Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Miguel Sano wrapped up April with another nice day. The young slugger is off to a great start with the Minnesota Twins.
Sano homered and drove in five runs, helping the Twins beat slumping Kansas City 7-5 on Sunday for the Royals' ninth straight loss.
It was Sano's fourth consecutive multihit game. He has 11 hits in his last 16 at-bats. He drove in nine runs in the two-game, rain-abbreviated series.
"I've been hot before in the minor leagues, but big leagues this is first time," he said.
He finished April with seven homers and 25 RBIs. Torii Hunter was the last Twin with more than seven homers in April with nine in 2002.
"Miggy had a heckuva trip," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He's been a big force for us. He's tough to pitch to. He seems to be handling all quadrants of the strike zone."
Sano connected in the third after Jason Hammel (0-3) walked Byron Buxton and Max Kepler. He added run-producing singles in the fourth and sixth innings.
It's the longest slide for Kansas City since a 12-game skid in April 2012.
"It's tough to go through a stretch like this, especially when I know we're better than what we're playing," center fielder Lorenzo Cain said. "What can you do? Keep playing, keep battling. Hopefully we can come out of this."
The Twins finished April 12-11. They did not get their 12th victory last season until May 25 in their 36th game.
"It was good trip, when you win four out of five," Molitor said.
Minnesota right-hander Phil Hughes (4-1) got the win despite allowing 10 hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
"He's been doing a good job as far as keeping major damage down," Molitor said.
Brandon Kintzler yielded Whit Merrifield's two-out homer in the ninth before finishing for his seventh save.
Cain went deep for the Royals, belting a solo shot in the fifth for his first homer since Aug. 16. Salvador Perez went 3 for 4 with two doubles, a RBI and two runs scored. The Royals' 12 hits were a season high.
Kansas City jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second. Perez doubled in Eric Hosmer and scored on Brandon Moss's two-out single.
But Sano's seventh homer put Minnesota ahead to stay, and Kepler had a run-scoring fielder's choice in the Twins' two-run fourth.
Eddie Rosario's fourth-inning single extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games. Jorge Polanco drove in Minnesota's last run with an infield hit with two out in the ninth.
Hammel failed to get out of the fourth for his second straight start, allowing five runs and six hits with three walks. Hammel's ERA climbed to 6.65.
"I'm making the same mistakes, basically walks," Hammel said. "I've got to clean up the walks. I'm throwing too many pitches per at-bat. Full counts every at-bat. Seventy pitches through three innings; that's just not acceptable, so I've got to clean up the mistakes. It's ridiculous. It's amateur stuff that I'm doing right now, just trying to do too much."
Rain delayed the start of the game 63 minutes.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: SS Ehire Adrianza (right oblique strain) went 1 for 3 with a walk with Triple-A Rochester. He is hitting .304 in six rehab games.
Royals: RHP Seth Maness, who signed a minor league contract in February after he had elbow surgery last August, was activated by Triple-A Omaha. Maness is 17-10 with a 3.19 ERA in 244 career relief appearances with St. Louis.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Ervin Santana will start Tuesday against Oakland after an off day Monday.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas will face the White Sox on Monday after losing to them last week in Chicago.
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Monday, May 1, 2017
Keuchel throws 7 2/3 solid innings Astros 7-2 win over A's
Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) Dallas Keuchel completed one of the best months of his career with arguably his best start of the season.
Keuchel threw 7 2/3 solid innings, Marwin Gonzalez hit a three-run home run and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Sunday.
Keuchel (5-0) struck out nine, while allowing one run on three hits and two walks.
"I don't know about best stuff, but that's probably the best command I have had in awhile," Keuchel said. "I'm going to continue to attack the zone and get some early contact and let the defense work."
The left-hander has thrown at least seven innings in every outing this season. He became the second pitcher in Astros history to get five wins in April, joining Roger Clemens, who went 5-0 in 2004.
"He was really good," Houston manager A.J. Hinch. "He was pretty good last time too but just his command and control of himself, of his pitches, of his fastball, his changeup - he did everything right. . I was proud of how he pitched and competed. He was pretty locked in."
The Astros finished April 16-9, marking the third time in franchise history and first time since 2006 when they were 16-8, the club has won at least 16 games in the month.
"It is satisfying for sure, but it's only April," Keuchel said. "We have a long ways to go. .We couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. We will take that."
After Trevor Plouffe doubled with one out in the first, Keuchel retired 10 straight and 13 of the next 14 batters he faced.
"He's got a good sinker, good cutter, good slider, good changeup - he's got four pitches, and you just try to grind on him a little bit and stay close to him," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said of Keuchel. "Hopefully you can get him out of the game."
Ken Giles earned his sixth save after getting Yonder Alonso to fly out with the bases loaded.
Gonzalez hit his home run off the right field foul pole in eighth.
Carlos Correa laced an RBI double in the first to give the Astros a 1-0 lead. Evan Gattis had an RBI double in the fourth, before Brian McCann hit a two-run single in the fifth extending the lead to 4-0.
Ryon Healy cut the lead to 4-1 with an RBI single in the eighth, and Chad Pinder had a run-scoring single in the ninth.
Jesse Hahn (1-2) gave up four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in six innings.
"I think I got a little better as the game went on," Hahn said. "I thought I battled really well, but I did get myself in some situations that I could have handled better to minimize them early on.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea, who left his last start with shoulder tightness, was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday, retroactive to April 27. "It was just about we were skipping a start for sure, and that would have gone until the last day of his DL if we hadn't put him on the DL, so it makes sense to put him on the DL, get him back, throw a significant side and get a better read of where he's at," Melvin said. "I know he felt a lot better yesterday, and we hope that's the case leading up, but based on one or two days, it felt like it was the right thing to do." . OF Rajai Davis (left hamstring strain) ran Sunday and has a chance to be taken off the DL Tuesday, Melvin said.
Astros: Houston OF Jake Marisnick, who is on the 7-day concussion list, continued a rehabilitation assignment Sunday in Double-A Corpus Christi. Marisnick will be activated Monday, with OF Tony Kemp being sent down to Triple-A Fresno.. . RHP Jandel Gustavo (right forearm tightness) will throw a bullpen Monday before possibly starting a rehabilitation assignment, Hinch said.
UP NEXT:
Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray will come off the disabled list and make his season debut Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series at Minnesota. Gray was 5-11 with a 5.69 ERA last season.
Astros: RHP Lance McCullers (2-1) takes the mound Monday to start a four-game series against the Rangers. He looks to bounce back after allowing five runs in five innings in his last start, but the right-hander is 0-3 with an 8.03 ERA in his career against Texas.
HOUSTON (AP) Dallas Keuchel completed one of the best months of his career with arguably his best start of the season.
Keuchel threw 7 2/3 solid innings, Marwin Gonzalez hit a three-run home run and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Sunday.
Keuchel (5-0) struck out nine, while allowing one run on three hits and two walks.
"I don't know about best stuff, but that's probably the best command I have had in awhile," Keuchel said. "I'm going to continue to attack the zone and get some early contact and let the defense work."
The left-hander has thrown at least seven innings in every outing this season. He became the second pitcher in Astros history to get five wins in April, joining Roger Clemens, who went 5-0 in 2004.
"He was really good," Houston manager A.J. Hinch. "He was pretty good last time too but just his command and control of himself, of his pitches, of his fastball, his changeup - he did everything right. . I was proud of how he pitched and competed. He was pretty locked in."
The Astros finished April 16-9, marking the third time in franchise history and first time since 2006 when they were 16-8, the club has won at least 16 games in the month.
"It is satisfying for sure, but it's only April," Keuchel said. "We have a long ways to go. .We couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. We will take that."
After Trevor Plouffe doubled with one out in the first, Keuchel retired 10 straight and 13 of the next 14 batters he faced.
