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Red Sox manager: 3B Alex Bregman (quad) to return this weekend

Red Sox manager: 3B Alex Bregman (quad) to return this weekend

The Red Sox won't wait until after the All-Star break for Alex Bregman, as manager Alex Cora expects the third baseman to make his return either Friday or Saturday in Boston against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Bregman, 31, has not played since May 23 after going on the injured list with a strained right quadriceps. The Red Sox and Rays play a four-game series that started Thursday night and runs through Sunday, with the season's second half starting for Boston on July 18 at the Chicago Cubs.

"He'll play this weekend," Cora said on Thursday, when Bregman had a full baseball workout with batting and fielding practice. "He'll play two of the games, let's put it that way."

Cora said Bregman will be activated without the routine rehabilitation assignment to a minor league affiliate.

"(Bregman) feels good," Cora said. "We talk about the gap between Triple-A and the big leagues. Physically, he's done everything here. So we trust the at-bat, we trust him. We're gonna roll with it. ... You gain five, six, seven at-bats (with a rehab assignment). Why not get them here?"

Bregman is batting .299 with 11 home runs, 35 RBIs, 17 doubles, a .385 on-base percentage and a .553 slugging percentage in 51 games. Despite missing so much time, he was selected as a reserve for the American League squad in Tuesday's All-Star Game in Atlanta.

The now three-time All-Star will not play in that game, but he will take the field this weekend at third base rather than easing in as a designated hitter. He won the AL Gold Glove at third base with Houston last season.

"My biggest concern is the defensive part of it, the nine innings out there, going into the dugout, going back and forth, the pop-up down the line, the bunts and all that," Cora said. "But he's checked almost every box. We've still got today, but he feels like he's in a great place and we're going to trust the player."

Bregman signed a three-year, $120 million deal during the offseason to join the Red Sox after nine seasons with Houston, where he won World Series titles with the Astros in 2017 and 2022.

He is a career .274 hitter with 202 home runs and 698 RBIs in parts of 10 seasons with the Astros (2016-24) and Red Sox.

Reds pitchers stifle Marlins for shutout victory

Reds pitchers stifle Marlins for shutout victory

Nick Lodolo and four relievers combined on a four-hit shutout Thursday for the host Cincinnati Reds, who salvaged a split of a four-game series with the Miami Marlins by earning a 6-0 win.

Spencer Steer homered while Austin Hays had three RBIs thanks to a pair of singles for the Reds, who won the final two games of the series. Cincinnati is the only team in the majors that has not been swept this season.

Elly De La Cruz also had two hits, including a run-scoring single in the sixth, and a stolen base.

The Marlins, whose franchise-record 11-game road winning streak was snapped Wednesday, lost consecutive games for the first time since June 18-19. The defeat was just the sixth in the last 19 games for Miami.

The shutout loss was the first for the Marlins since June 21, when they were blanked 7-0 by the Atlanta Braves. Four players had a hit apiece Thursday for Miami, which recorded just 11 hits in the final two games of the series after outscoring the Reds 17-3 on Monday and Tuesday.

Lodolo (6-6) allowed three hits and walked none while striking out four over six innings. The left-hander allowed just one runner to get beyond second base. It was the longest scoreless effort for Lodolo since April 27, when he twirled seven innings in an 8-1 win over the host Colorado Rockies.

The Marlins mounted their biggest threat in the seventh against Graham Ashcraft, who allowed a single and a pair of walks before inducing pinch hitter Liam Hicks to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The Reds' Tony Santillan worked around a leadoff walk in the eighth and reliever Scott Barlow got two outs in the ninth before Sam Moll retired Javier Sanoja on a fly out.

Marlins starter Cal Quantrill (3-8) took the loss after giving up all six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out five over five innings. The right-hander is winless in his last nine starts dating back to May 18.

Orioles pull off doubleheader sweep, beating Mets 7-3

Orioles pull off doubleheader sweep, beating Mets 7-3

Jordan Westburg homered and Gunnar Henderson had three hits as the Baltimore Orioles beat the visiting New York Mets 7-3 in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader, completing a rare twin-bill sweep.

Orioles starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (7-5) gave up two first-inning runs and then settled in to complete six innings. He allowed three runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

Relievers Andrew Kittredge, Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez each worked a shutout inning. The Orioles have won five of their last six games.

Baltimore hadn't swept a doubleheader since June 2016 vs. the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Mets have lost three of their last four games. Brandon Nimmo had two of the team's five hits.

Justin Hagenman (0-1) took the loss in relief, yielding three runs (two earned) on four hits in two innings. Brandon Waddell was the starting pitcher for New York, giving up three runs in three innings.

The Orioles won the first game 3-1 by scoring all their runs in the eighth inning. Henderson was the Game 1 hero with a go-ahead, two-run homer.

In the second game, Westburg collected three RBIs, Alex Jackson had two doubles and scored two runs and Cedric Mullins added two hits.

