Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer as the surging Kansas City Royals won their third straight over host Cleveland, prevailing 6-1 on Tuesday to move into a first-place tie with the Guardians atop the American League Central.
Four Kansas City relievers retired the final 15 Cleveland hitters in order. James McArthur (5-5) got credit for the win.
The Guardians got their lone run in the fourth.Carlos Hernandez issued a two-out walk to David Fry, who went to second on Daniel Schneemann’s base hit and scored via Lane Thomas’ seeing-eye single.
Royals starter Michael Lorenzen departed in the second inning with a left hamstring strain apparently sustained while covering first base on a ground ball. He had been 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA in four starts since being acquired from the Texas Rangers.
Orioles 3, Dodgers 2
Ramon Urias hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the fifth inning and Baltimore opened a three-game series between two of the top teams in the major leagues with a win in Los Angeles.
Ryan O’Hearn also hit a home run for the Orioles, who are 19-18 since the All-Star break and pulled within a game of the first-place New York Yankees in the American League East.
Shohei Ohtani had two hits and a run for the Dodgers, while Miguel Rojas and Teoscar Hernandez each drove in a run. In his fifth start since joining Los Angeles at the trade deadline, right-hander Jack Flaherty (10-6) gave up three runs on six hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out five.
Mets 8, Diamondbacks 3
Sean Manaea matched his season high of 11 strikeouts while tossing 6 2/3 solid innings to help New York beat Arizona in Phoenix.
Pete Alonso homered, Jeff McNeil had two RBIs and Brandon Nimmo had three hits as New York won for the seventh time in 11 games. The Mets are three games behind the Atlanta Braves for the National League’s final wild-card spot. Manaea (10-5) served up two homers in the seventh inning after allowing just one hit over the first six innings. Overall, he gave up three runs and four hits while issuing no walks.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a solo homer and Corbin Carroll had a two-run shot for the Diamondbacks, who lost for just the seventh time in their past 31 games. The Diamondbacks are in a virtual tie for the top wild-card spot in the NL with the San Diego Padres. Brandon Pfaadt (8-7) was charged with eight runs (six earned) and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.
Rays 3, Mariners 2
Jose Siri hit a go-ahead two-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning as Tampa Bay won in Seattle.
Yandy Diaz added a solo shot in the eighth for the Rays, who won for just the second time in their past six games. Rays reliever Edwin Uceta (2-0) got the victory and Manuel Rodriguez worked the ninth for his second save.
The Mariners lost for the second time in five games under new manager Dan Wilson and remained 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Houston Astros in the American League West. Mariners reliever JT Chargois (2-1) took the loss after Logan Gilbert struck out a season-high 10 in six shutout innings. Gilbert gave up four hits without walking a batter.
Marlins 9, Rockies 8
Jesus Sanchez hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run ninth inning and Miami rallied to beat Colorado in Denver.
It marked the second time this season that Miami scored five runs in the ninth against Colorado. The Marlins first did it at home on April 30 to force extra innings, and they went on to win that game 7-6. Sanchez finished with two hits and four RBIs. Kyle Stowers also went deep and added a triple and Griffin Conine tripled and doubled in his first career start. George Soriano (1-1) got the win, while Calvin Faucher picked up his fourth save of the year.
The ninth-inning rally by Miami spoiled a big night for Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who homered twice, doubled and drove in four runs. Charlie Blackmon and Sam Hilliard also homered, and Jacob Stallings had two hits.
Braves 8, Twins 6 (10 innings)
Ramon Laureano went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs and Atlanta outlasted Minnesota in 10 innings in Minneapolis.
Michael Harris II went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs for Atlanta, which won for the eighth time in the past 10 games. Marcell Ozuna finished 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Braves right-hander Raisel Iglesias (4-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win.
Trevor Larnach went 3-for-6 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Twins. Matt Wallner, Edouard Julien and Jose Miranda added one RBI apiece for Minnesota, which lost its third game in a row. Reliever Jhoan Duran (6-8) took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits in one-third inning.
Padres 7, Cardinals 5
Jake Cronenworth drove in the decisive run to lift visiting San Diego past St. Louis.