"He's got a good sinker, good cutter, good slider, good changeup - he's got four pitches, and you just try to grind on him a little bit and stay close to him," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said of Keuchel. "Hopefully you can get him out of the game."
Ken Giles earned his sixth save after getting Yonder Alonso to fly out with the bases loaded.
Gonzalez hit his home run off the right field foul pole in eighth.
Carlos Correa laced an RBI double in the first to give the Astros a 1-0 lead. Evan Gattis had an RBI double in the fourth, before Brian McCann hit a two-run single in the fifth extending the lead to 4-0.
Ryon Healy cut the lead to 4-1 with an RBI single in the eighth, and Chad Pinder had a run-scoring single in the ninth.
Jesse Hahn (1-2) gave up four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in six innings.
"I think I got a little better as the game went on," Hahn said. "I thought I battled really well, but I did get myself in some situations that I could have handled better to minimize them early on.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea, who left his last start with shoulder tightness, was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday, retroactive to April 27. "It was just about we were skipping a start for sure, and that would have gone until the last day of his DL if we hadn't put him on the DL, so it makes sense to put him on the DL, get him back, throw a significant side and get a better read of where he's at," Melvin said. "I know he felt a lot better yesterday, and we hope that's the case leading up, but based on one or two days, it felt like it was the right thing to do." . OF Rajai Davis (left hamstring strain) ran Sunday and has a chance to be taken off the DL Tuesday, Melvin said.
Astros: Houston OF Jake Marisnick, who is on the 7-day concussion list, continued a rehabilitation assignment Sunday in Double-A Corpus Christi. Marisnick will be activated Monday, with OF Tony Kemp being sent down to Triple-A Fresno.. . RHP Jandel Gustavo (right forearm tightness) will throw a bullpen Monday before possibly starting a rehabilitation assignment, Hinch said.
UP NEXT:
Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray will come off the disabled list and make his season debut Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series at Minnesota. Gray was 5-11 with a 5.69 ERA last season.
Astros: RHP Lance McCullers (2-1) takes the mound Monday to start a four-game series against the Rangers. He looks to bounce back after allowing five runs in five innings in his last start, but the right-hander is 0-3 with an 8.03 ERA in his career against Texas.
Iglesias drives in 3 to help Tigers end streak
By DAVE HOGG
Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Tigers got two things they needed Sunday afternoon.
They put up big runs, got four scoreless innings from their bullpen and ended a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
"We've been quiet with the bats, but we got two in the ninth yesterday, so maybe that was the turning point," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We were much better today, and the pitching held on for us."
Jordan Zimmermann (3-1) picked up a sloppy victory, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in five-plus innings. He struck out five and gave up one homer.
Miguel Gonzalez (3-1) allowed seven runs on a career-high 14 hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out one as the White Sox lost their six-game winning streak.
"I was up with every pitch, and they were barreling up every mistake I made," he said. "I just need to flush this one and move on."
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first on Jose Abreu's RBI triple
Justin Upton's fifth homer tied the game in the second. He then led off the fourth with a single, moved to second on Alex Avila's hit and scored on Jim Adduci's double to left-center field.
John Hicks made it four straight hits with an RBI single off Gonzalez to make it 3-1, and Adduci scored when Iglesias grounded out. Nick Castellanos finished the inning with an RBI single to make it a four-run game.
Melky Cabrera answered with an RBI single in the fifth, pulling the White Sox within 5-2, but Iglesias' two-run double in the bottom of the inning put the Tigers up by five.
Todd Frazier led off the sixth with a long homer, but Chicago couldn't score against Blaine Hardy and three other relievers.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: RHP James Shields, on the disabled list for the first time in his career, threw on Saturday and reported no problems with his strained right lat. After playing light catch for about 40 throws, he said that the way his arm reacts will determine if he will need a rehab start before joining the White Sox.
Tigers: CF JaCoby Jones went 1 for 7 in a rehab doubleheader for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday. Jones, who went on the disabled list on April 23 after being hit in the mouth by a pitch, was making his first rehab appearances.
RENTERIA SAVES GARCIA FROM HIMSELF
Renteria decided to pull Avisail Garcia in the fifth inning, knowing his right fielder wouldn't ask to come out of the game. Garcia has been dealing with groin tightness throughout the series.
"It was pretty wet out there after the rain early in the game, and he only knows how to play at top speed," Renteria said. "I just decided to be safe and get him out of there before it became a problem. Right now, I don't see any reason he wouldn't play tomorrow."
DOING QUICK DAMAGE
The Tigers brought nine batters to the plate in their four-run fourth inning, but faced just 14 pitches from Gonzalez. Every hitter either got a hit or made an out on the first or second pitch of their at-bat.
"We just kept barreling up balls early in the count - there wasn't any plan to attack him," Avila said. "It just happened that way. We knew we needed to get Zimm a lead, and we had a great inning."
IN THE RACE AFTER ONE MONTH
Sunday's loss meant that the White Sox finish May a half-game behind Cleveland in the AL Central, but that's higher than almost anyone predicted for them.
"We're excited, because we're playing well as a team," Gonzalez said. "We lost today, but we won two of three here, and now we want to go to Kansas City and win another series. We believe that we can keep doing this."
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Dylan Covey (0-1, 6.91) faces Kansas City LHP Jason Vargas (3-1, 1.40) in the first of a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium. The White Sox swept the Royals earlier this week in Chicago.
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (1-2, 4.71) takes on Indians RHP Trevor Bauer as Cleveland comes to Comerica Park for four games.
Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Tigers got two things they needed Sunday afternoon.
They put up big runs, got four scoreless innings from their bullpen and ended a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
"We've been quiet with the bats, but we got two in the ninth yesterday, so maybe that was the turning point," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "We were much better today, and the pitching held on for us."
Jordan Zimmermann (3-1) picked up a sloppy victory, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in five-plus innings. He struck out five and gave up one homer.
Miguel Gonzalez (3-1) allowed seven runs on a career-high 14 hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out one as the White Sox lost their six-game winning streak.
"I was up with every pitch, and they were barreling up every mistake I made," he said. "I just need to flush this one and move on."
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first on Jose Abreu's RBI triple
Justin Upton's fifth homer tied the game in the second. He then led off the fourth with a single, moved to second on Alex Avila's hit and scored on Jim Adduci's double to left-center field.
John Hicks made it four straight hits with an RBI single off Gonzalez to make it 3-1, and Adduci scored when Iglesias grounded out. Nick Castellanos finished the inning with an RBI single to make it a four-run game.
Melky Cabrera answered with an RBI single in the fifth, pulling the White Sox within 5-2, but Iglesias' two-run double in the bottom of the inning put the Tigers up by five.
Todd Frazier led off the sixth with a long homer, but Chicago couldn't score against Blaine Hardy and three other relievers.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: RHP James Shields, on the disabled list for the first time in his career, threw on Saturday and reported no problems with his strained right lat. After playing light catch for about 40 throws, he said that the way his arm reacts will determine if he will need a rehab start before joining the White Sox.
Tigers: CF JaCoby Jones went 1 for 7 in a rehab doubleheader for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday. Jones, who went on the disabled list on April 23 after being hit in the mouth by a pitch, was making his first rehab appearances.
RENTERIA SAVES GARCIA FROM HIMSELF
Renteria decided to pull Avisail Garcia in the fifth inning, knowing his right fielder wouldn't ask to come out of the game. Garcia has been dealing with groin tightness throughout the series.
"It was pretty wet out there after the rain early in the game, and he only knows how to play at top speed," Renteria said. "I just decided to be safe and get him out of there before it became a problem. Right now, I don't see any reason he wouldn't play tomorrow."
DOING QUICK DAMAGE
The Tigers brought nine batters to the plate in their four-run fourth inning, but faced just 14 pitches from Gonzalez. Every hitter either got a hit or made an out on the first or second pitch of their at-bat.
