PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez allowed four hits in a complete-game victory, Max Kepler and Kyle Schwarber homered and the Phillies beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Sanchez (9-2) allowed two hits in the fourth inning and largely cruised through the other eight innings for his third career complete game. The 28-year-old left-hander retired the first nine Red Sox he faced before Rob Refsnyder led off the fourth inning with a home run. Sanchez allowed three other singles and struck out 12, throwing 106 total pitches.
The Phillies provided Sanchez with an early four-run lead. Bryce Harper provided the highlight when he surprised Red Sox starter Richard Fitts, whose high fastball wasn’t fast enough to catch Harper at home on a steal attempt.
Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez was seemingly stunned to see Harper heading home and came out of his crouch toward the plate. He caught the ball and applied a late tag. Harper’s sudden steal was technically negated by Narvaez’s tag, though it did count for a run scored.
It was the second straight night that Narvaez was involved in an odd play that figured in the outcome. On Monday night, he interfered with an Edmundo Sosa swing with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, gifting the Phillies (58-43) a walk-off win via catcher’s interference.
GUARDIANS 6, ORIOLES 3
CLEVELAND (AP) — Angel Martínez had three hits, José Ramírez homered and Cleveland defeated Baltimore for their fourth win in five games since the All-Star break.
Kyle Manzardo and Bryan Rocchio each drove in a pair of runs as the Guardians have won 10 of 12 after a 10-game losing streak to get back to .500 at 50-50.
Ramón Laureano went deep in the sixth inning for the Orioles, who have dropped four of five since the break.
Ramirez drove a 94.4 mile fastball near the top of the strike zone into the right-field seats off Baltimore’s Brandon Young (0-5) in the first inning. Seven of Ramirez’s 21 homers have come in the last 12 games.
Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo (2-0) did not allow a hit until the fifth inning, when Ramón Urías led off with a base hit down the left-field line. The left-hander allowed one run and two hits in five innings with four walks and five strikeouts.
PIRATES 8, TIGERS 5
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds and Tommy Pham each had three hits and two RBIs, and Pittsburgh hit eight doubles in a victory over Detroit.
Horwitz hit a two-run double in the second inning to open the scoring. The Pirates, who had lost 11 of their previous 12 games, have taken the first two games of the series from the AL Central leaders. Reynolds had RBI singles in the third and sixth and Pham doubled in a run in the sixth as the Pirates increased their lead to 8-3.
The Tigers have lost eight of their last nine games.
Mitch Keller (4-10) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings to win what could be his final start with the Pirates. The right-hander has been heavily rumored to be traded by the July 31 deadline.
David Bednar, another potential trade target, pitched a scoreless ninth for his 15th save in as many opportunities.
MARLINS 4, PADRES 3
MIAMI (AP) — Rookie Agustín Ramírez had two hits and scored two runs, and Miami held on to beat San Diego.
Kyle Stowers doubled and drove in a run while Heriberto Hernández singled twice and had an RBI for the Marlins.
Miami starter Edward Cabrera (4-4) scattered five hits and struck out six over 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball. It was Cabrera’s first outing since July 11 as his initial appearance following the All-Star break was delayed while he dealt with elbow discomfort.
Stowers’ RBI double capped a two-run first against Padres starter Stephen Kolek (3-5). Otto López put Miami on the board when he scored from third on a throwing error by San Diego third baseman Manny Machado.
NATIONALS 6. REDS 1
WASHINGTON (AP) — Josh Bell hit his 13th home run, Jacob Young and CJ Abrams contributed RBI doubles during the decisive fifth inning, and Washington defeated Cincinnati.
Riley Adams’ bases-loaded single produced the final three runs off Reds rookie right-hander Chase Burns (0-2) an inning later, the last scoring via throwing error, as the Nationals secured their first series victory since July 2-3 against Detroit.
Konnor Pilkington (1-0) worked two scoreless innings for his second career victory, and first with Washington, after rookie Brad Lord allowed a run through four innings in his first start since May 6.
