Betts hits slam, Red Sox top Blue Jays for 10th straight win
Published 12:00 am Friday, July 13, 2018
- Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts, center right, celebrates his grand slam that drove in Eduardo Nunez (36), Jackie Bradley Jr., center left, and Sandy Leon during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Boston, Thursday, July 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
BOSTON (AP) — Mookie Betts fouled off seven pitches before hitting a grand slam that helped the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 on Thursday night, extending their winning streak to 10 games.
Boston has the longest current winning streak in the big leagues and hasn’t lost since getting routed 11-1 at Yankee Stadium on July 1. At 66-29, the Red Sox are 37 games over .500 for the first time since 1949.
David Price (10-6) struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings, and Craig Kimbrel earned his 29th save.
All-Star lefty J.A. Happ (10-6) started strong for Toronto, striking out six and holding Boston to two hits before running into trouble and some misfortune in the fourth.
YANKEES 7, INDIANS 4
CLEVELAND (AP) — Aaron Hicks drove home Didi Gregorius from first base with a one-out double in the eighth inning off Cleveland ace Corey Kluber, sending New York to a win over the Indians.
Hicks drove a 3-2 pitch from Kluber (12-5) to deep center field, and Gregorius scored easily when the ball one-hopped the wall.
Brett Gardner homered twice and Gregorius also connected for the Yankees, playing at Progressive Field for the first time since last October, when they overcame a 2-0 deficit and won the AL Division Series.
ATHLETICS 6, ASTROS 4
HOUSTON (AP) — Mark Canha hit a two-run single in a three-run eighth inning as surging Oakland defeated Houston.
Nick Martini had three hits and two RBIs for the Athletics, who improved to 19-5 in their last 24 games. They took three of four from the AL West-leading Astros.
Yusmeiro Petit (3-2) allowed one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings, and Lou Trivino worked the ninth for his fourth save.
ROCKIES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1
DENVER (AP) — Gerardo Parra and Raimel Tapia had pinch-hit RBI singles in Colorado’s three-run sixth inning.
Trevor Story homered for the Rockies, and Kyle Freeland pitched six-hit ball into the sixth inning. Scott Oberg (3-0) got two outs for the win.
NATIONALS 5, METS 4
NEW YORK (AP) — Max Scherzer made a final pitch to start the All-Star Game on his own mound, Anthony Rendon hit two homers and Bryce Harper also connected, leading Washington over New York.
Washington won for just the sixth time in 17 games and nudged back over .500 at 47-46.
Scherzer (12-5) didn’t dominate over his seven innings, but managed to tie Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola for the NL lead in wins. He struck out five, boosting his league-leading total to 182. Ryan Madson closed for his fourth save.
PIRATES 6, BREWERS 3
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jameson Taillon had a career-high 10 strikeouts, Jordy Mercer tied his career best with four RBIs and Pittsburgh defeated Milwaukee.
Taillon (6-7) surrendered one run on four hits with two walks. The right-hander struck out the side twice, once in the third inning and again in the fifth.
PHILLIES 5, ORIOLES 4
BALTIMORE (AP) — Jorge Alfaro homered and drove in three runs, Nick Pivetta took a three-hitter into the seventh inning and Philadelphia beat Baltimore.
Making the most of a one-day stay in Baltimore, the Phillies got 12 hits off Kevin Gausman (4-7) while building a 5-0 lead.
against the team with the worst record in the majors. Alfaro, the No. 9 hitter, singled and scored in the third inning to help Philadelphia move a half-game ahead of second-place Atlanta in the NL East.
Pivetta (6-7) had a no-hitter through four innings and finished with seven strikeouts. The righty gave up three runs and five hits before being pulled with two outs in the seventh.
Seranthony Rodriguez worked the ninth for his ninth save.
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