"We just kept barreling up balls early in the count - there wasn't any plan to attack him," Avila said. "It just happened that way. We knew we needed to get Zimm a lead, and we had a great inning."
IN THE RACE AFTER ONE MONTH
Sunday's loss meant that the White Sox finish May a half-game behind Cleveland in the AL Central, but that's higher than almost anyone predicted for them.
"We're excited, because we're playing well as a team," Gonzalez said. "We lost today, but we won two of three here, and now we want to go to Kansas City and win another series. We believe that we can keep doing this."
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Dylan Covey (0-1, 6.91) faces Kansas City LHP Jason Vargas (3-1, 1.40) in the first of a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium. The White Sox swept the Royals earlier this week in Chicago.
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (1-2, 4.71) takes on Indians RHP Trevor Bauer as Cleveland comes to Comerica Park for four games.
Brantley, Lindor spark 8-run 3rd as Indians rout Mariners
By STEVE HERRICK
Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) Francisco Lindor knows what a big inning can do for a team.
Lindor and Michael Brantley had the key hits in an eight-run third, and the Cleveland Indians rolled to a 12-4 victory over the weary Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
"We needed something like that," Lindor said. "It's fun. It gets the crowd going. It gets us going. It helps our pitching staff. You're passing along the baton. You're enjoying the game."
Brantley led off the inning with a single and capped it with a two-run homer. Lindor, who had three RBIs, hit a solo homer in the third and preceded Brantley's homer with a two-run double.
The inning included three singles, a double, a triple that was lost in the sun, a sacrifice fly and two walks.
"We swung the bats, we ran the bases and we kept the line moving," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Seattle, playing the final game of an 11-day road trip, was only charged with one error, but had several misplays in the field.
"It was not our day," manager Scott Servais said. "It was an unfortunate way to end the road trip. We just didn't play a good ballgame."
Josh Tomlin (2-3) allowed four runs in five-plus innings for the win. The Mariners began the sixth with six straight hits and scored three times, but Nick Goody worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam.
Chase De Jong (0-2), making his first major league start, yielded six runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Nelson Cruz hit a solo homer in the second and drove in two runs for the Mariners, who went 4-6 on their trip.
Roberto Perez had three hits and drove in three runs for the defending AL champions, who have won nine of 12. Jason Kipnis, who missed the first three weeks with a shoulder injury, drove in his first run of the season with a third-inning single.
The Indians took advantage of Seattle's defense in the inning.
Jose Ramirez scored with a headfirst slide on Lonnie Chisenhall's sacrifice fly to shallow right. Second baseman Robinson Cano made the catch with his back to home, and Ramirez touched the plate with his left hand before catcher Carlos Ruiz's tag.
"That was huge," Lindor said. "The way he was running, scoring that way, he helped us to continue to push harder."
Right fielder Ben Gamel circled back on Abraham Almonte's towering fly ball, but it fell on the warning track for a triple. Mariners shortstop Jean Segura couldn't handle a hard grounder hit by Perez, who was credited with an RBI single.
"Obviously, the third inning got away from us," Servais said. "The ball in the sun was a big play and we unraveled from there."
Casey Fien replaced De Jong, but gave up Lindor's double and Brantley's homer. Cleveland scored eight runs in an inning for the first time since May 27, 2015.
BIG MOMENT
Goody entered in the sixth with a 9-4 lead and the bases loaded. He struck out pinch-hitter Taylor Motter before Lindor snared Ruiz's liner and doubled Kyle Seager off second.
"Thank God it went right into his glove," Goody said. "He's obviously a Platinum/Gold Glover, everything. Once it was in his glove, it was cool."
SECOND CHANCE
Mariners OF Boog Powell was 0 for 3, a day after making his big league debut without actually playing. He was announced as a pinch hitter Saturday, then was replaced by another pinch hitter after left-hander Andrew Miller entered. "I think he was OK with it once he saw who was coming in to pitch," Servais said with a laugh.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners RHP Steve Cishek (left hip) will continue his rehab assignment by pitching for Triple-A Tacoma on Monday.
UP NEXT
Mariners: LHP James Paxton faces the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. His 1.39 ERA in five April starts was the third-lowest in franchise history.
Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer opens a four-game series in Detroit on Monday. He allowed six runs to the Tigers in five innings of a 7-6 loss on April 14.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) Francisco Lindor knows what a big inning can do for a team.
Lindor and Michael Brantley had the key hits in an eight-run third, and the Cleveland Indians rolled to a 12-4 victory over the weary Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
"We needed something like that," Lindor said. "It's fun. It gets the crowd going. It gets us going. It helps our pitching staff. You're passing along the baton. You're enjoying the game."
Brantley led off the inning with a single and capped it with a two-run homer. Lindor, who had three RBIs, hit a solo homer in the third and preceded Brantley's homer with a two-run double.
The inning included three singles, a double, a triple that was lost in the sun, a sacrifice fly and two walks.
"We swung the bats, we ran the bases and we kept the line moving," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Seattle, playing the final game of an 11-day road trip, was only charged with one error, but had several misplays in the field.
"It was not our day," manager Scott Servais said. "It was an unfortunate way to end the road trip. We just didn't play a good ballgame."
Josh Tomlin (2-3) allowed four runs in five-plus innings for the win. The Mariners began the sixth with six straight hits and scored three times, but Nick Goody worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam.
Chase De Jong (0-2), making his first major league start, yielded six runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Nelson Cruz hit a solo homer in the second and drove in two runs for the Mariners, who went 4-6 on their trip.
Roberto Perez had three hits and drove in three runs for the defending AL champions, who have won nine of 12. Jason Kipnis, who missed the first three weeks with a shoulder injury, drove in his first run of the season with a third-inning single.
The Indians took advantage of Seattle's defense in the inning.
Jose Ramirez scored with a headfirst slide on Lonnie Chisenhall's sacrifice fly to shallow right. Second baseman Robinson Cano made the catch with his back to home, and Ramirez touched the plate with his left hand before catcher Carlos Ruiz's tag.
"That was huge," Lindor said. "The way he was running, scoring that way, he helped us to continue to push harder."
Right fielder Ben Gamel circled back on Abraham Almonte's towering fly ball, but it fell on the warning track for a triple. Mariners shortstop Jean Segura couldn't handle a hard grounder hit by Perez, who was credited with an RBI single.
"Obviously, the third inning got away from us," Servais said. "The ball in the sun was a big play and we unraveled from there."
Casey Fien replaced De Jong, but gave up Lindor's double and Brantley's homer. Cleveland scored eight runs in an inning for the first time since May 27, 2015.
BIG MOMENT
Goody entered in the sixth with a 9-4 lead and the bases loaded. He struck out pinch-hitter Taylor Motter before Lindor snared Ruiz's liner and doubled Kyle Seager off second.
"Thank God it went right into his glove," Goody said. "He's obviously a Platinum/Gold Glover, everything. Once it was in his glove, it was cool."
SECOND CHANCE
Mariners OF Boog Powell was 0 for 3, a day after making his big league debut without actually playing. He was announced as a pinch hitter Saturday, then was replaced by another pinch hitter after left-hander Andrew Miller entered. "I think he was OK with it once he saw who was coming in to pitch," Servais said with a laugh.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners RHP Steve Cishek (left hip) will continue his rehab assignment by pitching for Triple-A Tacoma on Monday.
UP NEXT
Mariners: LHP James Paxton faces the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. His 1.39 ERA in five April starts was the third-lowest in franchise history.
Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer opens a four-game series in Detroit on Monday. He allowed six runs to the Tigers in five innings of a 7-6 loss on April 14.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Blue Jays win 2 in row for 1st time this year, top Rays 3-1
By IAN HARRISON
Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) An abbreviated outing by Aaron Sanchez left the Blue Jays bullpen with plenty of work to do.
