side in the 10th.

Trevor Bauer allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first start with Cincinnati after he was acquired in a trade with Cleveland. Jared Hughes (3-4) got the loss.

Cubs 4, Brewers 1

CHICAGO — Cole Hamels pitched five shutout innings for the Cubs after spending five weeks on the injured list, and Albert Almora Jr. connected for a tiebreaking homer.

Chicago lost All-Star catcher Willson Contreras to a right hamstring injury in the seventh. He’ll undergo an MRI on Monday.

Out since June 28 because of a strained left oblique, Hamels allowed four singles, struck out six and walked none.

Almora hit a solo drive in the seventh off Junior Guerra (3-3). Rowan Wick (1-0) got his first major league victory, and Craig Kimbrel earned his ninth save.

Ryan Braun singled in the lone run for the Brewers, who have dropped five of six.

Athletics 8, Cardinals 3

OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland’s Mike Fiers took a shutout into the sixth inning for his eighth consecutive win.

Pinch-hitter Chad Pinder delivered a three-run homer to keep the A’s unbeaten in three games against the Cardinals this season. Stephen Piscotty added two hits against his former team and made a leaping catch at the outfield wall to take away a hit from Matt Wieters in the fifth.

Paul Goldschmidt singled and doubled to extend his hitting streak to 11 games for St. Louis. Dakota Hudson (10-6) got the loss.

Fiers (10-3) allowed one run and six hits over 5 2/3 innings in his first start against St. Louis since 2015.