MLB roundup: Mets silence Reds for ninth straight win

Jose Quintana and three relievers combined to allow six hits on Saturday for the host New York Mets, who remained red hot with a 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the middle game of a three-game series.

The Mets got just two runners on in the first five innings against Jakob Junis before scoring four times in the sixth to earn their ninth straight win — their longest winning streak since rattling off nine victories in a row from April 3-13, 2018.

Santiago Espinal had two hits and a stolen base while Tyler Stephenson doubled and walked for the Reds, who have lost 10 of their past 16.

Quintana (8-9) gave up five hits and issued two walks while striking out six over 6 2/3 innings. It was the 100th career win for Quintana, who had only two 1-2-3 innings but induced a pair of double plays and limited the Reds to one hit in nine plate appearances with runners on.

Adam Ottavino struck out pinch hitter Will Benson to strand Espinal at third in the seventh and Danny Young threw a perfect eighth before Edwin Diaz worked the ninth in a non-save situation.

Astros 11, Diamondbacks 5

Jeremy Pena capped a five-run sixth inning with a three-run home run and Houston remained unbeaten with Yusei Kikuchi on the mound by toppling visiting Arizona.

Pena chased Diamondbacks reliever Dylan Florio from the game with a 390-foot blast into the home bullpen in right-center field. He lifted the Astros to a 10-4 lead with his 15th home run of the season and his first at home since May 17.

Kevin Newman and Eugenio Suarez each homered for the Diamondbacks, who have lost three in a row.

Giants 6, Padres 3

Rookie Grant McCray homered twice and knocked in five runs as visiting San Francisco beat San Diego.

McCray erased an early 2-0 deficit with a three-run blast in the second inning off San Diego starter Dylan Cease (12-11), then added insurance in the ninth by cracking a two-run homer off reliever Yuki Matsui.

Cease permitted six hits and four runs over six innings, walking two and fanning four. The loss dropped the Padres to 81-63, although they remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Arizona for the National League’s first wild-card spot.

Nationals 5, Pirates 3 (Game 1)

DJ Herz logged five no-hit innings as Washington topped host Pittsburgh in the opener of a split doubleheader.

Herz (3-7) walked three and struck out five while keeping the Pirates off the board to record his first win since Aug. 3. Dylan Crews went 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBIs, two runs and a walk for the Nationals.

Pittsburgh finally got on the board in the seventh when pinch hitter Rowdy Tellez clubbed a 443-foot two-run shot to cut the Pirates’ deficit to 4-2. But in the ninth, Washington closer Kyle Finnegan worked around an RBI single from Nick Gonzales to record his 35th save of the year.

Yankees 2, Cubs 0

Clarke Schmidt and Nestor Cortes combined on a four-hitter as New York recorded its second straight shutout victory over host Chicago.

Catcher Austin Wells drove in a run and caught two baserunners stealing for the Yankees, who clinched their 32nd consecutive winning season. Schmidt pitched 4 2/3 innings in his return from a right lat strain, allowing four hits. Cortes (9-10) followed and did not allow a hit over the final 4 1/3 innings to complete New York’s 13th shutout of the season.

The Cubs were shut out for the third time in four games. Chicago was held to one hit in a 3-0 loss to the Yankees on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Rays 7, Orioles 1

Yandy Diaz and Taylor Walls each hit a solo home run and an RBI single as Tampa Bay beat host Baltimore.

Diaz finished with three hits for Tampa Bay, which ended a two-game skid. Jonny DeLuca went 3-for-5 with two runs and Ryan Pepiot (8-6) put together a strong start for the Rays, giving up one run on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Cedric Mullins homered as the Orioles lost for the first time in the six games in which Zach Eflin has taken the mound. Eflin (10-8), acquired from the Rays via trade in late July, yielded three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Tigers 2, Athletics 1

Brant Hurter pitched well as a bulk-innings reliever and Detroit took advantage of a costly error to score twice in the seventh inning in its narrow victory over host Oakland.

With a second win in the past three days, the Tigers kept their hopes alive in a tight battle for an American League wild-card spot. Hurter (4-1) allowed just one run in 5 1/3 innings. Still, Detroit trailed before scoring both of its runs in the seventh, manufacturing them after A’s second baseman Zack Gelof dropped a throw at second base on Spencer Torkelson’s grounder to third.

Oakland minor league call-up Brady Basso fired six shutout innings for the A’s. Making his first big-league start, Basso struck out six and walked one.

Marlins 9, Phillies 5

Rookie Connor Norby homered and drove in three runs as host Miami snapped Philadelphia’s six-game winning streak.

The Marlins had six of their nine starters turn in multi-hit games, including Xavier Edwards, who also had two steals, and Jonah Bride and Otto Lopez, who each homered.

The Phillies, who lead the NL East with an 85-57 record, got a strong performance from Bryson Stott, who went 3-for-4 with one RBI.