Toronto's relievers handled the task in style.
Russell Martin hit a go-ahead single during a three-run rally in the eighth inning and the Blue Jays posted back-to-back wins for the first time this season, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 Sunday.
The Blue Jays started the day with a 7-17 record, the worst in the majors. A loss would've left them with the poorest winning percentage in March/April in team history.
"It's pretty amazing you go through a whole month without winning two in a row until the very end," manager John Gibbons said. "In a lot of ways, that's hard to do."
Toronto lost Sanchez, the AL ERA leader last year, after just one inning because of a split fingernail. He was activated off the 10-day disabled list before the game when a blister on his middle finger healed. While on the DL, Sanchez underwent a procedure to remove part of the troublesome fingernail.
"I looked down at it very early and there was blood everywhere," Sanchez said. "It was just get through the inning and hopefully I can push through and make sure it's not worse."
Six Toronto relievers combined to limit the Rays to one run in eight innings. Ryan Tepera pitched a career-high 3 1/3 innings, Aaron Loup worked two innings, Dominic Leone and Smith each got two outs and J.P. Howell (1-1) got one out. Roberto Osuna finished for his third save.
"If you ask anybody, you'd rather face the arms we faced today than facing Sanchez for seven or eight innings," Rays first baseman Logan Morrison said.
"Tepera, I thought, threw really well for them. That was huge. He spotted pretty much every pitch he threw. There was nothing over the middle," he said.
The Rays managed only four hits, all singles, against the parade of relievers.
"The guys they combined, they were outstanding," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "They kept us off balance. They did a tremendous job."
The Blue Jays chased Chris Archer in the eighth and won it against Alex Colome (0-2).
Archer allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings.
"It was good but not good enough to win," Archer said.
Jose Bautista glared at the mound after Archer threw behind him in the first. Plate umpire Jim Wolf warned both dugouts.
"I was just trying to go inside and the ball got away from me a little bit," Archer said.
Gibbons said he would be "disappointed" if Archer was not disciplined, citing the four-game suspension Boston's Matt Barnes recently received for throwing behind Baltimore's Manny Machado.
Rays outfielder Steven Souza left Saturday's game in the seventh inning after being hit on the left hand by a pitch from reliever Joe Biagini. Souza did not play Sunday.
Tampa Bay broke a scoreless tie in the eighth when Morrison scored on Daniel Robertson's bunt.
Darwin Barney drew a walk from Archer in the bottom half and moved up on a groundout. Alex Colome relieved and Bautista tied it with an RBI double off the left field wall.
Kendrys Morales was intentionally walked and Justin Smoak struck out before Martin hit a tiebreaking single just inside the right field foul line. Ezequiel Carrera followed with an infield single, making it 3-1.
LONG TIME COMING
Howell was the winning pitcher for the first time since April 14, 2016, when he beat Arizona while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
ROCKY ROAD
The Rays are 3-10 on the road. Only Kansas City (2-11) had a worse mark entering play Sunday.
PITCHING IN
Marcus Stroman's sister, Sabria Abdat, threw out the first pitch on the same day fans received Stroman replica jerseys.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Troy Tulowitzki has yet to test his sore right hamstring by running and does not expect to return from the 10-day DL before May 8.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (1-1, 4.15) has recovered from a strained left hamstring and is expected to be activated off the 10-day DL to start at Miami on Monday. He's 2-1 with a 4.29 ERA in four career games against the Marlins, but hasn't allowed a run in either of the past two. LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-1, 4.71) starts for Miami.
Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (0-1, 2.70) starts the opener of a three-game series against the New York Yankees. Estrada was 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in four starts against the Yankees last season. RHP Luis Severino (2-1, 3.00) starts for New York.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) An abbreviated outing by Aaron Sanchez left the Blue Jays bullpen with plenty of work to do.
Toronto's relievers handled the task in style.
Russell Martin hit a go-ahead single during a three-run rally in the eighth inning and the Blue Jays posted back-to-back wins for the first time this season, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 Sunday.
The Blue Jays started the day with a 7-17 record, the worst in the majors. A loss would've left them with the poorest winning percentage in March/April in team history.
"It's pretty amazing you go through a whole month without winning two in a row until the very end," manager John Gibbons said. "In a lot of ways, that's hard to do."
Toronto lost Sanchez, the AL ERA leader last year, after just one inning because of a split fingernail. He was activated off the 10-day disabled list before the game when a blister on his middle finger healed. While on the DL, Sanchez underwent a procedure to remove part of the troublesome fingernail.
"I looked down at it very early and there was blood everywhere," Sanchez said. "It was just get through the inning and hopefully I can push through and make sure it's not worse."
Six Toronto relievers combined to limit the Rays to one run in eight innings. Ryan Tepera pitched a career-high 3 1/3 innings, Aaron Loup worked two innings, Dominic Leone and Smith each got two outs and J.P. Howell (1-1) got one out. Roberto Osuna finished for his third save.
"If you ask anybody, you'd rather face the arms we faced today than facing Sanchez for seven or eight innings," Rays first baseman Logan Morrison said.
"Tepera, I thought, threw really well for them. That was huge. He spotted pretty much every pitch he threw. There was nothing over the middle," he said.
The Rays managed only four hits, all singles, against the parade of relievers.
"The guys they combined, they were outstanding," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "They kept us off balance. They did a tremendous job."
The Blue Jays chased Chris Archer in the eighth and won it against Alex Colome (0-2).
Archer allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings.
"It was good but not good enough to win," Archer said.
Jose Bautista glared at the mound after Archer threw behind him in the first. Plate umpire Jim Wolf warned both dugouts.
"I was just trying to go inside and the ball got away from me a little bit," Archer said.
Gibbons said he would be "disappointed" if Archer was not disciplined, citing the four-game suspension Boston's Matt Barnes recently received for throwing behind Baltimore's Manny Machado.
Rays outfielder Steven Souza left Saturday's game in the seventh inning after being hit on the left hand by a pitch from reliever Joe Biagini. Souza did not play Sunday.
Tampa Bay broke a scoreless tie in the eighth when Morrison scored on Daniel Robertson's bunt.
Darwin Barney drew a walk from Archer in the bottom half and moved up on a groundout. Alex Colome relieved and Bautista tied it with an RBI double off the left field wall.
Kendrys Morales was intentionally walked and Justin Smoak struck out before Martin hit a tiebreaking single just inside the right field foul line. Ezequiel Carrera followed with an infield single, making it 3-1.
LONG TIME COMING
Howell was the winning pitcher for the first time since April 14, 2016, when he beat Arizona while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
ROCKY ROAD
The Rays are 3-10 on the road. Only Kansas City (2-11) had a worse mark entering play Sunday.
PITCHING IN
Marcus Stroman's sister, Sabria Abdat, threw out the first pitch on the same day fans received Stroman replica jerseys.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Troy Tulowitzki has yet to test his sore right hamstring by running and does not expect to return from the 10-day DL before May 8.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (1-1, 4.15) has recovered from a strained left hamstring and is expected to be activated off the 10-day DL to start at Miami on Monday. He's 2-1 with a 4.29 ERA in four career games against the Marlins, but hasn't allowed a run in either of the past two. LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-1, 4.71) starts for Miami.
Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (0-1, 2.70) starts the opener of a three-game series against the New York Yankees. Estrada was 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in four starts against the Yankees last season. RHP Luis Severino (2-1, 3.00) starts for New York.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Who's on first? Mitchell, as O's top Yanks 7-4 in 11 innings
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) Who's on first wasn't an Abbott and Costello question for Bryan Mitchell. With New York short on pitchers, the Yankees reliever played there for the first time since high school.