Manny Machado hit a home run as the Padres won for the fourth time in five games. Luis Arraez went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run. Padres starter Dylan Cease allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked four. Yuki Matsui (4-2) got the victory and Tanner Scott claimed his 20th save.
Paul Goldschmidt went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer for the Cardinals, who lost for the third time in four games. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas allowed four runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one. Reliever John King (3-3) took the loss.
Giants 5, Brewers 4
Mike Yastrzemski hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning as visiting San Francisco rode the long ball to a comeback victory over Milwaukee.
Grant McCray and Matt Chapman each hit solo homers for the Giants. Logan Webb’s streak of not allowing a home run ended at 43 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs on four hits in five-plus innings, including a two-run shot to Willy Adames in the sixth. Camilo Doval (5-1) finished the sixth for the victory, working into and out of a bases-loaded jam.
Rookie Jackson Chourio also hit a two-run homer for Milwaukee. Starter Tobias Myers lasted five innings and permitted three runs on three hits and a walk, with four strikeouts.
Nationals 4, Yankees 2
Patrick Corbin pitched six scoreless innings, Andres Chaparro and Jose Tena hit back-to-back homers and Washington beat visiting New York.
Dylan Crews, playing his second major league game, had the first two hits of his career for the Nationals. Corbin (4-12), who earned career victory No. 100 in his previous start, allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six on Tuesday. He won consecutive starts for the first time this year. Washington prevailed despite going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Aaron Judge had a double and a walk for the Yankees, who had won five of their past six. Gerrit Cole (5-3) allowed three runs on six hits over five innings. He walked one and fanned seven. Cole came into the game 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in four starts this month.
Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 3
Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu each went 2-for-4 and combined for three outfield assists on a strong defensive night as Boston beat visiting Toronto.
Duran now has 20 long balls on the year and is the first player in major league history to record 10 triples, 20 home runs, 30 stolen bases and 40 doubles in a single season, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Greg Weissert (3-2) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win in relief.
Toronto’s Will Wagner went 3-for-4 with two doubles and his first big-league home run. Daulton Varsho also homered, and he and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. logged two hits apiece. Yariel Rodriguez (1-6) allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings.
Cubs 9, Pirates 5
Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson each hit two-run homers during a five-run fourth inning and Chicago remained hot with a win in Pittsburgh.
Swanson had three RBIs for Chicago, which won for the eighth time in 11 games and moved a game over .500 for the first time since May 28. The Cubs have outscored the Pirates 27-13 in the first two games of the three-game series. Chicago starter Justin Steele (5-5) allowed two runs on six hits over five innings and improved to 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts this month.
Bryan De La Cruz doubled and homered for Pittsburgh, which has lost three of its past four games. Oneil Cruz had four hits and two RBIs.
Athletics 5, Reds 4
Max Schuemann and Lawrence Butler hit two-run homers in the seventh inning and visiting Oakland held on for a win against Cincinnati in the opener of their three-game series.
Zack Gelof added a solo shot in the eighth for Oakland, which has won two straight. A’s rookie right-hander Mitch Spence allowed one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked three. Michel Otanez (1-0) got the final two outs of the sixth to earn his first major league victory.
Reds right-hander Jacob Junis came out of the bullpen to make his first start of the season and retired all 12 batters he faced, striking out three. Tyler Stephenson had three hits and scored three runs for the Reds, who have lost four of five.
Phillies 5, Astros 0
Aaron Nola pitched seven strong innings and Nick Castellanos supplied a three-run homer to guide host Philadelphia to a victory over Houston.
Nola (12-6) yielded just four singles and a walk while striking out six en route to his first victory since July 11.
Jose Altuve registered two hits for the Astros, who have lost six of their past eight games. They will try to avoid a three-game series sweep on Wednesday.
Tigers 6, Angels 2
Kerry Carpenter homered and drove in three runs as host Detroit extended its winning streak to five games by defeating Los Angeles in a game delayed 2 hours, 45 minutes by inclement weather.
Jake Rogers and Riley Greene also homered for the Tigers. Brant Hurter (2-1) tossed five innings of two-run ball in his first career start. Jason Foley got the last out with two runners on to pick up his 18th save.
Taylor Ward scored and knocked in a run for the Angels, who have lost six straight. Los Angeles starter Johnny Cueto (0-2) gave up six runs in five innings.