Nationals 8, Pirates 6 (Game 2)

Andres Chapparo finished 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, helping visiting Washington turn a two-run deficit into a win over Pittsburgh thanks to a ninth-inning rally.

Keibert Ruiz also tallied three hits for Washington. Facing a 3-2 count with two outs in the ninth, pinch hitter Ildemaro Vargas hit a liner that right fielder Connor Joe couldn’t squeeze while making a diving attempt, scoring two runs to give the Nationals a 7-6 lead.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa went 3-for-4 while Oneil Cruz and Jared Triolo each finished with a pair of hits for Pittsburgh. Mitch Keller threw six innings of two-run ball, allowing seven hits while striking out eight without issuing a walk.

Rangers 6, Angels 4

Josh Smith moved Texas ahead with a two-run single in the seventh inning, and it held on for a win against Los Angeles in the third game of a four-game series in Arlington, Texas.

Ezequiel Duran also had two RBIs and Josh Jung had two hits for the Rangers, who have won four of their past five. Texas rookie right-hander Jack Leiter is still seeking his first major league win after six starts. He allowed three runs and two hits in five-plus innings on Saturday.

Jose Leclerc (6-4) earned the win in relief, and Kirby Yates pitched the ninth for his 28th save of the year. Taylor Ward had a solo homer and Anthony Rendon and Mickey Moniak also drove in runs for the Angels.

Brewers 5, Rockies 2

Willy Adames and Gary Sanchez hit back-to-back homers in the first inning, William Contreras also went deep and finished with two hits and host Milwaukee beat Colorado.

Tobias Myers (7-5) fanned a career-high 11 in six innings to help the Brewers end a three-game losing streak. Devin Williams struck out the side in the ninth for his ninth save of 2024.

Ryan McMahon homered and singled and Sam Hilliard also hit a home run for Colorado. The Rockies had won two straight against two teams in a playoff race — the Atlanta Braves and Brewers.

Royals 4, Twins 2

Kansas City rallied past visiting Minnesota with the help of Tommy Pham’s controversial infield single in the eighth.

The Royals remained in second place in the AL Central, moving 1 1/2 games ahead of the Twins. Trailing 2-0 with just one hit through seven innings, Kansas City plated four runs against relievers Jhoan Duran (6-9) and Griffin Jax.

After Kyle Isbel’s RBI single, Pham tapped a soft grounder to the left side of the infield. Pinch runner Dairon Blanco appeared to interfere with third baseman Royce Lewis, leaving shortstop Brooks Lee to barehand the ball. Lee threw wildly past first, allowing Blanco to score the tying run. Bobby Witt Jr. and MJ Melendez followed with run-scoring singles to cap the four-run inning.

Red Sox 7, White Sox 5

Tyler O’Neill ripped two home runs and combined with Romy Gonzalez for six of the 10 Boston hits in a win over visiting Chicago.

O’Neill’s first homer highlighted a four-run first inning for the Red Sox, who have won the first two contests in a three-game series. O’Neill finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs.

Andrew Benintendi and Andrew Vaughn each homered as part of 3-for-4 efforts to lead the White Sox. The duo had all five of Chicago’s RBIs.

Cardinals 2, Mariners 0

Pedro Pages hit a decisive two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning as host St. Louis beat Seattle in a pitchers’ duel.

Pages sent a ball over the left-center-field wall after Jordan Walker was hit by a pitch with one out in the eighth. Cardinals starter Kyle Gibson blanked the Mariners for 6 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and walking three. Gibson fanned nine while recording his 1,500th career strikeout.

Relievers JoJo Romero, Andrew Kittredge and Ryan Helsley completed the shutout for the Cardinals. Kittredge (4-4) earned the victory, and Helsley got his 43rd save of the season. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert (7-11) allowed two runs on two hits in eight innings. He struck out 10 and walked one.

Blue Jays 9, Braves 5

Spencer Horwitz hit two home runs, right-hander Jose Berrios won his sixth straight start and visiting Toronto defeated Atlanta.

Horwitz, who added an RBI double, went 4-for-5 with three RBIs as the Blue Jays ended a four-game losing streak. Berrios (15-9) allowed one run and five hits in six innings.

First baseman Matt Olson played his 600th consecutive game and had two singles and a walk for Atlanta. It is the longest active streak of consecutive games played in the majors.

Dodgers 7, Guardians 2

Andy Pages hit a two-run home run during a six-run first inning and Los Angeles turned a quick start into a victory over visiting Cleveland.

Tommy Edman added a two-run double in the opening inning as the NL West-leading Dodgers evened a three-game series against the AL Central-leading Guardians at a win apiece.

Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams (3-8) never made it out of the opening inning, allowing five runs on two hits and three walks while recording two outs. Lane Thomas clubbed a two-run homer for the Guardians.

–Field Level Media