After throwing a scoreless ninth inning, Mitchell moved to first and allowed one foul popup to fall for an error in the 10th, then caught another. He returned to the mound in relief of closer Aroldis Chapman to start the 11th and gave up run-scoring singles to Mark Trumbo and Welington Castillo in the Baltimore Orioles' 7-4 win Sunday, which stopped New York's winning streak at four.
"The whole series was kind of crazy," Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner said.
New York overcame a 9-1 deficit to win Friday's series opener 14-11 in 10 innings, then romped 12-4 Saturday. With Adam Warren and Tommy Layne unavailable after outings in the middle game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi felt a need to improvise. So when Mitchell reached the dugout in the middle of the ninth, pitching coach Larry Rothschild asked him a question out of right field: Would he move to first if the game went into extras, allowing him to return to the mound later?
"All right. I'll go get a glove. I'll be ready," Mitchell remembered responding.
Mitchell retrieved one of first baseman's Greg Bird's mitts from the clubhouse and became the first Yankees pitcher to play another position since Billy Martin petulantly put Ron Guidry in center for the finish of the Pine Tar Game against Kansas City on Aug. 18, 1983.
Sure enough, the leadoff batter hit the ball to Mitchell - Castillo's foul pop just in front of first base. Castillo singled after Mitchell's error prolonging the at-bat, and Mitchell rebounded to glove Jonathan Schoop's foul pop for the second out - earning a standing ovation.
"I was praying for him, to be honest with you," Yankees reliever Dellin Betances said.
Mitchell smiled at his new-found fielding ability.
"I guess I just went back too far and the ball had a lot of spin. I just never actually got there," he said. "Luckily, the next one was a little closer to me."
Girardi wasn't sure whether Mitchell ever had played first.
"I didn't ask," he said. "I have a strikeout pitcher on the mound. You don't assume there's going to be too many groundballs over there."
Even in the 11th, when he was back on the mound, Mitchell tried to keep making fielding plays.
"All of a sudden he started running after every popup," Girardi said, shaking his head.
New York's unconventional move was thwarted by Logan Verrett (1-0), who escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 10th. Castillo scooped shortstop J.J. Hardy's one-hop throw home on Starlin Castro's grounder to force Austin Romine, and the reliever struck out hot-hitting rookie Aaron Judge.
"I thought to myself this is an opportunity for me to have a big moment here at Yankee Stadium and to put a stamp on my Orioles debut," said Verrett, brought up from the minors on Sunday morning.
Castillo kept his left foot on the plate as Romine slid in with his left shoulder.
"It's instinct,'" Castillo said.
New York stranded 16 runners in a 4-hour 37-minute marathon. Didi Gregorius' two-run, two-out single off Donnie Hart tied the score 4-all in the ninth before Chris Carter took a called third strike with runners at second and third. Orioles manager Buck Showalter was ejected for arguing a balk call on Darren O'Day that set up Gregorius' single.
"Same thing he's been doing for eight or nine years," Showalter said. "Think we call it over-officiating in basketball."
Joey Ricard singled with one out in the 11th against Mitchell (1-1), stole second and, after an intentional walk to Manny Machado, scored on Trumbo's two-out single. Castillo singled for a 6-4 lead, and Machado got into a rundown and came home when Chase Headley bobbled the ball at third.
Verrett finished with only the second 1-2-3 inning for Orioles pitchers. Baltimore starter Wade Miley went to seven three-ball counts in the first three innings, when he threw 79 pitches and stranded seven runners. He walked five or more for the third time in five starts, allowing two runs, eight hits and five walks in five innings.
"They let us hang around a little bit there early," Showalter said. "They had a chance to open some things up and Wade didn't let it happen. That will not go forgotten. He didn't implode and let the game get away from us."
A year after an 8-14 April start, New York ended the first month tied with the Orioles for the AL East lead at 15-8.
"Definitely happy with where we're at," Gardner said.
EYEBALLS
New York's telecasts on YES averaged 330,000 viewers in the New York designated market area through Friday, up from 237,000 in April last year (when Comcast did not carry YES) and 251,000 in April 2015. It is the highest viewership since an average of 341,000 in April 2014, Derek Jeter's last season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: 1B Chris Davis was removed from the starting lineup about an hour before gametime because of a sore right elbow - he was 0 for 7 with five strikeouts since he was hit on the elbow Friday by a pitch from New York's CC Sabathia. Davis played first in the 11th. ... Closer Zach Britton, on the DL since April 16 with a strained left forearm, pitched a scoreless, one-hit inning Sunday in his second rehab appearance for Double-A Bowie, throwing eight of 11 pitches for strikes.
Yankees: C Gary Sanchez, who hasn't played since April 8 because of a strained right biceps, could be activated for the series at the Chicago Cubs starting Friday. He is to start a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Dylan Bundy (3-1) starts Monday's series opener at Boston and RHP Rick Porcello (1-3).
Yankees: RHP Luis Severino (2-1) is on the mound Monday against Toronto and RHP Marco Estrada (0-1).
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) Who's on first wasn't an Abbott and Costello question for Bryan Mitchell. With New York short on pitchers, the Yankees reliever played there for the first time since high school.
After throwing a scoreless ninth inning, Mitchell moved to first and allowed one foul popup to fall for an error in the 10th, then caught another. He returned to the mound in relief of closer Aroldis Chapman to start the 11th and gave up run-scoring singles to Mark Trumbo and Welington Castillo in the Baltimore Orioles' 7-4 win Sunday, which stopped New York's winning streak at four.
"The whole series was kind of crazy," Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner said.
New York overcame a 9-1 deficit to win Friday's series opener 14-11 in 10 innings, then romped 12-4 Saturday. With Adam Warren and Tommy Layne unavailable after outings in the middle game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi felt a need to improvise. So when Mitchell reached the dugout in the middle of the ninth, pitching coach Larry Rothschild asked him a question out of right field: Would he move to first if the game went into extras, allowing him to return to the mound later?
"All right. I'll go get a glove. I'll be ready," Mitchell remembered responding.
Mitchell retrieved one of first baseman's Greg Bird's mitts from the clubhouse and became the first Yankees pitcher to play another position since Billy Martin petulantly put Ron Guidry in center for the finish of the Pine Tar Game against Kansas City on Aug. 18, 1983.
Sure enough, the leadoff batter hit the ball to Mitchell - Castillo's foul pop just in front of first base. Castillo singled after Mitchell's error prolonging the at-bat, and Mitchell rebounded to glove Jonathan Schoop's foul pop for the second out - earning a standing ovation.
"I was praying for him, to be honest with you," Yankees reliever Dellin Betances said.
Mitchell smiled at his new-found fielding ability.
"I guess I just went back too far and the ball had a lot of spin. I just never actually got there," he said. "Luckily, the next one was a little closer to me."
Girardi wasn't sure whether Mitchell ever had played first.
"I didn't ask," he said. "I have a strikeout pitcher on the mound. You don't assume there's going to be too many groundballs over there."
Even in the 11th, when he was back on the mound, Mitchell tried to keep making fielding plays.
"All of a sudden he started running after every popup," Girardi said, shaking his head.
New York's unconventional move was thwarted by Logan Verrett (1-0), who escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 10th. Castillo scooped shortstop J.J. Hardy's one-hop throw home on Starlin Castro's grounder to force Austin Romine, and the reliever struck out hot-hitting rookie Aaron Judge.
"I thought to myself this is an opportunity for me to have a big moment here at Yankee Stadium and to put a stamp on my Orioles debut," said Verrett, brought up from the minors on Sunday morning.
Castillo kept his left foot on the plate as Romine slid in with his left shoulder.
"It's instinct,'" Castillo said.