New York got going early, as Nimmo led off the game with a single and Francisco Lindor doubled. Juan Soto plated the game's first run on a groundout and Pete Alonso hit a sacrifice fly.

Baltimore answered in the second inning with Jackson's run-scoring double followed by Westburg's two-run homer. It marked Westburg's 10th homer of the season.

After the Mets pulled even on Brett Baty's RBI single in the fourth, the Orioles went back to work.

They scored on Colton Cowser's single and a Mets error in the fifth. Fielder's choice grounders by Westburg and Ramon Laureano provided runs in the sixth.

The doubleheader was scheduled following Wednesday night's rainout.

Mets LHP David Peterson subs for Giants LHP Robbie Ray on NL All-Stars

Mets LHP David Peterson subs for Giants LHP Robbie Ray on NL All-Stars

New York Mets pitcher David Peterson replaced fellow left-hander Robbie Ray of the San Francisco Giants on the National League roster on Thursday for next Tuesday's All-Star Game in Atlanta.

Ray, 33, is scheduled to pitch on Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. He is 9-3 this season with a 2.63 ERA, one complete game, 42 walks and 122 strikeouts in 113 innings over 19 starts.

Peterson is a first-time All-Star and will join Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (starter), first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz on the NL squad.

The 29-year-old Peterson also pitched on Thursday, but it was not all good news as the Mets fell to the host Baltimore Orioles 3-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. He started and went seven-plus innings, allowing one run (in the eighth) on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts but did not figure in the decision.

Peterson is 6-4 with a 3.06 ERA with one complete-game shutout, 37 walks and 93 strikeouts in 108 innings over 18 starts.

Ray was an All-Star in 2017 for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the American League Cy Young winner in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Giants also will be represented on Tuesday by right-hander Logan Webb and reliever Randy Rodriguez.

Former Cubs, Phillies manager Lee Elia dies at 87

Former Cubs, Phillies manager Lee Elia dies at 87

Former major league manager Lee Elia died on Wednesday, a week before his 88th birthday, the Philadelphia Phillies announced on Thursday.

"Elia was a valued contributor to the Phillies for much of his half century in professional baseball," the team said in a statement. "The third base coach for the 1980 World Series championship team, he also spent time in the organization as a minor league player, manager, scout and director of instruction.

"Affiliated with 10 different organizations throughout his distinguished career, he always considered himself a Phillie at heart."

Elia managed the Chicago Cubs in 1982-83, with the teams a combined 127-158 (.446). He guided the Phillies from 1987-88 for a 111-142-1 (.439) mark, for a total managerial record of 238-300-1 (.442) over four seasons.

He made his major league debut as a shortstop for the Chicago White Sox in April 1966 and played in 80 games. The Cubs purchased his contract in May 1967 and he played in 15 games in the 1968 season. He batted a combined .203 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 95 MLB games.

The Phillies initially signed the Philadelphia native as an amateur free agent in September 1958 after he attended the University of Delaware. They traded him to the White Sox in December 1964.

Elia, born on July 16, 1937, also coached and served in other capacities with the Phillies, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Baltimore Orioles between 1980 and 2008.

Colin Rea silences Twins, PCA parks pair of HRs to lead Cubs over Minnesota

Colin Rea silences Twins, PCA parks pair of HRs to lead Cubs over Minnesota

Pete Crow-Armstrong crushed a pair of home runs and right-hander Colin Rae handled the rest as the Chicago Cubs beat the Minnesota Twins in an 8-1 blowout in Minneapolis on Thursday afternoon.

Rea (7-3) scattered three hits and struck out five in seven innings in what became a light workout behind Chicago's offensive barrage. Crow-Armstrong was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored and Seiya Suzuki added three hits.

The Cubs collected 14 total hits and after taking a 1-0 lead in the second, Crow-Armstrong's two-run blast to center field made it 3-0. He led off the seventh inning with another long home run that put the Cubs in front 7-1.

Armstrong, who now has 25 home runs this season, also collected his 21st double of the season

Third baseman Royce Lewis had two of Minnesota's four hits and the Twins' lone run came on Kody Clemens' solo shot with one out in the fifth.

Michael Busch added two RBIs for Chicago, which avoided a three-game sweep. Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner each finished with two hits and one RBI.

The Twins lost for only the second time in their past six games.

Twins right-hander Chris Paddack gave up six runs on 11 hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Cubs relievers Brad Keller and Daniel Palencia pitched one scoreless inning apiece to seal the victory.

Chicago started the scoring in the second. Swanson hit a one-out double to left and scored two batters later on Hoerner's single to center.

Matt Shaw added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to put Chicago on top 4-0.

The hot hitting continued in the fifth. Busch and Swanson hit back-to-back, run-scoring singles. That pushed the Cubs' lead to 6-0 and chased Paddack from the game at the end of the inning.

Athletics' Brent Rooker joins Home Run Derby field

Athletics' Brent Rooker joins Home Run Derby field

Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker was the latest to commit to Monday's Home Run Derby, leaving the event at Atlanta one participant short of a full field.

