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MLB roundup: Verlander, Astros dump D-backs

[September 17, 2018] George Springer singled and scored twice, and Josh Reddick homered for a second consecutive game as the Houston Astros claimed the rubber match of a three-game interleague series with the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks with a 5-4 victory on Sunday.

Houston's Justin Verlander (16-9) worked seven strong innings, producing his 11th double-digit strikeout game on the season. Verlander increased his season strikeout total to 269, matching his career high set in 2009 with the Detroit Tigers.

The first-place Astros stretched their lead over the Oakland Athletics in the American League West to 4 1/2 games. The third-place Diamondbacks fell 4 1/2 games behind the Colorado Rockies in the National League West.

Reddick smacked his 15th home run leading off the seventh inning, golfing a curveball from Zack Greinke (14-10) into the right field seats for a 3-1 lead.

Rockies 3, Giants 2

Antonio Senzatela earned the win by tossing five-plus solid innings and gave Colorado a lead it never relinquished with a two-run single in the second inning of a victory at San Francisco.

The Rockies avoided being swept in the three-game series, then moved back into first place in the National League West when the Los Angeles Dodgers lost Sunday night. Colorado holds a half-game edge in the division. The Giants fell to 2-12 in September.

Senzatela (5-6) allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out five in earning his first victory since July 28.

Cardinals 5, Dodgers 0

Adam Wainwright struck out nine in his second start since returning from the disabled list, and Marcell Ozuna hit a home run as St. Louis avoided a four-game sweep with a victory over visiting Los Angeles.

Wainwright (2-3) gave up just two hits and three walks over six scoreless innings, helping the Cardinals end a four-game losing streak. He threw 101 pitches just six days after returning from four months away due to right elbow inflammation.

The Cardinals, who had swept a three-game series at Dodger Stadium last month, moved into a tie with Los Angeles for the second NL wild-card position.

Red Sox 4, Mets 3

Andrew Benintendi lofted the tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning as Boston edged visiting New York.

The Red Sox won the final two games of the three-game series. Their magic number for winning the American League East dropped to two. Boston will have a chance to clinch the division at the Yankees' expense when the rivals begin a three-game series in the Bronx on Tuesday afternoon.

Boston starter Chris Sale, in his second outing since coming off the disabled list, pitched three scoreless innings. Brandon Workman (6-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win, and Steven Wright handled the ninth for his first save.

Blue Jays 3, Yankees 2

Dellin Betances allowed four hits in the eighth inning, including a go-ahead double by Randal Grichuk, as New York fell to visiting Toronto.

Betances (4-6) entered in a 2-1 game and faltered from the outset, allowing singles to Reese McGuire and Justin Smoak to put runners at first and third with one out. He coughed up the lead when rookie Rowdy Tellez slapped a two-strike single into left field to tie the game.

Following a mound visit by pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Grichuk hit a go-ahead double into right field that scored pinch runner Kevin Pillar. The Yankees fell to 8-11 in their past 19 games.

Angels 4, Mariners 3

Kole Calhoun hit a tiebreaking homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, lifting Los Angeles to a victory over Seattle in Anaheim, Calif.

Calhoun halted his 0-for-25 skid when he drove a full-count cutter from Nick Vincent (3-4) over the center field fence. It was Calhoun's 19th homer, first since Sept. 1 and fourth against the Mariners this year.

The Angels avoided getting swept at home in a four-game series to Seattle for the first time since July 9-12, 2005.

Padres 7, Rangers 3

Rookie Francisco Mejia hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, giving San Diego a come-from-behind win over visiting Texas.

Hitting from the right side against left-handed reliever Jeffrey Springs, the switch-hitting Mejia drove the first pitch 386 feet into the left field stands. It was Mejia's third homer since being promoted by the Padres from Triple-A El Paso on Sept. 4.

The Padres entered the inning trailing 3-2, but Franmil Reyes singled with one out, and pinch runner Travis Jankowski scored on a double by Freddy Galvis to tie the game. After a flyout and two walks, Mejia ended the game.