New York stranded 16 runners in a 4-hour 37-minute marathon. Didi Gregorius' two-run, two-out single off Donnie Hart tied the score 4-all in the ninth before Chris Carter took a called third strike with runners at second and third. Orioles manager Buck Showalter was ejected for arguing a balk call on Darren O'Day that set up Gregorius' single.
"Same thing he's been doing for eight or nine years," Showalter said. "Think we call it over-officiating in basketball."
Joey Ricard singled with one out in the 11th against Mitchell (1-1), stole second and, after an intentional walk to Manny Machado, scored on Trumbo's two-out single. Castillo singled for a 6-4 lead, and Machado got into a rundown and came home when Chase Headley bobbled the ball at third.
Verrett finished with only the second 1-2-3 inning for Orioles pitchers. Baltimore starter Wade Miley went to seven three-ball counts in the first three innings, when he threw 79 pitches and stranded seven runners. He walked five or more for the third time in five starts, allowing two runs, eight hits and five walks in five innings.
"They let us hang around a little bit there early," Showalter said. "They had a chance to open some things up and Wade didn't let it happen. That will not go forgotten. He didn't implode and let the game get away from us."
A year after an 8-14 April start, New York ended the first month tied with the Orioles for the AL East lead at 15-8.
"Definitely happy with where we're at," Gardner said.
EYEBALLS
New York's telecasts on YES averaged 330,000 viewers in the New York designated market area through Friday, up from 237,000 in April last year (when Comcast did not carry YES) and 251,000 in April 2015. It is the highest viewership since an average of 341,000 in April 2014, Derek Jeter's last season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: 1B Chris Davis was removed from the starting lineup about an hour before gametime because of a sore right elbow - he was 0 for 7 with five strikeouts since he was hit on the elbow Friday by a pitch from New York's CC Sabathia. Davis played first in the 11th. ... Closer Zach Britton, on the DL since April 16 with a strained left forearm, pitched a scoreless, one-hit inning Sunday in his second rehab appearance for Double-A Bowie, throwing eight of 11 pitches for strikes.
Yankees: C Gary Sanchez, who hasn't played since April 8 because of a strained right biceps, could be activated for the series at the Chicago Cubs starting Friday. He is to start a rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Dylan Bundy (3-1) starts Monday's series opener at Boston and RHP Rick Porcello (1-3).
Yankees: RHP Luis Severino (2-1) is on the mound Monday against Toronto and RHP Marco Estrada (0-1).
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Baseball Capsules (May 1, 2017)
WASHINGTON (AP) – Anthony Rendon had 10 RBIs, three home runs and six hits as the Washington Nationals took advantage of Noah Syndergaard’s injury and mauled the New York Mets 23-5 on Sunday to set a franchise scoring record.
Rendon went a career-best 6 for 6 and scored five times while breaking the club mark for RBIs. He became the 13th player in major league history to drive in 10 or more runs in a game – the first since Garret Anderson did it for the Angels in 2007.
Matt Wieters added two homers, a single and two walks as the Nationals salvaged the finale of a three-game series between NL East rivals. Adam Lind and Bryce Harper also homered, and Harper scored four times to set a major league record for runs in April with 32.
Washington finished with a season-high 23 hits and scored the most runs in the history of the Expos/Nationals franchise. The Nationals’ seven homers were their most since the team moved from Montreal to Washington in 2005.
Rendon, who began the day with no homers and five RBIs this season, raised his batting average from .226 to .278. He capped his incredible performance with a solo home run off Mets backup catcher Kevin Plawecki in the eighth. Harper and Lind went deep against Plawecki earlier in the inning.
It was a miserable day all-around for the Mets, who won the first two games of the series after losing six straight. They gave up 17 consecutive runs after trailing 6-5 in the fourth.
Syndergaard (1-2), the team’s hard-throwing ace, left in the second inning with what the club called ”a possible right lat strain” and was on his way back to New York for an MRI on Monday morning.
Matt Albers (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
RED SOX 6, CUBS 2
BOSTON (AP) – Marco Hernandez scored the go-ahead run on Pedro Strop’s wild pitch in Boston’s four-run eighth inning.
The Red Sox took two of three in the lively weekend series that featured a strong showing for Cubs fans, chants in support of each side and the World Series trophies that ended long title droughts for the once-frustrated franchises.
Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer for Boston, and Matt Barnes (3-0) worked one scoreless inning after completing his four-game suspension for throwing behind the head of Baltimore’s Manny Machado.
Kris Bryant hit a solo homer for Chicago, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Koji Uehara (0-2) got the loss.
PADRES 5, GIANTS 2, 12 INNINGS
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Wil Myers hit a three-run homer in the top of the 12th inning to send San Diego past San Francisco.
Myers’ seventh home run and second in two games came off reliever George Kontos (0-2). Cory Spangenberg singled against Kontos leading off the inning, and Erick Aybar singled two batters later.
Hector Sanchez, who played parts of five seasons with the Giants, had a pinch-hit, two-run homer off San Francisco closer Mark Melancon in the ninth to send the game to extra innings. Sanchez’s first home run of the season handed Melancon his second blown save in seven chances.
Sanchez represented the tying run after shortstop Eduardo Nunez booted Luis Sardinas’ leadoff grounder for an error.
Ryan Buchter (2-1) pitched two shutout innings and Jose Torres earned his first save.
INDIANS 12, MARINERS 4
CLEVELAND (AP) – Michael Brantley homered and Francisco Lindor had a two-run double as Cleveland scored eight times in the third inning against weary Seattle.
Brantley led off the big inning with a single and capped it with a two-run homer. Lindor, who had three RBIs, hit a solo homer in the third and preceded Brantley’s homer with his double.
Josh Tomlin (2-3) allowed four runs in five-plus innings for the win. The Mariners began the sixth with six straight hits and scored three times, but Nick Goody worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam.
Chase De Jong (0-2), making his first major league start, gave up six runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings. Nelson Cruz homered for the Mariners, who finished 4-6 on their 11-day road trip.
Roberto Perez had three hits and drove in three runs for the defending AL champions, who have won nine of 12.
MARLINS 10, PIRATES 3
MIAMI (AP) – Justin Bour drove in six runs with four hits, both career highs, and Miami rallied from a three-run deficit to end a four-game losing streak by beating Pittsburgh.
Bour improved his batting average from .184 to .222. He had an RBI double in the second, an RBI single in the fourth, a two-run single off Trevor Williams (1-1) in the fifth and a two-run homer in Miami’s six-run seventh.
Bour helped the Marlins avert a series sweep and shake an offensive slump after being outscored 26-8 during the previous four games. They totaled a season-high 15 hits, including three each by Dee Gordon and Marcell Ozuna.
Josh Bell hit a two-run homer for the Pirates, but they were shut out over the final 8 2/3 innings.
Pittsburgh starter Chad Kuhl left in the fifth after he was hit in the right leg by Gordon’s sharp comebacker.
Dustin McGowan (1-0) and four other Marlins relievers combined for five scoreless innings.
ANGELS 5, RANGERS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – JC Ramirez got his first win as a starter on his fourth try after 111 career relief appearances, and Jefry Marte homered and hit a tiebreaking, two-run single to help Los Angeles beat Texas.
Ramirez (3-2) matched his career high from two starts earlier with nine strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander has been filling in for injured Garrett Richards, who hasn’t pitched since leaving his first start with a right biceps strain.
Marte’s two-out single in the fifth came after the Rangers gave Mike Trout an intentional walk to load the bases and starter Martin Perez (1-4) retired Albert Pujols on a popup.
Marte had a solo homer in the ninth. Kole Calhoun also connected for the Angels.
Bud Norris struck out four of the five batters he faced for his fifth save, including Rougned Odor with two on to end the eighth.
Shin-Soo Choo homered for Texas.
ORIOLES 7, YANKEES 4, 11 INNINGS
NEW YORK (AP) – Mark Trumbo hit a go-ahead single in a three-run 11th off Bryan Mitchell, who returned to the mound after an unusual inning at first base, and Baltimore rebounded from another blown late lead.
