CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Happ and Michael Busch homered and five Chicago pitchers combined for a six-hitter as the Cubs beat the Minnesota Twins 8-2 on Wednesday.
Javier Assad worked the first four innings and Jorge López (2-2) worked two innings and earned the victory. The Cubs took the last two games of the three-game series and have won six of their last eight.
Trevor Richards (2-2), who entered when starter Joe Ryan’ left in the third, didn’t make it out of the inning. Richards allowed three runs after walking five and throwing two wild pitches. One of the errant throws allowed a run to score and the Cubs added a run on Seiya Suzuki’s bases-loaded walk. Isaac Paredes added a sacrifice fly as the Cubs moved out to a 4-2 lead.
The Cubs’ relievers held the Twins to just three hits after Assad departed.
ATHLETICS 3, WHITE SOX 2
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Armando Alvarez and Zack Gelof hit RBI singles and Lawrence Butler knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly — all in the seventh inning — as Oakland rallied past the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox lost their 10th straight series, one day after ending their American League record-tying 21-game losing streak. Chicago (28-89) hasn’t won consecutive games since a three-game streak from June 27-29. The White Sox fell to 8-24 in one-run games and 0-67 when trailing after seven innings.
Oakland (48-68) improved to 5-1-1 in its last seven series.
ASTROS 6, RANGERS 4
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Yordan Alvarez hit a 117 mph homer for the Houston slugger’s hardest shot of the season, Yusei Kikuchi struck out eight pitching into the sixth inning and the Astros beat Texas.
Victor Caratini also went deep while Jeremy Peña, Mauricio Dubón, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman drove in a run apiece for Houston, which started the day a half-game behind Seattle in the division with Texas five back.
Kikuchi (5-9) held Texas scoreless through five innings before Marcus Semien’s 17th home run, a solo shot, leading off the sixth.
DIAMONDBACKS 7, GUARDIANS 3. 1ST GAME
DIAMONDBACKS 5, GUARDIANS 3, 2ND GAME
CLEVELAND (AP) — Josh Bell homered twice and drove in three runs, Eduardo Rodriguez went 5 2/3 innings to win his season debut, and Arizona beat Cleveland to sweep a doubleheader Wednesday.
In the first game, Arizona received two-run homers from Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll in a 7-3 victory. The Diamondbacks won their seventh straight series and moved into the first National League wild-card spot.
Rodriguez, who joined Arizona on a four-year contract in December, had been sidelined with a left shoulder strain. The left-hander gave up three runs and is 7-0 with a 2.51 ERA in nine career starts against Cleveland.
Justin Martinez loaded the bases in the ninth before striking out Lane Thomas to end the game, earning his second save of the series and his career.
Catcher Adrian Del Castillo made his major league debut — doubling in a run in his initial plate appearance — and Randal Grichuk had a solo homer for the Diamondbacks, who are 24-9 since June 29.
The Guardians extended their longest losing streak of the season to five, but lead the American League Central by 3 1/2 games over Minnesota. Their 35-20 home record remains the best in baseball.
José Ramírez and David Fry both homered for Cleveland, with Ramírez hitting his 30th. Carlos Carrasco (3-10) allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings for the loss.
GIANTS 7, NATIONALS 4
WASHINGTON (AP) —Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman hit fifth-inning solo homers to break a 3-3 tie and the San Francisco beat Washington.
Ramos homered for the second straight game, and Chapman finished a triple short of the cycle for the Giants, who have won nine of 12. Mike Yastrzemski added a solo homer and an RBI triple.
Blake Snell (2-3), coming off a no-hitter against the A’s in his last start, gave up three runs on four hits over six innings, retiring the last nine hitters he faced. He had allowed only two earned runs total in his five starts since coming off the injured list. Snell, who struck out eight and walked one, threw 93 pitches.
The Nationals loaded the bases against closer Camilo Doval with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Doval got Alex Call to ground into a double play for his 22nd save.
MARLINS 6, REDS 4
MIAMI (AP) — Derek Hill’s grand slam capped a five-run first inning and Marlins starter Valente Bellozo carried a shutout into the sixth as Miami held off a late rally and beat Cincinnati.
Hill, claimed on waivers from San Francisco on Saturday, drove a fastball from Reds starter Andrew Abbott (9-9) 412 feet to center after Jonah Bride singled and Jesus Sanchez and Otto Lopez walked. It was the left fielder’s fourth homer of the season and first as a Marlin.
That came after designated hitter Jake Burger opened the scoring with a 399-foot homer to center. He then hit a 422-foot shot to left in the fifth, for his 18th and 19th homers of the season. He has six in his last nine games.
ORIOLES 7, BLUE JAYS 3
TOTONTO (AP) — Anthony Santander hit two home runs and made a spectacular catch while Jackson Holliday added a two-run homer of his own to help Baltimore beat Toronto.
The switch-hitting Santander connected for a two-run shot off Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis in the first inning, then added a solo homer off left-hander Ryan Yarbrough from the other side of the plate in the eighth. The homers were his 33rd and 34th, a career high.
Santander leads MLB with 25 home runs since the start of June. It was his third multi-homer game of the season and the 16th of his career.
Holliday went deep for the third straight game for the Orioles, who lead the majors with 178 home runs. Holliday has at least one RBI in five straight games.
Eloy Jiménez added a two-run double as the Orioles bounced back after losing Tuesday’s series opener.
Making his second start for Baltimore, left-hander Trevor Rogers allowed three runs, two earned, and seven hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked two.
CARDINALS 5, RAYS 2
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado and Alec Burleson each had two hits and drove in two runs to help St. Louis beat the Tampa Bay.
Erick Fedde (8-5) pitched five innings for the victory. Willson Contreras and Masyn Winn also had two hits apiece for the Cardinals.
After a rocky debut after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox, Fedde rebounded in his first start at home. He allowed a run on four hits with six strikeouts and a walk.
Ryan Helsley pitched the ninth for his majors-leading 36th save in 39 opportunities.
Josh Lowe had two hits for the Rays and scored a run.