Rooker, who was named to the American League All-Star roster as a reserve Sunday, has 19 home runs and 50 RBIs through 94 games after hitting 39 home runs last season and 30 in 2023.

Rooker's intent to participate comes after the Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero joined the eight-player field Wednesday. Caminero has 22 home runs and 58 RBIs in 87 games of his first full major league season.

Other confirmed participants include Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals and Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins.

Among the players to turn down an invite to the eight-player field are two-time champion Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies and 2024 runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals.

Defending champion Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers recently turned down a spot as a consideration to nagging injuries.

Top power threats Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers also are expected to skip the event.

Orioles trade RHP Bryan Baker to Rays for draft pick

Orioles trade RHP Bryan Baker to Rays for draft pick

The Baltimore Orioles traded right-handed reliever Bryan Baker to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday in exchange for the 37th pick in the upcoming 2025 MLB Draft.

The move gives the Orioles four of the first 37 and seven of the top 93 selections in the draft. The first three rounds will take place on Sunday, with Rounds 4-20 on Monday.

Baker, 30, was 3-2 with a 3.52 ERA and two saves in a team-high 42 relief appearances with Baltimore this season.

He is 12-9 with a 3.70 ERA and three saves in 174 career games (two starts) with the Toronto Blue Jays (2021) and Orioles.

Gunnar Henderson powers Orioles to comeback win over Mets

Gunnar Henderson powers Orioles to comeback win over Mets

Gunnar Henderson's two-run, pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning interrupted a pitching duel and the Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Mets 3-1 on Thursday afternoon in the first game of a doubleheader.

Mets starter David Peterson cruised through seven shutout innings before yielding Colton Cowser's lead-off single in the eighth and he was replaced by Ryne Stanek, who surrendered Henderson's 11th home run of the season. The Orioles tacked on another run later in the inning on Ramon Laureano's sacrifice fly.

Grant Wolfram, who was added to the Baltimore roster as the extra player because of the doubleheader, pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings with four strikeouts to record his first victory in the major leagues in his third appearance. Felix Bautista worked the ninth for his 18th save.

Peterson finished the seven-plus innings by allowing five hits and striking out six without a walk. Stanek (2-5) took the loss.

Tyrone Taylor drove in New York's run and was part of a key defensive play. Mark Vientos, who entered the game as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning, had two of the Mets' five hits.

Orioles starter Charlie Morton was in danger of suffering a loss for the first time in more than two months before the eighth-inning runs. He worked six innings, giving up one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

This was the second game of the series after the Mets won in 10 innings Tuesday night.

Peterson held the Orioles to three singles in five innings, with one runner erased at third base on Taylor's throw from center field.

New York scored first when Brett Baty led off the fifth with a walk, stole second base and scored on Taylor's double.

Vientos doubled to begin the sixth but was left stranded as Morton struck out two of the next three batters.

The Mets stranded four runners through three innings. The Orioles had a runner reach third base with two outs in the fourth before Ramon Urias lined out to left field on the 11th pitch of an at-bat.

The twin bill was necessary after Wednesday night's rainout.

Joe Coleman, former All-Star and pick in first MLB draft, dies at 78

Joe Coleman, former All-Star and pick in first MLB draft, dies at 78

Joe Coleman, the No. 3 selection in the first Major League Baseball draft in 1965, died Wednesday at age 78.

His son, former major league pitcher Casey Coleman, said his father died in his sleep in Tennessee.

Joe Coleman, a right-handed pitcher, was part of the debut amateur draft, selected by the Washington Senators. When the Senators handed him the ball on Sept. 28, 1965, the 18-year-old became the first-ever drafted player to debut in the majors. He beat the Kansas City Athletics 6-1.

He went on to amass a 142-135 record, a 3.70 ERA and seven saves in 484 games (340 starts) with the Senators (1965-70), Detroit Tigers (1971-76), Chicago Cubs (1976), Oakland Athletics (1977-78), Toronto Blue Jays (1978), and the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates (1979).

Coleman was an All-Star with the Tigers in 1972 when he finished 19-14 with a 2.80 ERA in 280 innings. He won 20 games in 1971 and 23 in 1973.

In that 1971 season, he was 20-9 with a 3.15 ERA despite missing time while recovering from a fractured skull.

A Boston-area native, Coleman was both the son and the father of a major leaguer.

His father, also named Joe, was a pitcher for 10 seasons from 1942-55, interrupted for military service.

MLB roundup: White Sox halt Blue Jays' 10-game winning streak

MLB roundup: White Sox halt Blue Jays' 10-game winning streak

Adrian Houser allowed one run over seven innings to help the Chicago White Sox end the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 10-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon.

Houser (5-2) scattered seven hits, struck out two and walked two. Grant Taylor pitched a scoreless eighth and Jordan Leasure closed the ninth for his second save in his fifth opportunity this season.

Edgar Quero doubled twice, drove in a run and scored for the White Sox, who ended a three-game skid.