Didi Gregorius hit a two-out, two-run single in the New York ninth that made it 4-all. Logan Verrett (1-0), making his Orioles debut, escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 10th.
Joey Ricard singled with one out in the 11th against Mitchell (1-1), stole second and later scored on Trumbo’s two-out single. New York had won four in a row.
With the Yankees short in the bullpen, manager Joe Girardi moved Mitchell from the mound to first base in order to keep him in the game. Mitchell let one pop fall for an error and also caught one.
BLUE JAYS 3, RAYS 1
TORONTO (AP) – Russell Martin hit a go-ahead single during a three-run rally in the eighth inning and Toronto posted back-to-back wins for the first time this year.
The Blue Jays started the day at 7-17, the worst record in the majors. A loss would’ve left them with the poorest winning percentage in March/April in team history.
Toronto then lost starter Aaron Sanchez, the AL ERA leader last year, after just one inning because of a split fingernail. Six Toronto relievers combined to limit the Rays to one run in eight innings. J.P. Howell (1-1) got one out and Roberto Osuna finished for his third save.
The Blue Jays chased Chris Archer in the eighth and won it against Alex Colome (0-2).
REDS 5, CARDINALS 4
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Joey Votto hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and Adam Duvall doubled three times and singled for Cincinnati.
The Reds had lost eight of their previous nine games.
Wandy Peralta (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh. Closer Raisel Iglesias threw two innings to record his fourth save in as many chances.
Trevor Rosenthal (0-1) gave up one run on two hits.
BREWERS 4, BRAVES 3
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Domingo Santana homered twice and drove in four runs as Milwaukee ended Atlanta’s four-game winning streak.
Santana hit a solo shot in the fifth, then added a three-run drive in the sixth inning. He has five homers this season, including three in the three-game series against Atlanta.
Freddie Freeman hit his ninth home run for the Braves.
Matt Garza (1-0) pitched 6 2/3 solid innings in his second start of the year. Neftali Feliz worked the ninth for his sixth save in seven chances.
Mike Foltynewicz (0-3) gave up both of Santana’s homers.
Brewers slugger Ryan Braun left after six innings with tightness in his right trapezius, a large muscle that extends from the shoulder into the upper back.
TIGERS 7, WHITE SOX 3
DETROIT (AP) – Jose Iglesias doubled and drove in three runs, helping Detroit stop a four-game losing streak.
Jordan Zimmermann (3-1) picked up a sloppy victory, allowing three runs in five-plus innings.
Todd Frazier homered for the White Sox, who had won six in a row. Miguel Gonzalez (3-1) allowed seven runs and a career-high 14 hits in six innings.
Justin Upton went deep for the Tigers, and Alex Avila had three hits.
ASTROS 7, ATHLETICS 2
HOUSTON (AP) – Dallas Keuchel threw 7 2/3 solid innings and Marwin Gonzalez hit a three-run homer, leading Houston to the victory.
Keuchel (5-0) struck out nine while allowing one run and three hits. The left-hander became the second pitcher in Astros history to get five wins in April, joining Roger Clemens in 2004.
Ken Giles earned his sixth save after getting Yonder Alonso to fly out with the bases loaded.
Oakland’s Jesse Hahn (1-2) gave up four runs in six innings.
TWINS 7, ROYALS 5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Miguel Sano homered and drove in five runs, helping the Twins hand the Royals their ninth straight loss.
Sano posted his fourth consecutive multihit game. He has 11 hits in his last 16 at-bats.
Sano connected in the third after Jason Hammel (0-3) walked Byron Buxton and Max Kepler. He added run-producing singles in the fourth and sixth innings.
It’s the longest slide for Kansas City since a 12-game skid in April 2012.
Minnesota right-hander Phil Hughes (4-1) got the win despite allowing 10 hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings. Brandon Kintzler yielded Whit Merrifield’s two-out homer in the ninth before finishing for his seventh save.
DODGERS 5, PHILLIES 3
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Andrew Toles hit a three-run homer and Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched 5 1/3 solid innings, helping Los Angeles complete the three-game sweep.
Ryu (1-4) earned his first victory of the season in his second consecutive strong start. The veteran left-hander struck out nine and allowed one run.
Odubel Herrera hit a two-run homer for Philadelphia in the ninth. Kenley Jansen then came in and struck out Cesar Hernandez for his seventh save.
Philadelphia right-hander Nick Pivetta (0-1) allowed two runs and nine hits in five innings in his major league debut.
DIAMONDBACKS 2, ROCKIES 0, 13 INNINGS
PHOENIX (AP) – Daniel Descalso hit a two-run homer into the Chase Field swimming pool in the 13th inning, lifting Arizona to the victory.
Descalso’s drive off Jordan Lyles (0-1) salvaged the finale of the weekend series for the Diamondbacks and ended the longest scoreless game in Chase Field history.
Seven pitchers, led by Patrick Corbin’s 6 1/3 innings, combined to shut out the Rockies on five hits. Randall Delgado (1-0) pitched the final two innings to get the victory, finishing a 6-4 homestand for Arizona.
Rendon went a career-best 6 for 6 and scored five times while breaking the club mark for RBIs. He became the 13th player in major league history to drive in 10 or more runs in a game – the first since Garret Anderson did it for the Angels in 2007.
Matt Wieters added two homers, a single and two walks as the Nationals salvaged the finale of a three-game series between NL East rivals. Adam Lind and Bryce Harper also homered, and Harper scored four times to set a major league record for runs in April with 32.
Washington finished with a season-high 23 hits and scored the most runs in the history of the Expos/Nationals franchise. The Nationals’ seven homers were their most since the team moved from Montreal to Washington in 2005.
Rendon, who began the day with no homers and five RBIs this season, raised his batting average from .226 to .278. He capped his incredible performance with a solo home run off Mets backup catcher Kevin Plawecki in the eighth. Harper and Lind went deep against Plawecki earlier in the inning.
It was a miserable day all-around for the Mets, who won the first two games of the series after losing six straight. They gave up 17 consecutive runs after trailing 6-5 in the fourth.
Syndergaard (1-2), the team’s hard-throwing ace, left in the second inning with what the club called ”a possible right lat strain” and was on his way back to New York for an MRI on Monday morning.
Matt Albers (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
RED SOX 6, CUBS 2
BOSTON (AP) – Marco Hernandez scored the go-ahead run on Pedro Strop’s wild pitch in Boston’s four-run eighth inning.
The Red Sox took two of three in the lively weekend series that featured a strong showing for Cubs fans, chants in support of each side and the World Series trophies that ended long title droughts for the once-frustrated franchises.
Hanley Ramirez hit a two-run homer for Boston, and Matt Barnes (3-0) worked one scoreless inning after completing his four-game suspension for throwing behind the head of Baltimore’s Manny Machado.
Kris Bryant hit a solo homer for Chicago, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Koji Uehara (0-2) got the loss.
PADRES 5, GIANTS 2, 12 INNINGS
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Wil Myers hit a three-run homer in the top of the 12th inning to send San Diego past San Francisco.
Myers’ seventh home run and second in two games came off reliever George Kontos (0-2). Cory Spangenberg singled against Kontos leading off the inning, and Erick Aybar singled two batters later.
Hector Sanchez, who played parts of five seasons with the Giants, had a pinch-hit, two-run homer off San Francisco closer Mark Melancon in the ninth to send the game to extra innings. Sanchez’s first home run of the season handed Melancon his second blown save in seven chances.
Sanchez represented the tying run after shortstop Eduardo Nunez booted Luis Sardinas’ leadoff grounder for an error.
Ryan Buchter (2-1) pitched two shutout innings and Jose Torres earned his first save.
