Baseball Capsules
August 16, 2016
CLEVELAND (AP) David Ortiz hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in a three-run sixth inning, and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians 3-2 on Monday to extend their winning streak to four.
Ortiz's 27th home run of his farewell season was the 530th of his big league career. Ortiz homered in all three games the Red Sox played in Cleveland this season.
One out later, Jackie Bradley Jr. also homered off Josh Tomlin (11-6), who has given up a major league-leading 29 home runs this season.
Drew Pomeranz (1-2) allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings to win for the first time since he was acquired from San Diego on July 14. He had been 0-2 in five starts for the Red Sox.
Selected by Cleveland with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 amateur draft, Pomeranz gave up Rajai Davis' leadoff homer in the fourth and RBI double in the eighth.
Craig Kimbrel escaped a ninth-inning jam for his 20th save in 22 chances.
AL Central-leading Cleveland had won its previous four games.
The game was a makeup of an April 7 postponement caused by snow and cold.
YANKEES 1, BLUE JAYS 0
NEW YORK (AP) - Chad Green struck out 11 in six dominant innings, Aaron Judge delivered again with an RBI double and Dellin Betances escaped a big ninth-inning jam, leading New York over Toronto.
Betances got major league RBI leader Edwin Encarnacion to ground into a game-ending, around-the-horn double play with runners at the corners.
The Yankees won for the fifth time in six games, taking the first 1-0 decision between the teams since 2005. They dropped Toronto percentage points out of first place in the AL East and pulled within 5 1/2 games of new division leader Baltimore.
Promoted earlier in the day from Triple-A for his fifth stint of the season with the Yankees, Green (2-2) was in complete control. He gave up two hits, walked none and outpitched R.A. Dickey (8-13).
Tyler Clippard, Adam Warren and Betances combined for scoreless relief. Betances held on for his fifth save as the Yankees stopped a five-game losing streak to Toronto.
ROYALS 3, TIGERS 1
DETROIT (AP) - Ian Kennedy pitched effectively into the seventh inning to win for the first time since June 26 as Kansas City beat Detroit.
The Tigers lost Miguel Cabrera after four innings to a strained left biceps. Cabrera appeared to injure himself in a first-inning collision with Cheslor Cuthbert at first base, but batted twice before leaving the game.
Detroit said the slugger is day to day.
Kennedy (7-9) ended an eight-start winless streak, allowing one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Three relievers finished, with Kelvin Herrera pitching the ninth for his fifth save.
Daniel Norris (1-1) gave up two runs - one earned - in 5 1/3 innings. He made the error that led to the unearned run.
J.D. Martinez homered for Detroit.
RANGERS 5, ATHLETICS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Adrian Beltre hit a grand slam not long after Texas ended a 24-inning scoreless streak, and Martin Perez earned his first win since late June to lead the Rangers over Oakland.
Beltre's 100th home run at Globe Life Park came against former teammate Ross Detwiler (1-1) in the fifth with Texas trailing 2-1. His 10th career slam came three batters after Shin-Soo Choo broke his left forearm when he was hit by a pitch.
The AL West-leading Rangers were coming off consecutive shutout losses at home to Detroit.
Perez (8-8) gave up two runs - one earned - in seven innings. He had gone 0-4 over his past eight starts.
Sam Dyson closed for his 27th save.
Beltre's 19th homer gave him 432 to break a tie with Cal Ripken on the career list.
MARLINS 6, REDS 3
CINCINNATI (AP) - Chris Johnson drove in two runs with a homer and a double, former reliever David Phelps pitched into the sixth inning in his third start of the season and Miami won the opener of its four-game series against Cincinnati.
Marcell Ozuna also homered and Dee Gordon beat Joey Votto's high toss to pitcher Blake Wood covering first base for a bases-loaded, two-run infield single. The wild card-contending Marlins have won two straight after a three-game skid. Both wins have come since Giancarlo Stanton was lost Saturday for what is expected to be at least six weeks with a groin injury.
Phelps (6-6) struck out a season-high eight while allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Fernando Rodney got three outs for his 21st save in 23 tries.