Bo Bichette went 3-for-3 and Nathan Lukes and Will Wagner each had two singles for the Blue Jays, who were unable to tie the franchise record 11-game winning streak. Blue Jays starter Eric Lauer (4-2) allowed two runs and four hits in four innings.

Yankees 9, Mariners 6

Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered twice and Cam Schlittler pitched 5 1/3 solid innings in his major league debut as New York recorded a victory over visiting Seattle.

Chisholm hit his ninth and 10th homers since returning from an oblique injury on June 3 -- a stretch of 31 games -- to help the Yankees win three straight for the first time since a three-game sweep June 10-12 in Kansas City. Jasson Dominguez collected three hits and Aaron Judge had a two-run double.

The 24-year-old Schlittler (1-0) allowed three runs, including solo homers to J.P Crawford and Jorge Polanco. Cole Young also belted his first career homer for the Mariners. Logan Evans (3-3) gave up six runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Brewers 3, Dodgers 2 (10 innings)

Jackson Chourio's walk-off single to left field gave Milwaukee a three-game series sweep against visiting Los Angeles.

After William Contreras' fly ball to center moved automatic runner Sal Frelick to third, Chourio grounded Kirby Yates' pitch into left for his first career walk-off hit and a four-game winning streak. Trevor Megill (2-2) pitched a scoreless 10th with three strikeouts for Milwaukee.

Miguel Rojas had two hits with a walk and two runs scored for the Dodgers, who are on a season-long six-game losing streak. Los Angeles right-hander Tyler Glasnow (shoulder) returned from more than two months on the injured list to allow an unearned run over five innings. Yates (4-3) suffered the loss as the fifth pitcher of the day.

Reds 7, Marlins 2

All-Star Andrew Abbott carried a shutout into the eighth inning for host Cincinnati, which topped Miami following back-to-back losses to begin the four-game set.

Fellow All-Star Elly De La Cruz had a pair of RBI doubles for the Reds, who snapped a four-game losing streak and avoided falling under .500 for the first time since June 7. Noelvi Marte hit a two-run homer to spark a three-run fourth and Will Benson added a solo shot in the eighth.

Heriberto Hernandez spoiled Abbott's shutout bid with an RBI single for the Marlins, who lost for just the fourth time in 16 games. Connor Norby homered in the ninth.

Phillies 13, Giants 0

Bryce Harper became the first MLB player since Vladimir Guerrero last July to produce three doubles and one homer in the same game as Philadelphia salvaged a win from its three-game series in San Francisco.

Jesus Luzardo (8-5) scattered three singles and one walk over seven innings before Seth Johnson and Joe Ross wrapped up the shutout. Kyle Schwarber capped a seven-run eighth with a three-run homer while J.T. Realmuto added three hits, two runs and two RBIs as the Phillies piled up 17 hits and tied their season high for runs.

Justin Verlander (0-7) allowed seven hits and four runs (two earned) over six innings. Wilmer Flores contributed two of the Giants' four singles.

Rays 7, Tigers 3

Ha-Seong Kim and Danny Jansen cracked RBI doubles during a four-run sixth as visiting Tampa Bay snapped Detroit's five-game winning streak.

Junior Caminero hit his 22nd homer and Jonathan Aranda went 3-for-4 as the Rays produced 16 hits. Zack Littell (8-7) gave up six hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings.

Zach McKinstry, added to the American League's All-Star team during the game, posted two doubles and one RBI for the Tigers. Starter Reese Olson allowed two runs and six hits in five innings before Brant Hurter and Chase Lee (4-1) gave up the four runs in the sixth.

Red Sox 10, Rockies 2

Carlos Narvaez, Wilyer Abreu, Romy Gonzalez and Jarren Duran each homered and Lucas Giolito pitched six scoreless innings to help Boston complete a three-game sweep of visiting Colorado.

Giolito (6-1) surrendered four hits and struck out six without a walk. He has allowed three earned runs in his last six starts (38 2/3 innings) and pitched at least six innings in each of those outings.

Senzatela (3-13) was pulled after five innings. He gave up four runs on eight hits. Kyle Farmer's two-run home run in the eighth was the highlight for the Colorado offense.

Angels 11, Rangers 8

Jorge Soler hit a two-run go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth and Mike Trout belted two home runs and drove in three runs to power Los Angeles past Texas in Anaheim, Calif.

It was the 29th multi-homer game of Trout's career and third of the season. Travis d'Arnaud also homered and had two hits and two runs scored in the win. Jose Fermin (2-0) picked up the victory with a hitless inning of relief and Kenley Jansen notched his 16th save with a scoreless ninth.

Marcus Semien homered and drove in four runs, while Kyle Higashioka homered and had two hits and two RBIs for Texas, which lost for the third time in four games. Luke Jackson (2-5) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in an inning of relief.

Diamondbacks 8, Padres 2

Geraldo Perdomo hit a grand slam and Brandon Pfaadt sailed through the longest start of his career as visiting Arizona cruised to a win over San Diego.