INDIANS 12, MARINERS 4
CLEVELAND (AP) – Michael Brantley homered and Francisco Lindor had a two-run double as Cleveland scored eight times in the third inning against weary Seattle.
Brantley led off the big inning with a single and capped it with a two-run homer. Lindor, who had three RBIs, hit a solo homer in the third and preceded Brantley’s homer with his double.
Josh Tomlin (2-3) allowed four runs in five-plus innings for the win. The Mariners began the sixth with six straight hits and scored three times, but Nick Goody worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam.
Chase De Jong (0-2), making his first major league start, gave up six runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings. Nelson Cruz homered for the Mariners, who finished 4-6 on their 11-day road trip.
Roberto Perez had three hits and drove in three runs for the defending AL champions, who have won nine of 12.
MARLINS 10, PIRATES 3
MIAMI (AP) – Justin Bour drove in six runs with four hits, both career highs, and Miami rallied from a three-run deficit to end a four-game losing streak by beating Pittsburgh.
Bour improved his batting average from .184 to .222. He had an RBI double in the second, an RBI single in the fourth, a two-run single off Trevor Williams (1-1) in the fifth and a two-run homer in Miami’s six-run seventh.
Bour helped the Marlins avert a series sweep and shake an offensive slump after being outscored 26-8 during the previous four games. They totaled a season-high 15 hits, including three each by Dee Gordon and Marcell Ozuna.
Josh Bell hit a two-run homer for the Pirates, but they were shut out over the final 8 2/3 innings.
Pittsburgh starter Chad Kuhl left in the fifth after he was hit in the right leg by Gordon’s sharp comebacker.
Dustin McGowan (1-0) and four other Marlins relievers combined for five scoreless innings.
ANGELS 5, RANGERS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – JC Ramirez got his first win as a starter on his fourth try after 111 career relief appearances, and Jefry Marte homered and hit a tiebreaking, two-run single to help Los Angeles beat Texas.
Ramirez (3-2) matched his career high from two starts earlier with nine strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander has been filling in for injured Garrett Richards, who hasn’t pitched since leaving his first start with a right biceps strain.
Marte’s two-out single in the fifth came after the Rangers gave Mike Trout an intentional walk to load the bases and starter Martin Perez (1-4) retired Albert Pujols on a popup.
Marte had a solo homer in the ninth. Kole Calhoun also connected for the Angels.
Bud Norris struck out four of the five batters he faced for his fifth save, including Rougned Odor with two on to end the eighth.
Shin-Soo Choo homered for Texas.
ORIOLES 7, YANKEES 4, 11 INNINGS
NEW YORK (AP) – Mark Trumbo hit a go-ahead single in a three-run 11th off Bryan Mitchell, who returned to the mound after an unusual inning at first base, and Baltimore rebounded from another blown late lead.
Didi Gregorius hit a two-out, two-run single in the New York ninth that made it 4-all. Logan Verrett (1-0), making his Orioles debut, escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 10th.
Joey Ricard singled with one out in the 11th against Mitchell (1-1), stole second and later scored on Trumbo’s two-out single. New York had won four in a row.
With the Yankees short in the bullpen, manager Joe Girardi moved Mitchell from the mound to first base in order to keep him in the game. Mitchell let one pop fall for an error and also caught one.
BLUE JAYS 3, RAYS 1
TORONTO (AP) – Russell Martin hit a go-ahead single during a three-run rally in the eighth inning and Toronto posted back-to-back wins for the first time this year.
The Blue Jays started the day at 7-17, the worst record in the majors. A loss would’ve left them with the poorest winning percentage in March/April in team history.
Toronto then lost starter Aaron Sanchez, the AL ERA leader last year, after just one inning because of a split fingernail. Six Toronto relievers combined to limit the Rays to one run in eight innings. J.P. Howell (1-1) got one out and Roberto Osuna finished for his third save.
The Blue Jays chased Chris Archer in the eighth and won it against Alex Colome (0-2).
REDS 5, CARDINALS 4
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Joey Votto hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and Adam Duvall doubled three times and singled for Cincinnati.
The Reds had lost eight of their previous nine games.
Wandy Peralta (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh. Closer Raisel Iglesias threw two innings to record his fourth save in as many chances.
Trevor Rosenthal (0-1) gave up one run on two hits.
BREWERS 4, BRAVES 3
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Domingo Santana homered twice and drove in four runs as Milwaukee ended Atlanta’s four-game winning streak.
Santana hit a solo shot in the fifth, then added a three-run drive in the sixth inning. He has five homers this season, including three in the three-game series against Atlanta.
Freddie Freeman hit his ninth home run for the Braves.
Matt Garza (1-0) pitched 6 2/3 solid innings in his second start of the year. Neftali Feliz worked the ninth for his sixth save in seven chances.
Mike Foltynewicz (0-3) gave up both of Santana’s homers.
Brewers slugger Ryan Braun left after six innings with tightness in his right trapezius, a large muscle that extends from the shoulder into the upper back.
TIGERS 7, WHITE SOX 3
DETROIT (AP) – Jose Iglesias doubled and drove in three runs, helping Detroit stop a four-game losing streak.
Jordan Zimmermann (3-1) picked up a sloppy victory, allowing three runs in five-plus innings.
Todd Frazier homered for the White Sox, who had won six in a row. Miguel Gonzalez (3-1) allowed seven runs and a career-high 14 hits in six innings.
Justin Upton went deep for the Tigers, and Alex Avila had three hits.
ASTROS 7, ATHLETICS 2
HOUSTON (AP) – Dallas Keuchel threw 7 2/3 solid innings and Marwin Gonzalez hit a three-run homer, leading Houston to the victory.
Keuchel (5-0) struck out nine while allowing one run and three hits. The left-hander became the second pitcher in Astros history to get five wins in April, joining Roger Clemens in 2004.
Ken Giles earned his sixth save after getting Yonder Alonso to fly out with the bases loaded.
Oakland’s Jesse Hahn (1-2) gave up four runs in six innings.
TWINS 7, ROYALS 5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Miguel Sano homered and drove in five runs, helping the Twins hand the Royals their ninth straight loss.
Sano posted his fourth consecutive multihit game. He has 11 hits in his last 16 at-bats.
Sano connected in the third after Jason Hammel (0-3) walked Byron Buxton and Max Kepler. He added run-producing singles in the fourth and sixth innings.
It’s the longest slide for Kansas City since a 12-game skid in April 2012.
Minnesota right-hander Phil Hughes (4-1) got the win despite allowing 10 hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings. Brandon Kintzler yielded Whit Merrifield’s two-out homer in the ninth before finishing for his seventh save.
DODGERS 5, PHILLIES 3
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Andrew Toles hit a three-run homer and Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched 5 1/3 solid innings, helping Los Angeles complete the three-game sweep.
Ryu (1-4) earned his first victory of the season in his second consecutive strong start. The veteran left-hander struck out nine and allowed one run.
Odubel Herrera hit a two-run homer for Philadelphia in the ninth. Kenley Jansen then came in and struck out Cesar Hernandez for his seventh save.
Philadelphia right-hander Nick Pivetta (0-1) allowed two runs and nine hits in five innings in his major league debut.
DIAMONDBACKS 2, ROCKIES 0, 13 INNINGS
PHOENIX (AP) – Daniel Descalso hit a two-run homer into the Chase Field swimming pool in the 13th inning, lifting Arizona to the victory.
Descalso’s drive off Jordan Lyles (0-1) salvaged the finale of the weekend series for the Diamondbacks and ended the longest scoreless game in Chase Field history.
Seven pitchers, led by Patrick Corbin’s 6 1/3 innings, combined to shut out the Rockies on five hits. Randall Delgado (1-0) pitched the final two innings to get the victory, finishing a 6-4 homestand for Arizona.
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