MLB roundup: Behind Aaron Judge's 3 homers, Yanks end skid

 

[August 24, 2023]  Aaron Judge produced his first career three-homer game as the host New York Yankees cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Washington Nationals and snapped their first nine-game losing streak since 1982 on Wednesday night.

The Yankees won for the first time since Aug. 11 and avoided their first 10-game skid since 1913. New York also got the win after general manager Brian Cashman labeled the season "a disaster" in a lengthy pregame press conference.

In the first, Judge opened the scoring with a solo shot off MacKenzie Gore (6-10), giving the Yankees their first lead in 61 innings. According to OptaSTATS, it was the third-longest streak without a lead in team history and two innings shy of the team record set in August 1906.

Judge gave the Yankees a 6-0 lead in the second when he hit his fifth career grand slam then became the 25th player in team history to record a three-home-run game with a solo shot in the seventh. New York's Luis Severino (3-8) didn't allow a run and surrendered just one hit, matching a season high with 6 2/3 innings.

Reds 9, Angels 4 (Game 1)

Elly De La Cruz hit a towering three-run homer, tripled and drove in a career-high six runs to lead Cincinnati to a victory over Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif., in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

The game was overshadowed by the early departure of Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. He left in the second inning after just 26 pitches due to what was termed arm fatigue, and the team announced late Wednesday night that he wouldn't pitch again this year because of a torn elbow ligament.

Spencer Steer had three hits and two RBIs for the Reds. Reliever Buck Farmer (4-5) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win. Tyler Anderson (5-5), who replaced Ohtani, yielded four runs, one earned, in 4 2/3 innings.

Reds 7, Angels 3 (Game 2)

Matt McLain completed a spectacular homecoming trip with a two-run homer and three RBIs to lead Cincinnati past Los Angeles, completing a doubleheader and three-game series sweep in Anaheim, Calif.

McLain, an Orange County native who starred at nearby UCLA, scored five times in the two games Wednesday and homered twice in the three-game set. Steer, another Southern California native, went 5-for-10 in the series.

The Reds completed their first sweep of a doubleheader of nine-inning games since July 8, 2014. Angels starter Reid Detmers (3-10) gave up four runs in five innings. Ohtani returned to action as the designated hitter and went 1-for-5.

White Sox 5, Mariners 4 (10 innings)

Tim Anderson scored on a throwing error in the 10th inning to lift Chicago to a win against visiting Seattle, ending the White Sox's eight-game winning streak.

Trayce Thompson blasted a two-run homer for the White Sox, who had lost five of their past six games and nine of their past 12. Anderson was playing his first game since serving a five-game suspension for his involvement in a brawl with the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 5.

Mariners starter George Kirby allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. Josh Rojas had three hits, an RBI and a run for Seattle.

Orioles 7, Blue Jays 0

Dean Kremer pitched six scoreless innings, Anthony Santander homered twice and Baltimore pulled away late for a win against visiting Toronto to even a three-game series.

Kremer (12-5), who pitched in place of scheduled starter Jack Flaherty, allowed five singles. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter. Three Orioles relievers retired nine straight Blue Jays.

Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (9-8) gave up two runs on five hits in six innings against his former team.

Braves 7, Mets 0

Charlie Morton pitched seven scoreless innings and Marcell Ozuna continued his torrid hitting with four RBIs to lift Atlanta past visiting New York in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Morton (13-10) allowed only two hits -- a pair of doubles by DJ Stewart -- and walked one to extend his streak of scoreless innings to 18. He struck out a season-high 11 batters.

Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer for the Braves, and Austin Riley finished with two hits and two runs. Mets starter Jose Quintana (1-5) gave up five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Cubs 6, Tigers 4

Cody Bellinger drove in two runs, Yan Gomes knocked in the go-ahead run and visiting Chicago downed Detroit.

Julian Merryweather (5-1) recorded three strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings of relief and picked up the win. Adbert Alzolay survived a shaky ninth for his 19th save in a game that was delayed 35 minutes by inclement weather.

Kerry Carpenter hit a grand slam for the Tigers. Detroit starter Tarik Skubal allowed four runs and struck out seven in six innings. Cubs starter Jameson Taillon had a no-hitter through five innings but gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Giants 8, Phillies 6 (10 innings)

Paul DeJong homered, singled twice and drove in four runs, Wilmer Flores homered, singled and knocked in two runs and San Francisco defeated host Philadelphia.