Pfaadt (9-6) looked nothing like a pitcher who entered the night with a 5.42 earned run average, going eight innings while allowing two runs on four hits. Perdomo blew open a 2-0 game in the top of the fifth, lining his 10th homer of the year and Arizona's MLB-high ninth slam of the season into the right field seats. It was the longest of four homers for Arizona.

Dylan Cease (3-9) suffered his third straight loss, bitten by three long balls and three walks. Cease worked six innings and permitted six runs off five hits while striking out eight. Two of those free passes scored on Perdomo's slam.

Braves 9, Athletics 2

Ronald Acuna Jr. returned to the lineup to smack two homers and Drake Baldwin hit a three-run blast to lead Atlanta to a victory over the Athletics in Sacramento, Calif.

Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna also went deep as the Braves socked five homers off Athletics starter Mitch Spence. Acuna's power display came one night after he was a late scratch due to lower-back tightness. Bryce Elder (3-6) gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings as the Braves snapped a five-game losing streak.

Gio Urshela and Lawrence Butler had RBIs for the Athletics, who lost for the fourth time in the past six games.

Royals 4, Pirates 3

Salvador Perez went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs to propel Kansas City to a victory over visiting Pittsburgh.

Perez's second homer broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning, helping the Royals complete the three-game sweep and extend the club's winning streak to four. Kris Bubic allowed three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings for Kansas City. Rookie Jac Caglianone demolished a two-run homer to center field in the win. Lucas Erceg (4-2) threw a perfect eighth for Kansas City, while closer Carlos Estevez worked around a one-out single in the ninth to seal the win and earn his 25th save of the season.

Bailey Falter allowed three runs and six hits in his 4 2/3-inning stint for Pittsburgh. Ke'Bryan Hayes drove in a pair of runs and Tommy Pham went 3-for-4 for the Pirates, who dropped their sixth straight game. Isaac Mattson (2-1) surrendered two hits -- including Perez's eighth-inning homer -- and a walk.

Twins 4, Cubs 2

Matt Wallner had a pair of hits, including a home run, and Carlos Correa had an RBI double as Minnesota earned a win over Chicago in Minneapolis.

Wallner was 2-for-3 and Correa finished 2-for-4 for the Twins, who collected their second win in as many nights over the Cubs. Righty David Festa (3-3) allowed two runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings, while closer Jhoan Duran pitched a perfect ninth to collect his 14th save of the season.

Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner responded with the RBIs for Chicago, which has dropped three of the last four outings. Cade Horton (3-3) gave up four runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Guardians 4, Astros 2

Angel Martinez and Jose Ramirez hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning in support of right-hander Slade Cecconi, who recorded a career-high nine strikeouts to lead Cleveland past host Houston for a three-game series sweep.

Cecconi (4-4) carried a shutout into the eighth inning before the Astros finally broke through. He faced the minimum number of batters in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings, striking out the side in the bottom of the fifth. Cecconi was charged with two runs on five hits over seven innings.

Martinez and Ramirez homered off Houston left-hander Brandon Walter (1-2), who was impeccable after falling into that two-run hole. He retired the final 17 batters he faced and recorded seven strikeouts and no walks over six innings.

Nationals 8, Cardinals 2

Nathaniel Lowe's three-run home run in the top of the first inning was enough to power Washington over host St. Louis and give interim manager Miguel Cairo his first victory since replacing Dave Martinez on Monday.

Amed Rosario and James Wood added solo homers and Jacob Young had a pair of RBIs as the Nationals snapped a four-game losing skid. Starter MacKenzie Gore (4-8) surrendered one run on five hits with seven strikeouts over six innings to earn his first win since June 4.

Masyn Winn was 3-for-4 with a run batted in for the Cardinals, who dropped their sixth game in eight appearances. Andre Pallante (5-5) allowed seven runs on eight hits over six innings in the loss.

Ronald Acuna Jr. homers twice, Braves hammer A's

Ronald Acuna Jr. homers twice, Braves hammer A's

Ronald Acuna Jr. returned to the lineup to smack two homers and Drake Baldwin hit a three-run blast to lead the Atlanta Braves to an easy 9-2 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday night in Sacramento, Calif.

Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna also went deep as the Braves socked five homers off Athletics starter Mitch Spence. Acuna's power display came one night after he was a late scratch due to lower-back tightness.

Bryce Elder (3-6) gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings for the Braves. He struck out seven and walked one to help Atlanta snap a five-game losing streak and win for just the third time in its past 13 contests.

Gio Urshela and Lawrence Butler had RBIs for the Athletics, who lost for the fourth time in the past six games.

Jacob Wilson (left hand contusion) sat out for the Athletics. The American League's starting shortstop for next week's All-Star Game was hit by a pitch during Tuesday's opener of the three-game series.

Spence (2-5) was torched for eight runs and nine hits over six innings. He struck out three and walked one.

Acuna displayed his back was feeling good on the third pitch of the game when he drilled a sinker from Spence well over the fence in left.

Matt Olson followed with a single and Riley doubled before Baldwin launched a three-run blast to right center to make it 4-0.

