MLB roundup: Astros complete first sweep in Boston
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[August 31, 2023]
The Houston Astros capped their first-ever series sweep at
Fenway Park with a 7-4 win over the host Boston Red Sox on
Wednesday.
Jeremy Pena hit a double and a triple, scored two runs and drove in
another to pace Houston, which scored three runs in both the second
and third innings, added another in the fourth and held on for its
fifth consecutive victory.
Michael Brantley had two hits, two RBIs and a run, while Alex
Bregman and Martin Maldonado each added two hits and an RBI.
Astros starter Framber Valdez (10-9) struck out five across six
innings of five-hit ball. He allowed four runs (two earned). Ryan
Pressly threw a scoreless ninth to notch his 29th save. Red Sox
starter Kutter Crawford (6-7) was tagged for six runs on seven hits
across 2 2/3 innings.
Mariners 5, A's 4
Teoscar Hernandez hit a three-run homer as Seattle rallied past
Oakland to remain in a tie for first place in the American League
West. It was the Mariners' 21st victory in August, a franchise
record for wins in a month.
Mariners reliever Justin Topa (4-4) earned the victory despite
giving up a go-ahead run in one inning pitched, and Andres Munoz
pitched the ninth for his 11th save of the season.
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J.P. Crawford looped a two-run single off Kirby Snead (1-2) in the
seventh inning to turn a one-run deficit into the Mariners' first
lead of the game and proved to be the game-winning hit.
Yankees 6, Tigers 2
Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in two runs, Gleyber Torres went
deep for the third consecutive day and New York once again beat host
Detroit. DJ LeMahieu also homered for the Yankees, who have taken
the first three games of the four-game series
Yankees starter Gerrit Cole (12-4) gave up two runs on four hits and
two walks while striking out seven in six innings. Ian Hamilton
pitched the last three innings for his second save.
The Tigers used Brendan White (2-3) as an opener, but he couldn't
get out of the first inning as Detroit dropped its fifth straight.
Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 0
Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward each hit two-run home runs in the
third inning and Los Angeles earned a three-game series sweep of
visiting Arizona.
Right-hander Ryan Pepiot (1-0) pitched five scoreless innings after
he was recalled earlier Wednesday as the Dodgers improved to 24-4 in
August, the third-most victories during a month in franchise
history. They have won 25 games in a month twice.
The Diamondbacks entered the series having won 10 of 12 games but
had just six hits Wednesday and fell to third place in the National
League West, 15 games behind the first-place Dodgers. Arizona
right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (1-7) gave up six runs (five earned) on
eight hits over four innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
Braves 7, Rockies 3
Kevin Pillar homered among his two hits, and Marcell Ozuna and
Orlando Arcia also went deep as Atlanta beat Colorado in Denver.
Ozzie Albies had three hits and Austin Riley contributed two to help
starter Darius Vines get the win in his major league debut for
Atlanta, which won all seven games against the Rockies this season.
Alan Trejo homered and Nolan Jones had two hits for Colorado.
White Sox 10, Orioles 5
Andrew Vaughn, Oscar Colas and Luis Robert Jr. all homered as
Chicago avoided a three-game series sweep by defeating host
Baltimore.
Eloy Jimenez went 4-for-5 and scored two runs as the White Sox
reached the 10-run mark for the third time since the All-Star break.
Despite a rough first inning, Chicago starter Dylan Crease (6-7)
worked six innings and gave up five runs on six hits.
Anthony Santander homered and doubled for Baltimore, which continues
to lead the American League East. Kyle Gibson (13-8) gave up three
homers in taking the loss.
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Angels 10, Phillies 8
Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead, two-run home run with two outs in the
ninth inning off Craig Kimbrel to lift Los Angeles over host
Philadelphia.
Drury had two hits and Hunter Renfroe also hit a home run, going
3-for-4 with four RBIs.
Eduardo Escobar added two hits and Shohei Ohtani had an RBI single
for the Angels, who avoided a three-game sweep.
Guardians 5, Twins 2 (10 innings)
Kole Calhoun hit a two-out, three-run homer in the 10th inning as
Cleveland rallied past Minnesota in the deciding game of a
three-game series in Minneapolis.