Reds 2, Cubs 1

Scott Schebler and Phillip Ervin homered, and Luis Castillo pitched 6 2/3 strong innings as visiting Cincinnati broke Chicago's three-game winning streak.

Joey Votto had three hits for the Reds. Castillo (10-12) gave up only four hits and one run as the Reds broke an eight-game losing streak to the Cubs, who maintained a 2 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee in the National League Central.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) delivers a pitch during the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Albert Almora Jr. had one of the Cubs' five hits and drove in their only run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

Pirates 3, Brewers 2

Trevor Williams pitched six shutout innings, and Corey Dickerson had three hits, scored two runs and drove in another as visiting Pittsburgh outlasted Milwaukee.

Williams (13-9) surrendered just two hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez allowed back-to-back home runs to Jesus Aguilar and pinch hitter Domingo Sanchez with no outs in the ninth before earning his 34th save.

Nationals 6, Braves 4

Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon each hit two-run homers to power Washington past host Atlanta.

Harper (2-for-3, two walks) and Rendon (3-for-4, one walk) combined to score five runs and drive in four more as Washington won its second straight over the Braves and improved to 6-2 in its past eight games.

Tanner Roark (9-15) allowed two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings for his first win since Aug. 16, snapping a five-start winless streak that included three losses. Sean Doolittle pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his 24th save.

Marlins 6, Phillies 4

Jose Urena pitched five strong innings, and Peter O'Brien hit a go-ahead home run as Miami won at Philadelphia to avert a three-game sweep.

The Marlins snapped a five-game skid. Urena (7-12) allowed one run on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Since being ejected and subsequently suspended after hitting Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr. on his first pitch of the game on Aug. 15, Urena is 4-0 with a 2.16 ERA and has allowed one earned run in four of his past five starts, flashing the form he showed in 2017 when he went 14-7.

Rays 5, A's 4

C.J. Cron and Willy Adames hit home runs to back the combined four-hit effort of eight pitchers, sending Tampa Bay past Oakland at St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Rays barely held on after taking a 5-0 lead into the ninth. Khris Davis greeted closer Sergio Romo with a first-pitch grand slam one out after Jake Faria had walked Matt Joyce, Nick Martini and Matt Chapman to open the inning.

Romo then struck out Matt Olson and got Stephen Piscotty to fly out to claim his 21st save.

Tigers 6, Indians 4

Jim Adduci hit a go-ahead three-run homer and drove in four runs, and Francisco Liriano tossed seven strong innings to lead Detroit to a victory at Cleveland.

Mikie Mahtook hit a solo homer and Jeimer Candelario had three hits and scored two runs for Detroit, which took two of three games in the series. Rookie Christin Stewart supplied three hits, a run and an RBI.

Liriano (5-10) held the Indians to three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out seven. Shane Greene recorded his 30th save despite giving up a ninth-inning run.

Twins 9, Royals 6

Jorge Polanco and Johnny Field each had four hits -- including solo home runs -- and two RBIs, to help Minnesota win at Kansas City and salvage one game in a four-game series.

Max Kepler and Tyler Austin also hit solo shots for the Twins, who had 18 hits in ending an eight-game Kauffman Stadium losing streak after winning their first game of the season there May 28. They also ended an eight-game losing streak on the road.

Kyle Gibson (8-13) allowed five runs and 11 hits while striking out six in 6 2/3 innings for his first win since Aug. 17.

Orioles 8, White Sox 4

Jonathan Villar and Adam Jones both homered and drove in two runs, and Baltimore scored five times in the first inning en route to a victory over visiting Chicago.

The White Sox failed in their bid for a three-game sweep.

Orioles reliever Ryan Meisinger (1-0) got the final two outs in the fifth inning for his first major league win. The Baltimore bullpen blanked Chicago over the final 4 2/3 innings, and Paul Fry (1 2/3 innings) picked up his first major league save.

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