Olson reached on an infield single with two out in the second before Riley ripped a homer to left-center to make it a six-run margin.

Acuna took Spence deep again with two outs in the fourth as he deposited a slider on to the grass beyond the wall in right-center.

The Athletics got on the board in the fifth as Zack Gelof singled with one out and moved to third on Denzel Clarke's double. Butler's infield groundout scored Gelof.

Ozuna kept the homer parade against Spence going when he hit the second pitch of the sixth inning over the wall in center to make it 8-1.

The Athletics strung consecutive two-out singles by Tyler Soderstrom, Max Muncy and Urshela for a run in their half of the sixth.

Atlanta added a run in the seventh off Hogan Harris as Olson led off with a walk and later scored for the third time on Jurickson Profar's double.

Geraldo Perdomo's slam sends Diamondbacks past Padres

Geraldo Perdomo's slam sends Diamondbacks past Padres

Geraldo Perdomo hit a grand slam Wednesday night and Brandon Pfaadt sailed through the longest start of his career as the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks cruised to an 8-2 win over the San Diego Padres.

Pfaadt (9-6) looked nothing like a pitcher who entered the night with a 5.42 earned run average, going eight innings while allowing two runs on four hits. Pfaadt walked none and fanned four, slipping a called third strike past Fernando Tatis Jr. with his 99th and final pitch of the game.

Perdomo blew open a 2-0 game in the top of the fifth, lining his 10th homer of the year and Arizona's MLB-high ninth slam of the season into the right field seats. It was the longest of four homers for Arizona.

Dylan Cease (3-9) suffered his third straight loss, bitten by three long balls and three walks. Cease worked six innings and permitted five runs off six hits while striking out eight. Two of those free passes scored on Perdomo's slam.

Cease retired the first seven batters he faced before James McCann lashed a third-inning fastball an estimated 434 feet into the second deck in left for his second homer of the season. An inning later, Eugenio Suarez jumped on a hanging slider and lifted it just over the glove of Bryce Johnson into the left field seats for his 29th homer.

Tatis led off the first with a double into the left field corner, but Pfaadt mowed down the next 13 hitters before San Diego got a run in the fifth. Xander Bogaerts singled, Jake Cronenworth doubled and Johnson cashed in Bogaerts with a groundout to first.

Gavin Sheets led off the seventh with his 14th homer, a 437-foot rocket into the right field seats, to bring the Padres within 6-2.

Corbin Carroll, who fanned in his first four at-bats, capped the Diamondbacks' scoring in the ninth with a leadoff homer to right, his 21st of the season. Six of Arizona's eight hits went for extra bases.

Led by Mike Trout's 2 HRs, Angels power past Rangers

Led by Mike Trout's 2 HRs, Angels power past Rangers

Jorge Soler hit a two-run go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth and Mike Trout belted two home runs and drove in three runs to power the Los Angeles Angels to an 11-8 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif.

It was the 29th multi-homer game of Trout's career and third of the season. Travis d'Arnaud also homered and had two hits and two runs scored and Zach Neto added two hits and two runs scored for Los Angeles. Jose Fermin (2-0) picked up the win with a hitless inning of relief and Kenley Jansen notched his 16th save with a scoreless ninth.

Marcus Semien homered and drove in four runs, Kyle Higashioka homered and had two hits and two RBIs, Josh Smith had two doubles and two runs scored and Wyatt Langford added two hits, two runs scored and also stole two bases for Texas, which lost for the third time in four games.

Luke Jackson (2-5) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in an inning of relief.

Texas took a 1-0 lead in the first when Smith led off with a double into the right field corner, advanced to third on a flyout to right by Corey Seager and scored on a ground out by Semien.

The Rangers extended the lead to 3-0 in the third on a leadoff homer by Higashioka and a sacrifice fly by Semien but the Angels answered with four runs in the bottom half to take a 4-3 lead highlighted by a two-run homer by Trout, a 426-foot drive to center.

Texas took a 5-4 lead in the fourth when Langford led off with a single, stole second and third and scored on a fielder's choice by Burger, who took second on a throwing error to the plate by Angels starter Kyle Hendricks. One out later, Smith drove in Burger with a single.

Los Angeles tied it, 5-5, in the bottom of the fourth on d'Arnaud's sixth home run, a 397-foot drive to right-center, and took a 6-5 lead an inning later on Trout's second homer of the game and 394th of his career, a 378-foot line drive to right-center.

Texas tied it, 6-6, in the sixth on an RBI single by Higashioka and then took an 8-6 lead in the seventh on Semien's 10th homer, a 423-foot two-run drive to left-center.

Los Angeles tied it, 8-8, on a two-run single by Taylor Ward and then scored three times in the eighth off Jackson, highlighted by Soler's towering 421-foot two-run homer down the left field line.

Matt Wallner, Carlos Correa power Twins past Cubs

Matt Wallner, Carlos Correa power Twins past Cubs

Matt Wallner went 2-for-3 with a home run as the Minnesota Twins held on for a 4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.

