BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran led off with a homer, Masataka Yoshida added a two-run single in a three-run first inning, and the Boston Red Sox ended a four-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
David Hamilton, Triston Casas and Wilyer Abreu also drove in runs for Boston, which had not won since beating Houston last Wednesday.
Boston also ended the Blue Jays’ five-game winning streak. Toronto has still won 10 of its last 15, placing the team on the verge of climbing from the bottom of the AL East standings with one month left to play.
Will Wagner hit his first career homer for Toronto and Daulton Varsho hit a solo shot in the ninth.
Duran hit his 20th homer of the season, driving an 0-1 fastball from Yariel Rodríguez to right. Boston added three more in the fifth when Hamilton hit an RBI single, Casas drove in a run with a double and Abreu added an RBI single.
CUBS 9, PIRATES 5
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson homered during Chicago’s five-run fourth inning, and the Cubs beat Pittsburgh on Tuesday night to move over .500 for the first time since May 28.
Suzuki hit a tying two-run drive for his 19th homer this season, connecting on a fastball from rookie right-hander Jared Jones (5-7).
Isaac Paredes then walked and scored on Nico Hoerner’s double. Following a mound visit, the 23-year-old Jones threw a fastball down the middle to Swanson, who connected for his 12th homer one night after he hit a grand slam in Chicago’s 18-8 victory.
Swanson, who also walked twice, then walked to the edge of the team’s dugout to wish his mom, Nancy — sitting in the front row — a happy birthday.
The Cubs (67-66) have won five of six. They are 28-18 since falling nine games below .500 on July 3.
NATIONALS 4, YANKEES 2
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dylan Crews got the first two hits of his career and Andrés Chaparro and José Tena hit back-to-back homers on a banner night for Washington’s rookies as the Nationals ambushed Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees.
Aaron Judge doubled in the first inning but remained stuck on 51 homers for the AL-best Yankees. He came up with the bases loaded and no outs in the eighth against reliever Jacob Barnes but grounded into a double play on a 3-1 pitch to score New York’s first run. After hitting two longballs Sunday against Colorado, Judge is 2 for 7 with two walks in two games at Washington.
Patrick Corbin (4-12) outpitched Cole, using superb command to quiet the Yankees’ powerful lineup. The veteran left-hander allowed two hits and struck out six in six innings, his second and longest scoreless outing of the season.
ATHLATICS 5, REDS 4
CINCINNATI (AP) — Max Schuemann and Lawrence Butler each hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to propel Oakland past Cincinnati.
Zack Gelof added a solo shot in the eighth and All-Star closer Mason Miller hung on after giving up two runs and four hits in a shaky ninth. With runners at second and third, he struck out pinch-hitter Amed Rosario for his 22nd save.
Oakland had one hit and trailed 1-0 through six innings, but rallied to hand Cincinnati its ninth straight loss against interleague opponents.
A’s starter Mitch Spence allowed a run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.
Michel Otañez (1-0) got two outs in the sixth for his first major league win.
PHILLIES 5, ASTROS 0
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aaron Nola tossed four-hit ball over seven shutout innings and Nick Castellanos hit a three-run homer to lead Philadelphia over Houston.
The Phillies may have put their summer malaise behind them over the last two weeks, winning the last two games of a series in Kansas City and the first two games of a three-game set against Houston. The Phillies have won eight of 13 games overall and maintained their healthy lead in the NL East — six games ahead of Atlanta, entering Tuesday — and are again playing like the team that opened as one of the best teams in baseball into the All-Star break.
Nola (12-6) earned a needed win after going winless in his last seven starts, a span that included five no-decisions and two losses. The right-hander last won a game on July 11, against the Dodgers. Nola struck out two in the first inning, getting his 56th career win at Citizens Bank Park off to a fast start. The 56 wins ties him with former Phillies ace Cole Hamels for most in the 21 seasons at the ballpark.
