LDN - Sports

MLB roundup: Pollock helps Diamondbacks stay red hot

[April 28, 2018] Arizona center fielder A.J. Pollock had three hits, including a homer, scored three runs and drove in two as the Diamondbacks beat the Nationals in the first game of a three-game series Friday at Nationals Park.

Pollock homered in the second inning and tripled in a run and scored in a two-run sixth inning when the Diamondbacks took the lead for good. At 18-7, they have tied their best start in franchise history, set in 2008.

Daniel Descalso singled, walked, had two RBIs and scored a run for Arizona, which has won its first eight series, the first NL team to do that since the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers. Seattle won its first nine in 2001.

Howie Kendrick had three hits, including a homer, and Trea Turner and Matt Adams had two hits apiece for the Nationals, who have lost five of six. They had 11 hits but left 10 on base.

Giants 6, Dodgers 4

Reliever Pedro Baez balked in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Joe Panik followed with a sacrifice fly that capped a four-run rally, lifting San Francisco over Los Angeles in the opener of a four-game series in San Francisco.

After Los Angeles had scored four times and knocked out Giants starter Derek Holland in the fourth inning, San Francisco tied the game against the Dodgers' bullpen in the seventh. With runners on second and third, Baez entered the game but stumbled on the mound as he prepared to pitch to Panik, producing a balk that sent Hernandez home with the go-ahead run.

Tony Watson pitched a scoreless eighth for the Giants, stranding the potential tying runs on base, before Hunter Strickland retired the Dodgers 1-2-3 in the ninth, striking out a pair, for his sixth save. In all, five Giants relievers combined to shut out the Dodgers over the final 5 2/3 innings despite allowing four hits and three walks.

Yankees 4, Angels 3 (10 innings)

Didi Gregorius' home run in the top of the 10th inning lifted New York over Los Angeles at Angel Stadium.

The shortstop's 10th homer of the season off Angels reliever Blake Parker (0-1) capped a comeback that saw New York score once in the ninth to tie the game before Gregorius hit his game-winner, his third hit of the night.

David Robertson (1-0) got the win with a scoreless ninth, and Aroldis Chapman pitched the 10th for his fifth save in the Yankees' seventh straight win. After a 13-3 start, the Angels have lost seven of their past 10 games.

Indians 6, Mets 5

Corey Kluber struck out 10 and came within an out of a complete game as Cleveland hit three of their five homers in the bottom of the first inning and held on for a narrow victory over Seattle.

Kluber (4-1) allowed three runs and four hits but carved up Seattle's lineup by ending at-bats quickly and efficiently. He recorded his 41st career double-digit strikeout game and second this season and narrowly missed his 17th career complete game.

The right-hander threw 79 of 116 pitches for strikes and held Seattle's left-handed hitters to one hit in 13 at-bats before Kyle Seager singled with two outs in the ninth. He recorded eight strikeouts on three pitches while throwing first-pitch strikes to 21 hitters.

Mets 5, Padres 1

Jacob deGrom did not allow a run in 7 1/3 innings, and Asdrubal Cabrera had a hand in each of the Mets' first four runs as New York beat San Diego to snap a two-game losing streak.

DeGrom ran his record to 3-0 while striking out eight and walking three in a 110-pitch effort. All five of the Padres' hits were singles.

Matt Harvey, who has lost his spot in the Mets' rotation, pitched the ninth in relief and gave up a leadoff homer to Franchy Cordero to spoil the shutout before retiring the side.

Rangers 6, Blue Jays 4

Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer, Nomar Mazara and Ronald Guzman added two-run singles and visiting Texas defeated Toronto.

The loss in the opener of a three-game series was the third straight by the Blue Jays. The Rangers have won two in a row.

Mazara had three hits while Toronto's Justin Smoak was 4-for-4. Rangers left-hander Mike Minor (2-1) allowed four runs, nine hits and hit one batter while striking out four over six innings. He is 4-0 in his career against Toronto.

A's 8, Astros 1

Sean Manaea allowed an unearned run on four hits over seven innings of work and Matt Chapman, Chad Pinder and Mark Canha each hit home runs as Oakland rolled over Houston at Minute Maid Park.

Manaea (4-2), who no-hit the Red Sox on April 21 in his most recent start, struck out seven and walked just one, lowering his ERA to 1.03. Dallas Keuchel (1-4) took the loss for the Astros upon allowing six runs on seven hits in seven innings of work.

The win was the ninth in the past 11 games for the Athletics, who started the season 5-10 and now are 14-12. The Astros, who have lost three of their past four games (all to AL West rivals), managed just five hits off three Oakland pitchers.

Pirates 6, Cardinals 5 (11 innings)

Starling Marte hit a two-out RBI single in the 11th inning as Pittsburgh erased a five-run deficit Friday to beat visiting St. Louis.