Carlos Correa finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Minnesota, which won its second straight game against the Cubs. Ryan Jeffers went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner drove in one run apiece for Chicago.

Twins right-hander David Festa (3-3) allowed two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Cubs right-hander Cade Horton (3-3) surrendered four runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked two and fanned five.

Twins closer Jhoan Duran pitched a scoreless ninth to collect his 14th save. He needed only eight pitches, including five strikes, to get through the inning.

The Twins jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first.

Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch, swiped second base and came around to score on Jeffers' single to left. Correa followed with an RBI double.

Wallner led off the second with a solo shot to put the Twins on top 3-0. He pulled a 390-foot fly ball down the line in right for his ninth homer of the season and second in five days.

Chicago cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth.

The Cubs loaded the bases with one out for Swanson, who drove in the team's first run with an RBI infield single. Hoerner followed with a fielder's choice to pull the Cubs within one.

Minnesota used a delayed double steal to increase its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth.

Royce Lewis took a leadoff from third base as Wallner took a leadoff from first base. Wallner tried to steal second and was thrown out in a rundown between the bases, but Lewis took off from third and crossed the plate.

Slade Cecconi dominant as Guardians sweep Astros

Slade Cecconi dominant as Guardians sweep Astros

Angel Martinez and Jose Ramirez hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning in support of right-hander Slade Cecconi, who recorded a career-high nine strikeouts to lead the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-2 win over the host Houston Astros on Wednesday and a three-game series sweep.

The Guardians recorded their first series sweep of the Astros since May 19-21, 2017, and produced their first series sweep since April 18-20 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Astros suffered their second series sweep at home, the first coming against the San Francisco Giants during their first homestand. The Astros were swept for a second time overall.

Cecconi (4-4) carried a shutout into the eighth inning before the Astros finally broke through. He faced the minimum number of batters in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings, striking out the side in the bottom of the fifth. Cecconi induced Jose Altuve to ground into an inning-ending double play in the first inning and struck out Cooper Hummel and Taylor Trammell to cap the third after surrendering consecutive one-out singles to Victor Caratini and Yainer Diaz.

Cecconi retired 11 of 12 batters before Trammell worked a leadoff walk in the eighth and Mauricio Dubon followed with a run-scoring double to left-center field that pulled the Astros to within 4-1. Dubon later scored when Altuve doubled off Guardians reliever Jakob Junis.

Cecconi was charged with two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings. He threw 98 pitches and recorded eight groundball outs to pair with his nine strikeouts. Before the Dubon double, the Astros managed to hit only three balls in the air, all to Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan.

Walter was impeccable after falling into that two-run hole. He retired the final 17 batters he faced and recorded seven strikeouts over six innings.

Jonathan Rodriguez produced a two-run single off Astros reliever Bennett Sousa in the seventh.

Interim manager Miguel Cairo gets 1st win as Nationals down Cards

Interim manager Miguel Cairo gets 1st win as Nationals down Cards

Nathaniel Lowe hit a three-run homer to power the visiting Washington Nationals past the St. Louis Cardinals 8-2 on Wednesday night and give interim manager Miguel Cairo his first victory.

Jacob Young drove in two runs and Amed Rosario and James Wood hit homers as the Nationals snapped a four-game losing streak.

Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore (4-8) held the Cardinals to one run on five hits in six innings to earn his first victory since June 4. He struck out seven batters and walked one.

Cairo, who had been the team's bench coach, began his stint as interim manager on Tuesday against the Cardinals, who won 4-2. Cairo replaced Dave Martinez, who was fired along with general manager Mike Rizzo on Sunday.

Masyn Winn went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Cardinals, who lost for the sixth time in eight games.

St. Louis starter Andre Pallante (5-5) allowed seven runs on eight hits in six innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out one batter.

Washington broke out to a 3-0 first-inning lead on a double by CJ Abrams, a walk to Josh Bell and Lowe's homer.

The Cardinals cut their deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the inning. Willson Contreras hit a two-out double and scored on Alec Burleson's single.

The Nationals extended their lead to 6-1 in the fourth inning. Bell hit a double leading off, then moved to third on Lowe's infield single and scored on Alex Call's double.

Brady House loaded the bases with an infield single, then Young popped a two-run single down the first base line.

The Cardinals threatened with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Yohel Pozo walked and Lars Nootbaar followed with a single, but Gore struck out Pedro Pages to strand them.

Rosario's fifth-inning homer, measured at 434 feet, increased Washington's lead to 7-1, and Wood's 433-foot homer in the seventh inning made it 8-1.

St. Louis got a run back in the seventh inning when Nootbaar hit a double and scored on Winn's single.

Salvador Perez's 2 homers help Royals edge Pirates

Salvador Perez's 2 homers help Royals edge Pirates

Salvador Perez went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs to propel the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Perez's second homer broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning, helping the Royals complete the three-game sweep and extend the club's winning streak to four.

