PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Burger homered in the fourth straight game, Valente Bellozo gave up four hits in seven innings and the 75-loss Miami Marlins kept the Philadelphia Phillies in a summer swoon that has cost them the best record in baseball with a 5-0 victory on Tuesday night.
After spending much of the first three months of the season as the winningest team in baseball, the Phillies’ brutal stretch since June has raised serious concerns headed into the stretch run about a serious shot at winning a World Series championship.
Taijuan Walker (3-4) allowed three runs and walked three over four innings in his first start since June 21.
REDS 4, CARDINALS 1
CINCINNATI (AP) — Hunter Greene allowed one run through seven innings, Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run homer and Cincinnati beat St. Louis to secure a win of the series between the NL Central rivals.
The hard-throwing Greene (9-4) allowed four hits while striking out eight and walking one in notching his third straight win.
Spencer Steer had a two-out, RBI single in the first inning. Ty France led off the second with a homer off the roof of the Cardinals bullpen in right, his 11th of the season.
Candelario smashed his 19th homer with two outs in the sixth.
Cardinals starter Erick Fedde (8-6) went six innings, giving up four runs and six hits and striking out two. He allowed both of Cincinnati’s home runs.
NATIONALS 9, ORIOLES 3
BALTIMORE (AP) — Andrés Chaparro doubled three times in his big league debut, almost overshadowing another four-hit game by rookie James Wood as Washington beat Baltimore.
Chaparro became the fourth player in major league history with at least three doubles in his debut — the first since Nick Evans of the New York Mets hit three at Colorado on May 24, 2008.
The Nationals called up Chaparro before the game, and with the score tied at 2 in the fourth inning he came through with his first career hit, a double that left runners on second and third with nobody out. Ildemaro Vargas and Luís Garcia Jr. followed with sacrifice flies.
Washington then added three more runs in the sixth, again after a double by Chaparro put runners on second and third with no outs.
ASTROS 3, RAYS 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Alex Bregman and Jeremy Peña homered, and the AL West-leading Houston won their seventh consecutive game by beating Tampa Bay.
Yusel Kikuchi (6-9) allowed one run and three hits over 5 2/3 innings to go 2-0 in three starts with the Astros since being acquired from Toronto on July 29.
Josh Hader got three outs for his 26th save in 27 chances for the Astros, who increased their division lead to 1 1/2 games over Seattle.
TIGERS 15, MARINERS 1
DETROIT (AP) — Matt Carpenter homered twice in his return from a back injury, Jake Rogers drove in seven runs and pitcher Tarik Skubal earned his MLB-leading 14th victory as Detroit Tigers routed Seattle.
Rogers drove in two runs with a double in the third inning, added a slam in the fourth and hit an RBI double in the sixth to become the first Tigers players with seven RBIs in a game since Ryan Raburn accomplished the feat against the Chicago White Sox on July 25, 2007.
The Tigers scored a season-high in runs and banged out a season-best 21 hits in their second straight victory and fourth win in seven games.
Skubal allowed one run on three hits in six innings. The 27-year-old left-hander struck out nine — raising his season total to a majors-leading 180 — walked one and hit two batters.
GUARDIANS 2, CUBS 1
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jhonkensy Noel hit a solo homer in the sixth inning off Drew Smyly, providing the go-ahead run for Cleveland in a victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Noel’s 430-foot drive onto the left field porch was his ninth home run in 32 games since making his major league debut on June 26. He had his first two-homer game Monday in the series opener, a 9-8 win by Cleveland.
The Guardians took sole possession of the best record in baseball at 71-49 with their fourth straight victory. They also own the top home mark in the majors, going 37-20 at Progressive Field.
Pedro Avila (4-1) retired two batters for the win, while Emmanuel Clase earned his fourth save in four days to tie St. Louis’ Ryan Helsley for the major league lead with 37.
RED SOX 9, RANGERS 4
BOSTON (AP) — Kutter Crawford carried a perfect game into the sixth inning and Connor Wong highlighted a 12-hit attack with a three-run homer as Boston Red beat slumping Texas.
Rob Refsnyder and Nick Sogard each drove in a pair of runs as the Red Sox dealt Texas its third straight loss and its sixth setback in seven games. The defending World Series champion Rangers also dropped a season-worst 10 games below .500 at 55-65.
Texas manager Bruce Bochy was ejected in the middle of the sixth after arguing a called third strike that ended a four-run rally as the Rangers got back into the game.
Boston won for just the second time in six games despite some shaky relief after Crawford was lifted in the sixth.