Giants closer Camilo Doval blew a save for the second day in a row, allowing a three-run, game-tying home run to Bryce Harper in the ninth inning, forcing extras. Jakob Junis (4-3) earned the win, and Ryan Walker, the 10th San Francisco pitcher, picked up his first career save.

Aug 23, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) cannot field a ground ball hit for a single by Los Angeles Angels right fielder Hunter Renfroe (not pictured) during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel (7-4) took the loss. Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner hit back-to-back homers to open the sixth for Philadelphia.

Brewers 8, Twins 7 (10 innings)

Brice Turang hit a walk-off RBI infield single as Milwaukee edged visiting Minnesota to complete a two-game series sweep.

Trailing 7-6 entering the bottom of the 10th, Milwaukee drew even when automatic runner Carlos Santana scored on a hit by Willy Adames, who homered earlier. Turang delivered with two outs, giving the Brewers their fifth straight win.

Elvis Peguero (4-4) allowed Ryan Jeffers' RBI single in the top of the 10th, but he still came away with the win. Lewis and Michael A. Taylor each hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who have lost three of their past four games.

Rays 6, Rockies 5 (10 innings)

Brandon Lowe rapped a walk-off single in the 10th inning as Tampa Bay rallied for the second straight night, beating Colorado in St. Petersburg, Fla.

After the Rays scored twice in the ninth to take it to extra innings, Lowe drilled a 1-1 pitch from Brent Suter (4-2) to score automatic runner Osleivis Basabe. It was the Rays' third straight win and their 15th in the past 23 games.

Pete Fairbanks (2-4) tossed a perfect 10th inning with two strikeouts against Colorado, which got a stellar performance from Elias Diaz (3-for-4, homer, three RBIs, two runs).

Red Sox 7, Astros 5 (10 innings)

Adam Duvall homered for the third time in as many games, clubbing a three-run home run in the 10th inning to lift visiting Boston past Houston to salvage the finale of a three-game series.

Boston reliever Josh Winckowski allowed a run in the bottom of the 10th but stranded the bases loaded to earn his third save. Nick Pivetta (9-6) got two outs after entering suddenly in the ninth when closer Kenley Jansen departed due to right hamstring tightness.

Astros right-handers Seth Martinez, Hector Neris, Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly and Kendall Graveman (3-6) combined to retire 14 consecutive batters before the Red Sox began their winning rally with one out in the 10th.

Cardinals 6, Pirates 4

Richie Palacios and Nolan Arenado each hit a two-run double as visiting St. Louis topped Pittsburgh to avoid a series sweep.

Paul Goldschmidt added an RBI single for the Cardinals. St. Louis starter Zack Thompson (3-5) gave up two runs and six hits in five innings. JoJo Romero got a two-inning save, his third.

Ke'Bryan Hayes homered and Connor Joe hit an RBI double for the Pirates. Pittsburgh starter Luis Oritz (2-4) allowed five runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Royals 4, Athletics 0

Dairon Blanco hit his first major league home run, Cole Ragans struck out a career-high-tying 11 and Kansas City avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of host Oakland.

Bobby Witt Jr. also homered for the Royals. Ragans (5-4) and three relievers combined on a two-hitter. Both hits came off Ragans in his six innings, but he issued no walks.

After A's opener Adrian Martinez (0-2) had matched zeros with Ragans for two innings, Blanco launched a homer leading off the third. The 30-year-old rookie was making his 103rd career plate appearance.

Padres 4, Marlins 0

Seth Lugo and three relievers combined for a four-hit shutout and Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run home run as San Diego defeated visiting Miami in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Lugo yielded three hits and a walk in six innings. Garrett Cooper had two hits for the Padres, who finished 5-5 on their longest homestand of the season.

All four Padres runs came off Sandy Alcantara (6-11) in his 6 2/3 innings.

The Marlins lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Dodgers 3, Guardians 1 (suspended)

Los Angeles' contest at Cleveland was suspended after two innings due to inclement weather. The game will be completed on Thursday ahead of the teams' regularly scheduled game.

The Dodgers jumped on Cleveland starter Xzavion Curry for three runs in the first inning. After two singles, Will Smith hit a sacrifice fly, and three batters later, Enrique Hernandez produced a two-run double.

Jose Ramirez got the Guardians on the board with a solo homer off Los Angeles starter Clayton Kershaw in the bottom of the first.

--Field Level Media

[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.