UNDATED (AP) β The Texas Rangers have seen their lead in the American League West shrink to 1 Β½ games over Houston. Felix Hernandez became the American League’s first 18-game winner and Robinson Cano (kuh-NOH’) had four RBIs as Seattle hammered the Rangers 9-2. The Astros picked up their second straight win as Colby Rasmus homered twice and had three RBIs in a 5-1 triumph against Oakland.
UNDATED (AP) β Kansas City ripped Detroit 10-3 as Kendrys Morales went 4-for-4 with three solo homers while setting a team record with 15 total bases. Christian Colon had a career-high four hits and Paulo Orlando homered as the Royals reduced their magic number for winning the AL Central to three over Minnesota. Rookie Tyler Duffey allowed three hits in seven shutout innings as the Twins ripped the Angels 8-1, leaving both teams 2 1/2 games behind the Astros for the final AL wild-card berth.
NEW YORK (AP) β Dustin Ackley and Greg Bird belted three-run homers as the New York Yankees easily took the rubber match of their three-game series with the Mets, 11-2. The Yankees erupted against Hansel Robles (HAHN’-sul ROHB’-lehs) and the Mets’ bullpen after Matt Harvey held them to one hit over five scoreless innings. The outcome gets the Yanks within 2 Β½ games of the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays and trims the Mets’ lead in the NL East to six games over Washington.
CHICAGO (AP) β Rookies Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty homered as St. Louis beat the Cubs 4-3 and ended Chicago’s five-game winning streak. Carlos Martinez allowed two runs and pitched four-hit ball into the seventh as the NL Central-leading Cardinals maintained their four-game edge over Pittsburgh. The Cubs are six games behind the Redbirds, and their magic number to clinch a playoff berth remains five.
LOS ANGELES (AP) β Gerrit Cole picked up his 17th win and the Pirates rallied with two solo homers to beat the Dodgers, 4-3 in Los Angeles. Starling Marte (mahr-TAY’) and Pedro Alvarez went deep before Aramis (ah-RAH’-mihs) Ramirez added an RBI single that put the Bucs ahead 4-2 in the fifth. The Pirates improved to 23-6 versus the NL West and kept the Dodgers’ magic number for clinching the division at seven.