Gavin Lux had four singles and drove in a fourth-inning run for the Reds (52-50), who have lost three straight after climbing a season-high five games above .500 on July 19.
RAYS 4, WHITE SOX 3
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — José Caballero had two hits and two RBIs and Tampa Bay scored all their runs in the second inning before holding on for a 4win over Chicago.
The loss was Chicago’s first since the All-Star break and snapped a season-high five-game winning streak.
Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen allowed two runs on three hits over four innings, walking one and striking out five. It was just the fifth time Rasmussen didn’t complete five innings, so Edwin Uceta (7-2) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Pete Fairbanks pitched the ninth for his 17th save.
White Sox starter Davis Martin (2-8), returning from a forearm strain, was charged with four runs — three earned — on three hits over five innings.
YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 4
TORONTO (AP) — Ben Rice hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger also homered and the New York beat Toronto.
Rice connected off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (6-3) for his 15th home run as the Yankees snapped a five-game losing streak against Toronto.
Ian Hamilton (2-1) got one out for the win and Devin Williams finished for his 15th save in 16 chances.
Addison Barger had two hits and George Springer reached base four times but Toronto’s franchise-record home winning streak ended at 11 games.
METS 3, ANGELS 2
NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Alvarez hit a tying homer in his second game back from the minors and Ryne Stanek retired Mike Trout with two runners aboard for the final out as the New York Mets rallied to beat the Los Angeles Angels..
Brandon Nimmo capped a three-run fifth inning with a go-ahead single, and Frankie Montas (3-1) won his third straight start. Juan Soto threw out a runner at home plate from right field in the first, denying Trout his 999th career RBI.
After overcoming a four-run deficit in Monday night’s series opener, New York won its third in a row.
Nolan Schanuel had a career-high four hits for the Angels, including an RBI double. Jorge Soler launched a solo homer, and Logan O’Hoppe finished with three hits.
Angels starter Kyle Hendricks (5-7) allowed only a pop-fly single through 4 2/3 innings before unraveling as the Mets banged out four consecutive hits.
GIANTS 9, BRAVES 0
ATLANTA (AP) — Rafael Devers was error free in his first career start at first base and added two hits and an RBI as San Francisco snapped a season-worst six-game skid with a win over Atlanta.
Devers was traded from Boston to the Giants in June after his relationship with management deteriorated less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023. The Red Sox signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training and asked Devers to move to designated hitter. He balked before agreeing, but when Boston first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury, he was approached about playing the position and he declined.
San Francisco starter Landen Roupp (7-6) gave up four hits and a walk with six strikeouts in five scoreless innings. The Giants have won five of Roupp’s last six starts.
Casey Schmitt hit a solo homer off Davis Daniel (0-1) to highlight San Francisco’s four-run second inning. Devers doubled to lead off the fifth and scored on a single by Willy Adames to make it 5-0.
Devers added an RBI single before Wilmer Flores hit a three-run home run in the seventh.
Matt Olson had three hits and Michael Harris II added two for the Braves.
RANGERS 6, ATHLETICS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom struck out nine and allowed a leadoff homer in six solid innings, and Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Adolis García homered as Texas beat the Athletics.
DeGrom (10-2) was making his first start since July 12. The All-Star right-hander opted not to pitch in the Midsummer Classic and settled down quickly after allowing a homer to Lawrence Butler at the start. DeGrom retired 10 straight A’s at one point and allowed just three hits while throwing 86 pitches, 60 for strikes.
Garcia’s homer in the fourth inning tied it and Texas went ahead to stay in the sixth on Semien’s 364-foot shot off the foul pole in left field that required replay review to be confirmed.
Seager’s 3-run shot highlighted a four-run seventh. The Rangers shortstop has reached base in 23 straight games.
Sean Newcomb (2-5) took the loss for the Athletics. Starter J.T. Ginn yielded one run in five innings, allowing five hits with two strikeouts.
CUBS 6, ROYALS 0
CHICAGO (AP) — Matthew Boyd pitched seven crisp innings for his 11th win, and Chicago spoiled Rich Hill’s return to the majors with a win over Kansas City.
Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson and Matt Shaw each had two hits as Chicago ended a two-game slide. Shaw, Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly had RBIs.
Boyd (11-3) gave up four hits, struck out six and walked one in winning his fifth straight start. The left-hander retired the first eight Royals batters and didn’t allow a hit until Nick Loftin led off the fifth with a line single.
Caleb Thielbar followed with a perfect eighth and Daniel Palencia worked around two singles in the ninth to complete a six-hitter.
Hill (0-1) became the oldest active player in baseball after the Royals selected the 45-year-old from Triple-A Omaha. He allowed three runs — one earned — and six hits in five innings. The left-hander threw 90 pitches (55 strikes), walking two and striking out one.
ROCKIES 8, CARDINALS 4
DENVER (AP) — Ryan McMahon hit a three-run home run, Bradley Blalock allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched and Colorado beat St. Louis.
Blalock (1-2) earned the win, giving up eight hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
Mickey Moniak hit a solo shot off Cardinals starter Erick Fedde (3-10) in the first, Adael Amador hit a two-run double in the second and McMahon’s homer in the third gave the Rockies a 6-0 advantage.
Ezequiel Tovar hit a two-out double and scored on Brenton Doyle’s single in the fifth.
Nolan Arenado and Masyn Winn each had an RBI in the fourth and Brendan Donovan’s double drove in Victor Scott II in the seventh. Jordan Walker hit a two-out double and scored on a pinch-hit double by Yohel Pozo to make it 7-4 in the eighth.
Moniak drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded to cap the scoring.
Fedde gave up six runs on seven hits in three innings pitched.
SEATTLE 1, BREWERS 0
SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit his major league-leading 39th home run of the season, Logan Gilbert tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings and Seattle snapped Milwaukee's 11-game winning streak,.
Raleigh, who hadn’t homered since July 11 against the Detroit Tigers, received an elevated fastball from Brewers right-hander Nick Mears (1-3) and hit it well past the right field wall.
The switch-hitting catcher, who won the All-Star Home Run Derby, provided all the offense on an evening headlined by the pitchers.
Gilbert (3-3) carried a perfect game bid into the fifth inning, and ended up yielding just two singles. The right-hander racked up 10 strikeouts against no walks while needing only 86 pitches to make it into the seventh inning, departing to a standing ovation.
Brewers’ rookie sensation Jacob Misiorowski was similarly brilliant. The righty struck out seven batters across 3 2/3 innings, yielding three hits while walking one. It wasn’t until Misiorowski departed that the Mariners finally pushed a run across and set up closer Andrés Muñoz for his 22nd save of the season.
ASTROS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 1
PHOENIX (AP) — Framber Valdez pitched seven effective innings for his 10th straight win, Brice Matthews hit his third homer in two games and Houston rallied to beat Arizona.
Valdez (11-4) allowed a run and seven hits to match Detroit’s Tarik Skubal for the majors’ longest win streak this season.
Matthews hit his first two big league homers in Houston’s 6-3 win Monday night and launched a two-run shot off Jake Woodford (0-1) in the eighth. Jose Altuve scored on a wild pitch to put Houston up 3-1 in the ninth.
Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez held the Astros in check before that, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
Arizona loaded the bases in the ninth, but Bryan King struck out Blaze Alexander and induced Jose Herrera into a game-ending double play for his first save.
TWINS 10, DODGERS 7
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Royce Lewis and Christian Vazquez each drove in three runs as Minnesota beat Los Angeles.
Lewis, a native of nearby Orange County, Calif., had a runs-scoring fielder’s choice in the second inning, a bases-loaded walk in the sixth, and a run-scoring grounder in the seventh that brought in two more runs on pitcher Edgardo Henriquez’s throwing error.
Reliever Brock Stewart (2-1) pitched a scoreless fifth inning to earn the win.
Andy Pages hit a three-run home run and Shohei Ohtani had a two-run shot for the Dodgers, who managed to end a six-game home losing streak Monday but have now dropped 11 of their past 14 overall since July 4. It is the first time Ohtani has hit a home run in four consecutive games.
The Associated Press