Kris Bubic allowed three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings for Kansas City, striking out six and walking two. Rookie Jac Caglianone demolished a two-run homer to center field in the win.

Lucas Erceg (4-2) threw a perfect eighth for Kansas City, while closer Carlos Estevez worked around a one-out single in the ninth to seal the win and earn his 25th save of the season.

Bailey Falter allowed three runs and six hits in his 4 2/3-inning stint, while striking out three and walking two for Pittsburgh. Ke'Bryan Hayes drove in a pair of runs and Tommy Pham went 3-for-4 for the Pirates, who dropped their sixth straight game. Isaac Mattson (2-1) surrendered two hits -- including Perez's eighth-inning homer -- and a walk.

Kansas City struck first in the bottom of the second, as Perez turned around Falter's first-pitch sinker with his 12th home run of the season -- a 444-foot solo shot with no outs.

After Maikel Garcia doubled to begin the fourth, Falter retired Perez before surrendering Caglianone's 466-foot, two-run shot, which extended the Royals' lead to 3-0.

With two outs in the fifth inning, Falter was replaced by Braxton Ashcraft, who threw 2 1/3 scoreless frames.

Pham singled to begin the sixth for Pittsburgh, before Andrew McCutchen walked and Bryan Reynolds singled to load the bases. Bubic retired Nick Gonzales before Oneil Cruz's run-scoring groundout plated the Pirates' first run. Hayes then laced a two-run single to knot the score, forcing Bubic to be relieved by John Schreiber.

Andrew Abbott leads struggling Reds over Marlins

Andrew Abbott leads struggling Reds over Marlins

All-Star Andrew Abbott carried a shutout into the eighth inning Wednesday night for the host Cincinnati Reds, who topped the Miami Marlins 7-2 following back-to-back losses to begin the four-game set.

Fellow All-Star Elly De La Cruz had a pair of RBI doubles for the Reds, who snapped a four-game losing streak and avoided falling under .500 for the first time since June 7. Austin Hays and Tyler Stephenson followed De La Cruz with run-scoring singles in the first before Noelvi Marte hit a two-run homer to spark a three-run fourth. Will Benson added a solo shot in the eighth.

Heriberto Hernandez spoiled Abbott's shutout bid with an RBI single for the Marlins, who lost for just the fourth time in 16 games. Connor Norby homered in the ninth.

Abbott (8-1), who was selected to replace Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday, allowed six hits and two walks while striking out four. The lefty has surrendered one run or fewer in 12 of his 16 starts this season.

Tony Santillan got the final out of the eighth following Ramirez's double before Emilio Pagan surrendered Norby's homer in a non-save situation in the ninth.

Marte had two hits for the Reds, who received a hit from every starter. Matt McLain added a stolen base.

Five players had one hit each for the Marlins, who recorded fewer than six hits for just the fifth time in their last 35 games dating back to June 1.

Sandy Alcantara (4-9) took the loss after giving up six runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings. The former National League Cy Young Award winner has a 7.22 ERA in his first season following Tommy John surgery and has allowed at least five runs in eight of his 18 starts.

Lucas Giolito, Red Sox bats overpower Rockies

Lucas Giolito, Red Sox bats overpower Rockies

Carlos Narvaez, Wilyer Abreu, Romy Gonzalez and Jarren Duran each homered and Lucas Giolito pitched six scoreless innings to help the Boston Red Sox complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Colorado Rockies by posting a 10-2 victory Wednesday.

Giolito (6-1) surrendered four hits and struck out six without a walk. He has allowed three earned runs in his last six starts (38 2/3 innings) and pitched at least six innings in each of those outings.

Narvaez hit a solo home run off Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela in the bottom of the second inning and Abreu added a two-run homer against Senzatela in the fifth. Seth Halvorsen gave up a two-run homer to Gonzalez in the eighth and then Duran hit a three-run homer against Halvorsen later in the inning.

Senzatela (3-13) was pulled after five innings. He gave up four runs on eight hits, struck out three and walked one.

Kyle Farmer's two-run home run in the eighth was the highlight for the Colorado offense.

Boston received three hits from Masataka Yoshida, who made his season debut after being activated from the 60-day injured list earlier in the day. Yoshida missed Boston's first 93 games while recovering from offseason surgery on his right shoulder.

The Red Sox have won six in a row and eight of their last nine.

Tyler Freeman, Jordan Beck and Michael Toglia each collected two hits for the Rockies, who have lost three in a row.

Narvaez opened the scoring by hitting his eighth home run of the season. The Red Sox led 2-0 after Yoshida's RBI single in the fourth drove in Narvaez.

Abreu's 18th home run of the season came with Roman Anthony on first and increased the lead to 4-0.

It was 5-0 after David Hamilton drove in Gonzalez with a single in the sixth.

Farmer's home run came against Isaiah Campbell and made it a 5-2 game in the eighth, but Boston regained a five-run lead when Gonzalez homered in the eighth. Duran's three-run home run capped the scoring.

Boston outscored Colorado 29-7 in the series.