Baseball Capsules (July 27, 2016)

CLEVELAND (AP) Francisco Lindor pushed an RBI single through Washington's drawn-in infield with one out in the ninth inning, and the Cleveland Indians rallied for three runs in their final at-bat to stun the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Tuesday night in a matchup of first-place teams with sights on October.

Down two runs and three outs from their losing streak reaching a season-high four games, the Indians rallied against closer Jonathan Papelbon (2-4), who did not get an out before he was pulled by manager Dusty Baker.

With the bases loaded, Lindor fisted his base hit into right field and danced his way up the first-base line as the Indians celebrated an improbable victory.


Bryan Shaw (2-4) got two outs in the ninth and picked up the win as Cleveland won its first home game since July 10.

Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer and Wilson Ramos added a solo shot for the NL East-leading Nationals, just 4-6 since the All-Star break.

CARDINALS 3, METS 2, 1ST GAME

METS 3, CARDINALS 1, 2ND GAME

NEW YORK (AP) - Bartolo Colon pitched three-hit ball for seven sharp innings and New York overcame another home run by Jedd Gyorko to beat St. Louis for a doubleheader split.

Gyorko homered in both ends and has connected seven times in nine games. His two-run shot helped the Cardinals win the opener 3-2.

Colon (9-5) struck out eight and walked none. After Gyorko homered in the second and Alberto Rosario doubled in the third, Colon set down 14 of his final 15 batters.

Jeurys Familia closed for his 36th save this year and 52nd in a row during the regular season.

Asdrubal Cabrera ended his 0-for-32 rut with runners in scoring position with an RBI double and added a sacrifice fly off Jaime Garcia (7-7). Wilmer Flores doubled and singled twice.

In the opener, Gyorko homered off Noah Syndergaard (9-5) for a 3-0 lead.

Carlos Martinez (10-6) gave up a two-run homer to Rene Rivera and left after the fifth inning. Three relievers finished, with Seung Hwan Oh getting his fifth save.

BLUE JAYS 7, PADRES 6, 12 INNINGS

TORONTO (AP) - Devon Travis scored the winning run on a wild pitch, and Toronto rallied for three runs in the 12th inning to beat San Diego.

Matt Kemp put the Padres in front with a two-run homer off Jesse Chavez (1-2) in the top of the 12th, but San Diego's bullpen couldn't hold the lead.

Travis drew a 14-pitch walk to load the bases, bringing Paul Clemens on in relief of Carlos Villanueva (1-2). Clemens walked Jose Bautista to make it 6-5 before Josh Donaldson tied it with a fielder's choice grounder.

With Edwin Encarnacion batting, a pitch bounced away from catcher Derek Norris, and Travis slid in just ahead of the tag as his teammates stormed out of the dugout to celebrate.

It was the second key run to score on a wild pitch: Toronto catcher Russell Martin made it 4-all when he scored on Brad Hand's wild pitch in the seventh.

Donaldson hit a two-run homer and Justin Smoak had a solo shot for the Blue Jays.

Alex Dickerson hit a three-run shot, his third homer in three games, as San Diego extended its club-record streak of games with at least one home run to 24. It's the longest run since the 2002 Texas Rangers set a major league record by homering in 27 straight.

YANKEES 6, ASTROS 3

HOUSTON (AP) - CC Sabathia allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings to get back on track after a tough stretch and help New York over Houston.

Sabathia (6-8) allowed four hits and struck out five to pick up his first win since June 16 after going 0-4 and allowing 31 runs - 29 earned - combined in his past six starts.

Sabathia allowed a solo home run to Marwin Gonzalez in the first inning. But the big lefty settled in after that, allowing only one single over the next five innings.

The Yankees built a five-run lead, thanks in part to a two-run triple by Aaron Hicks, by the time Evan Gattis homered to start Houston's seventh and cut it to 6-2.

Andrew Miller allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth for his second save since Aroldis Chapman was traded Monday and ninth overall.

Houston starter Doug Fister (10-7) allowed nine hits and six runs, which both tied season highs, in 4 2/3 innings.

Gonzalez added a solo homer in the eighth for his first career multihomer game.

WHITE SOX 3, CUBS 0

CHICAGO (AP) - James Shields allowed four singles in 7 2/3 innings, Adam Eaton homered and the White Sox stayed unbeaten since Chris Sale's suspension.

