MLB roundup: Astros complete first sweep in Boston

 

[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.

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.

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.

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.

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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