Cole strikes out nine as Yankees beat Angels

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning and struck out nine in his return from the Covid-19 injured list, Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer and the New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 Monday night.

New York has won 10 of 13 and pulled within two games of idle Boston for an AL wild-card spot. The Yankees open a three-game series against the Red Sox with a day-night doubleheader Tuesday.

Cole (11-6) went 5 2/3 innings, the only damage against him coming on Justin Upton's homer in the first. The Yankees' ace walked one batter and threw 90 pitches.

Gallo hit his 29th homer in the first inning against José Suarez (56).

Chad Green closed out the ninth for his fourth save.

Shohei Ohtani was 0 for 4 after homering three times in three games at Yankee Stadium during the Angels' previous visit.

BRAVES 12, MARLINS 2

MIAMI (AP) — Freddie Freeman and Adam Duvall homered in a seven-run fourth inning, and surging Atlanta beat Miami.

Freeman also singled twice while Ozzie Albies had three hits and three RBIs for the NL Eastleading Braves, who have won four straight and 11 of 13.

Trailing 2-1, Atlanta broke it open against Miami starter Braxton Garrett (1-2) and reliever Paul Campbell in the fourth. Freeman hit a three-run blast and Duvall added a two-run shot.

Touki Toussaint (2-2) limited the Marlins to two runs and three hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered in the first and Isan Díaz went deep in the second for the Marlins, whose four-game winning streak ended.

REDS 14, CUBS 5

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jonathan India homered and drove in five runs, Wade Miley threw seven shutout innings and Cincinnati sent Chicago to its 12th straight loss.

Joey Votto got the 2,000th hit of his career, a solid single in the seventh. Votto came up again later in the inning and drove in a run with another base hit during an eight-run Reds outburst.

Miley (10-4) allowed four hits and struck out seven as the second-place Reds won for the ninth time in 13 games and moved within 7 1/2 games of idle Milwaukee in the NL Central.

Cubs right-hander Justin Steele (2-2) allowed five hits and two runs over four innings.

DODGERS 2, PIRATES 1

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Max Muncy hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and Los Angeles extended its winning streak to four games with a victory over Pittsburgh.

Billy McKinney's solo shot tied the game in the seventh.

The Dodgers' winning streak over the Pirates reached 14 games and they've won 11 in a row against them at home.

Blake Treinen (3-5) got the win in relief. He struck out two in 1 1/3 innings. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 24th save.