The Cubs lost their second straight and never got to use new closer Aroldis Chapman hours after he joined the team and struggled answering questions related to an altercation last year with his girlfriend.

Shields (5-12) struck out five and continued an impressive turnaround from a terrible first three starts after being acquired from San Diego last month. Nate Jones finished the eighth and David Robertson worked the ninth for his 24th save in the White Sox's fourth straight win since their ace was sent home for destroying throwback jerseys.

Jose Abreu had two hits, including an RBI single in the first off Kyle Hendricks (9-7) that ended his streak of 22 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.

ROCKIES 6, ORIOLES 3

BALTIMORE (AP) - Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story had two RBIs apiece in a four-run third inning, and Colorado beat Chris Tillman to end Baltimore's five-game winning streak.

Seeking to become the first 15-game winner in the majors, Tillman (14-3) gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings.

Adam Jones homered for the Orioles, who were 21-4 at home since the beginning of June. Despite the loss, Baltimore still owns the AL's best record.

Chad Bettis (9-6) won his third straight start, allowing two runs, four hits and three walks in six innings. Colorado is 8-1 in his last nine outings.

Rookie Carlos Estevez got three outs for his ninth save.

TIGERS 9, RED SOX 8

BOSTON (AP) - Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run home run, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Tyler Collins each had a pair of RBIs and Detroit Tigers roughed up knuckleballer Steven Wright to beat Boston.

Detroit and Boston combined for 22 hits. Alex Wilson (1-0) got the victory, and Francisco Rodriguez closed for his 29th save.

David Ortiz had a three-run home run, but Boston's offense didn't have enough to offset a rare poor outing by Wright, who gave up nine hits and eight runs over 4 2/3 innings. Wright was leading the AL in ERA entering Tuesday.

Robbie Ross Jr. (1-2) got the loss.

ANGELS 13, ROYALS 0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tyler Skaggs pitched seven innings in his first big league start in two years and Yunel Escobar went 5 for 5 to help the Angels to the runaway win.

Kole Calhoun drove in four runs and Carlos Perez had four hits, including a home run. Mike Trout drove in three runs, and Johnny Giavotella had three hits, including two doubles, and scored three runs.

Escobar matched a career high for hits and the Angels collected 22 overall, equaling their season best.

Skaggs (1-0), who had elbow surgery in August 2014, allowed three singles, struck out five and walked one.

Royals right-hander Dillon Gee (3-4) was charged with five runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings.

The Royals have dropped six of seven to fall three games below .500 for the first time this season.

MARINERS 7, PIRATES 4

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Seattle ace Felix Hernandez settled down after a shaky start and picked up his first victory in more than two months.

Hernandez (5-4) gave up four runs in six innings in his first win since May 21. Steve Cishek worked a perfect ninth for his 24th save.

Kyle Seager's three hits for Seattle included his 20th home run, and Franklin Gutierrez added his 10th off Francisco Liriano (6-10).

Liriano hit his second career home run, a 416-foot shot to center off Hernandez in the second inning. Gregory Polanco collected a season-high four hits, including his 13th homer, but the Pirates went 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

MARLINS 5, PHILLIES 0

MIAMI (AP) — Tom Koehler pitched six innings of three-hit ball, helping Miami to the win.

Ichiro Suzuki made his first start in five games and went 1 for 5, giving him 2,997 career hits. He also stole a base and scored a run.

Giancarlo Stanton and Adeiny Hechavarria each drove in two runs for the Marlins, who were shut out in their previous two games.

Philadelphia right-hander Jerad Eickhoff (6-12) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

Koehler (8-8) is 2-1 with a 1.29 ERA in four starts against the Phillies this season.

BRAVES 2, TWINS 0

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Lucas Harrell pitched six innings, Adonis Garcia homered and the Braves beat the Twins in a matchup of the worst teams in the majors.

This untimely meeting came nearly 25 years after the Twins beat the Braves in a World Series that's often been mentioned among the most dramatic in history. The 1991 anniversary celebration was marked by Gene Larkin, who had the winning hit in the 10th inning of Game 7, throwing the ceremonial first pitch.

A.J. Pierzynski doubled and scored against his original team. Behind the plate, he helped guide Harrell (2-2) to his first scoreless start in the majors since June 9, 2013.


Minnesota right-hander Ervin Santana (3-9) had little help while logging his second complete game in his last four turns.