Scott Schebler homered for the Reds to snap an 0-for-28 slump. Brandon Finnegan (7-9) allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
RAYS 8, PADRES 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Drew Smyly allowed just a solo homer over seven innings of one-hit ball, and Tampa Bay got home runs from Logan Forsythe and Kevin Kiermaier in its victory over San Diego.
Alexei Ramirez hit his fifth homer and Derek Norris walked twice - those were the only baserunners against Smyly (5-11).
Brad Boxberger and Kevin Jepsen completed the three-hitter, with Jepsen allowing a single to Wil Myers and a homer to Yangervis Solarte in the ninth.
Forsythe hit his fifth homer in his last 13 games off Luis Perdomo (5-7). Kiermaier had a three-run drive in a five-run eighth that made it 8-1. He had three hits and two stolen bases.
NATIONALS 5, ROCKIES 4
DENVER (AP) - Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos homered, Bryce Harper doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Washington beat skidding Colorado despite a lackluster start from Max Scherzer.
Washington's bullpen pitched five scoreless innings and Colorado-native Mark Melancon earned his 34th save in 37 chances. Sammy Solis (2-3) got the win.
The NL East leaders have won three straight and four of five.
Werth hit a two-run homer and reached safely three times to extend his on-base streak to a career-best 43 games. The stretch is the longest in the majors this season it ties Ryan Zimmerman for the Nationals record.
DJ LeMahieu had four hits and Charlie Blackmon hit his sixth home run in four games. Still, the Rockies have lost eight of nine.
Jordan Lyles (3-4) took the loss.
PIRATES 8, GIANTS 5
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Gregory Polanco had a homer and four RBIs, Ryan Vogelsong won in his return to AT&T Park and Pittsburgh beat San Francisco.
Andrew McCutchen added two hits, two RBIs and a spectacular catch in the eighth inning to help Pittsburgh move within one game of idle St. Louis for the second NL wild card.
That was enough for Vogelsong (2-2) to win despite an up-and-down outing.
Vogelsong, who spent parts of seven seasons with the Giants and won two World Series, allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings. He received an extended standing ovation in the first inning and again when he left in the sixth.
The right-hander won for the first time since coming off the 60-day disabled list after being hit in the face by a pitch on May 23.
Denard Span had three hits, including a home run, and Eduardo Nunez also went deep for the Giants.
Polanco hit a two-run double off starter Matt Moore (0-2) and drove in two more with his 17th homer.
Tony Watson, the fourth Pirates reliever, retired three batters for his sixth save.
DIAMONDBACKS 10, METS 6
PHOENIX (AP) - Welington Castillo, just back from a six-day leave due to complications with the birth of his son, matched his career high of four hits to lead Arizona over New York.
Castillo doubled twice, drove in two runs and scored twice for the last-place Diamondbacks, who swept three games from the defending NL champions last week in New York.
Bartolo Colon (10-7) drew the first walk of his 19-year major league career but lasted just four innings.
Robbie Ray (5-11) allowed two runs in five innings for his first victory in five starts. One of his two walks went to the 43-year-old Colon on a 3-2 pitch. It came in Colon's 282nd career plate appearance. According to ESPN Stats & Info, no other player in major league history had that many plate appearances without walking.
Paul Goldschmidt had three hits, including a triple and a double. He scored three times. Yasmany Tomas hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
MARINERS 3, ANGELS 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Nelson Cruz hit his 30th home run to lead Felix Hernandez and Seattle past Los Angeles as the Angels matched a franchise record with their 11th consecutive defeat.
Hernandez (7-4) struck out eight and pitched into the seventh inning to help the Mariners remain two games behind Boston for the second AL wild card.
The Angels had lost 11 straight on three other occasions, but never under manager Mike Scioscia. Last in the AL West, Los Angeles (49-69) is a season-high 20 games under .500.
The last time the team dropped 11 in a row was during the 1999 season.
Ricky Nolasco (4-10) took the loss.
Mike Trout homered and stole his 20th base, marking the third time he's reached 20 home runs and 20 steals in a season.
Edwin Diaz earned his seventh save with a perfect ninth inning.