Marte's hit up the middle came against reliever Jordan Hicks (1-1) and drove in David Freese, who walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on Gregory Polanco's groundout.

The Pirates, who won their third straight, trailed 5-0 before mounting the comeback, aided by two ninth-inning errors after they entered the ninth trailing 5-2.

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Rays 4, Red Sox 3

Wilson Ramos slugged a two-run homer and both Rob Refsnyder and Daniel Robertson clubbed solo shots as visiting Tampa Bay beat Boston at Fenway Park for its seventh straight victory.

Rays starter Blake Snell did not allow a baserunner until his fourth-inning walk of Mookie Betts and didn't give up a hit until Xander Bogaerts' leadoff single in the fifth. Snell (4-1) struck out nine over 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk. After losing 13 of its first 17 games, Tampa Bay has outscored its opponents 51-28 during its winning streak.

J.D. Martinez (2-for-4) had a pair of RBIs and Mookie Betts (2-for-3, walk) also drove in a run for Boston, which lost for the fourth time in six games.\\

White Sox 7, Royals 4 (11 innings)

Matt Davidson continued his mastery of Kansas City by hitting two homers, including the tie-breaking two-run blast in the top of the 11th inning, as Chicago picked up a road win at Kauffman Stadium.

The White Sox have won the first two games of the four-game series from the Royals, who have lost four straight and 14 of their last 16.

Davidson homered leading off the fourth to give the White Sox their first lead before he went deep with one out in the 11th against Tim Hill (0-1). It was the second straight multi-homer game for Davidson and his third of the season against the Royals, whom he victimized for three homers on Opening Day on March 29.

Reds 15, Twins 9

Jose Peraza belted two home runs and Joey Votto homered for the fourth straight game and reached base all six times he came to plate as visiting Cincinnati exploded for 20 hits -- eight of them in a six-run fifth inning -- in sending reeling Minnesota to its eighth straight loss.

It was the Twins' first game in Minnesota since April 12, because an entire weekend series with the White Sox was canceled due to rain and snow, and they were listed as the home team for a pair of games in Puerto Rico on April 17-18.

Peraza and Eugenio finished with four hits, right fielder Scott Schebler had two hits and three RBIs, and Votto and Scooter Gennett had three hits apiece. All nine of the players in the Reds' lineup had at least one RBI.

Phillies 7, Braves 3

Center fielder Odubel Herrera hit a pair of home runs to support a solid effort from starting pitcher Aaron Nola as Philadelphia beat Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park.

Herrera hit a three-run homer and a solo homer, his second and third of the season, and catcher Jorge Alfaro was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to spark the Philadelphia attack.

Nola (3-1) pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four. It was Nola's first win in three tries against Atlanta this season. The losing pitcher was Max Fried (0-2), who allowed one run in three innings with three strikeouts.

Rockies 1, Marlins 0

Relief pitcher Antonio Senzatela earned the win and smacked an RBI double to lead Colorado to victory over Miami at Marlins Park.

The Rockies, with 7 2/3 scoreless innings of relief pitching, won their third straight game and are 10-5 on the road this season.

Rockies starter Tyler Anderson lasted just 1 1/3 innings, leaving the game due to an abnormal heartbeat. He allowed just one hit, no walks and no runs and was replaced by Senzatela (2-1), who pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. The Rockies also lost second baseman DJ LeMahieu due to a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Pat Valaika.

Orioles 6, Tigers 0

Pedro Alvarez hit two home runs, Manny Machado added another and Chris Tillman allowed just one hit in seven shutout innings as Baltimore defeated Detroit, ending a five-game losing streak.

Tillman (1-4) struck out five, walked two and allowed only a Jose Iglesias double in the fifth inning. The right-hander had all of his pitches working, especially a changeup that repeatedly befuddled Detroit and helped the Orioles (7-19) finally earn a victory.

Detroit starter Mike Fiers (2-2) allowed three runs on four hits in six innings, but gave up two homers and left with the Tigers trailing 3-0.

Cubs 3, Brewers 2

Addison Russell led off the seventh inning with an infield hit and came around to score the eventual game-winning run on a two-out error, helping Chicago turn back Brewers in Chicago in the afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Brewers left-hander Brent Suter and Cubs righty Yu Darvish both pitched well, but neither was around for the seventh inning, during which Milwaukee rallied into a 2-all tie before Chicago countered with the difference-maker in the bottom of the frame.

Darvish had pitched the first six innings for the Cubs, allowing just three hits and an unearned run. He walked two and struck out eight. Suter was pulled after five effective innings, having given up two runs and five hits. He walked one and struck out three.

--Field Level Media

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