Calhoun, acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash on Aug. 4,
smashed a 3-0 fastball by Minnesota reliever Kody Funderburk 433
feet into the second deck in right-center for his third homer of the
season, driving in automatic runner Bo Naylor and Jose Ramirez, who
was intentionally walked.
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Steven Kwan had two hits for the Guardians,
including a double with an RBI, and Will Brennan also had two hits
as Cleveland moved to within five games of the first-place Twins in
the American League Central.
Reds 4, Giants 1
Christian Encarnacion-Strand had four hits, including a home run,
Hunter Greene pitched effectively into the sixth inning and
Cincinnati won at San Francisco to salvage the last game of a
three-game series.
The win allowed the Reds to cap a 5-5 Western swing
and lose just one game in the standings to the Giants as they both
pursue National League wild-card positions. Encarnacion-Strand was
4-for-4 with three RBIs, including a double and two singles off
Giants starter Logan Webb (9-11).
Greene (3-6) allowed just one unearned run and three hits in 5 1/3
innings, with one walk and six strikeouts, before the Reds bullpen
carried the club the rest of the way. Alexis Diaz recorded his 35th
save.
Cardinals 5, Padres 4
Tommy Edman hit a game-ending, two-run home run in the bottom of the
ninth inning to push St. Louis past visiting San Diego.
The Cardinals trailed 4-3 with two outs in the ninth when Masyn Winn
hit a double off reliever Josh Hader (0-3) to set up Edman's
heroics.
It was Edman's second game-ending hit off Hader in as many days. He
delivered a decisive 10th-inning RBI single off the left-hander in
the Cardinals' 6-5 victory Tuesday.
Cubs 3, Brewers 2
Cody Bellinger hit a go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the eighth
to lift host Chicago over Milwaukee in the rubber match of a
three-game series.
Christopher Morel reached on an error to open the inning, and Mike
Tauchman followed with a walk. Both runners advanced on Nico
Hoerner's sacrifice bunt, but Morel was then cut down at the plate
when Ian Happ hit a sharp grounder to first with the infield drawn
in.
With runners on the corners, Bellinger grounded a ball off reliever
Joel Payamps' foot, allowing the winning run to score.
Blue Jays 7, Nationals 0
Alejandro Kirk had three hits and three RBIs and right-hander Chris
Bassitt pitched eight shutout innings to help Toronto defeat
visiting Washington.
Bassitt (13-7) allowed three hits and one walk while striking out
three.
Santiago Espinal added two hits and two RBIs for the Blue Jays in
the deciding game of a three-game series. Espinal was playing third
base with Matt Chapman (finger) on the injured list. Ernie Clement
had two hits and one RBI while playing shortstop in place of injured
Bo Bichette (quadriceps).
Mets 6, Rangers 5 (10 innings)
DJ Stewart capped a four-RBI performance by getting hit by a pitch
with the bases loaded in the 10th inning for host New York, which
edged Texas to salvage the finale of a three-game series.
The Mets won for just the third time in 10 games. The Rangers fell
to 3-10 since opening August by winning 12 of 14 games.
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In the 10th, Pete Alonso was intentionally walked by Aroldis Chapman
(5-3), who then walked Francisco Alvarez before plunking Stewart,
who earlier hit a pair of homers.
Rays 3, Marlins 0 (10 innings)
Josh Lowe stroked a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th inning as Tampa
Bay defeated host Miami.
Randy Arozarena added a two-run single in the 10th to saddle Marlins
reliever David Robertson (4-6) with the loss. Following his base
hit, Arozarena stole second and third, giving him 20 steals on the
year. He has now recorded at least 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in
three consecutive seasons.
Four Rays pitchers combined on the four-hit shutout, with Shawn
Armstrong (1-0) throwing 1 2/3 innings of relief to earn the win and
Pete Fairbanks notching his 18th save.
Pirates 4, Royals 1
Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski homered, supporting Andre Jackson's
first career victory, as Pittsburgh beat host Kansas City,
completing a three-game series sweep.
Jackson (1-1) struck out seven of the first 10 batters faced. He
completed 5 2/3 innings, allowing a run on two hits and two walks
with the career-high seven strikeouts.
Reynolds opened the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning,
his 19th, against Angel Zerpa (1-3). Zerpa was making a spot start
in place of Brady Singer, whose scheduled start was skipped due to
arm fatigue.
--Field Level Media
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