NEW YORK (AP) — Gary Sánchez hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the fifth inning, Aroldis Chapman escaped trouble in the ninth and the New York Yankees bullpen held tight again to beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3 Saturday night.
After starter Domingo Germán was chased early, six Yankee relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings to lock down another victory over the rival Red Sox — New York is 4-0 to start the season series, a first since 2012.
Chapman walked Mookie Betts and allowed a single to Andrew Benintendi leading off the ninth, but J.D. Martinez hit a double-play grounder and Rafael Devers rolled the last out to first.
Chapman got his 17th save in 18 tries, closing out a game where Chad Green (1-2) and Adam Ottavino stranded runners with timely strikeouts.
Boston went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position, including seven strikeouts. The Red Sox tied a season high with 14 strikeouts and matched a season most with their fourth straight loss.
The Yankees have won 15 of 18 and clinched their ninth straight series victory, a first for the franchise since 1998.
Xander Bogaerts homered and had three hits for the Red Sox, who have lost 6 of 8 and fell 9 1/2 games behind New York for the AL East lead. That is Boston’s biggest deficit in the division since finishing 15 games out in 2015.
Rick Porcello (4-5) allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings.
TWINS 6, RAYS 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Marwin Gonzalez and Byron Buxton homered and drove in two runs each as Minnesota beat Tampa Bay.
The Twins, who lead the majors with 108 homers, failed to go deep while splitting the first two games of the series at Tropicana Field.
Kyle Gibson (6-2) allowed one unearned run and six hits over five innings for Minnesota.
Minnesota went up 2-1 on consecutive RBI doubles by Jorge Polanco and Gonzalez in the third off Yonny Chirinos (6-2).
After Buxton had an RBI single during the fourth, Gonzalez made it 4-1 on a fifth-inning solo shot.
The Twins took a 5-1 lead on Buxton’s homer in the sixth off Hunter Wood.
Miguel Sano had an RBI double during the seventh to complete a stretch where Minnesota scored in five consecutive innings.
Travis d’Arnaud had a run-scoring single in the second for the Rays.
BREWERS 12, PIRATES 10, 13 INNINGS
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Orlando Arcia hit his second homer of the game, a two-run drive in the 13th inning that sent Milwaukee over Pittsburgh.
Both teams blew late leads before Arcia connected with two outs off Alex McRae (0-1) for his first multi-homer game in the majors. Earlier, Arcia hit a two-run homer in the second.
Starling Marte had four hits for Pittsburgh, including a three-run homer in the eighth for a 10-8 lead.
Keston Hiura hit a tying, two-run homer with one out in the Milwaukee ninth. Christian Yelich hit his major league-leading 22nd homer, tripled and drove in four runs for Milwaukee.
Mike Moustakas hit his third home run in as many games for the Brewers before leaving in the ninth after suffering a right hand bruise from being hit by a pitch.
Pinch-hitter José Osuna homered for the Pirates while Elias Dîaz got three hits and drove in four runs.
Milwaukee starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff was charged with six runs over four innings, allowing a season-high 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
INDIANS 5, WHITE SOX 2
CHICAGO (AP) — Carlos Santana and Leonys Martin homered and Cleveland took advantage of a blunder on the bases to end Chicago’s five-game streak.
The Indians climbed back to .500 and prevented the White Sox from reaching the break-even mark for the first time since April 5.
Chicago loaded the bases with no outs in the third on a single by Tim Anderson and walks to Yolmer Sanchez and Charlie Tilson. Leury Garcia hit a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead, but pitcher Jefry Rodriguez escaped further damage when he caught Sanchez off second on pickoff attempt.
Sanchez got caught in a rundown and was tagged out by third baseman Jose Ramirez, who then threw over to first base to get Tilson retreating to the bag to end the inning.
Indians reliever Oliver Perez (1-0) went 1 2/3 innings for the win. Brad Hand pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 16 chances.
Ivan Nova (3-5) allowed six hits and three earned runs in seven innings, striking out 3.
RANGERS 6, ROYALS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Joey Gallo hit a tie-breaking home run for the second straight game before leaving in the fifth inning due to injury as Texas beat Kansas City.
Gallo was removed because of tightness in his left oblique while batting. He initially felt the injury while in the outfield and then again on a check swing during a plate appearance. He had an MRI and passed some strength tests after the game.
Lance Lynn (7-4) allowed both runs. He yielded six hits and a hit batter, striking out seven for his fifth straight quality start.
The Rangers have won four of five, improved to 19-9 at home and moved two games over .500 at 29-27.
Homer Bailey (4-6) gave up four runs on six hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings for his fourth straight start without a victory.
The Royals have lost five of their last six games and have the worst road record in the majors at 8-22. Kansas City left seven runners on base and was 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
GIANTS 8, ORIOLES 2
BALTIMORE (AP) — Brandon Belt drove in four runs, Buster Posey homered and San Francisco used a rare offensive outburst to breeze past Baltimore.
San Francisco built a 7-1 lead in the fifth inning and cruised to only its second win in 10 games.
Mike Yastrzemski scored twice and had an RBI for the Giants, who made it easy for rookie right-hander Shaun Anderson to earn his first major league victory.
Anderson (1-1) allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings in his fourth big league start. Anderson ended a run of 40 consecutive starts of fewer than seven innings by Giants pitchers — the team’s longest such streak in the last 100 years.
San Francisco scored all its runs off David Hess (1-7). Since April 1, Hess has gone 0-7 over 10 starts.
Renato Núñez hit his 15th home run for Baltimore, the eighth in 12 games.
NATIONALS 5, REDS 2
CINCINNATI (AP) — Gerardo Parra hit a three-run homer that ended Tanner Roark’s streak of keeping the ball in the park and Matt Adams added a solo shot, leading Washington over Cincinnati.
Washington has won nine of its last 10 at Great American Ball Park. Overall, the Nationals are 17-5 against the Reds since 2016.
The Nationals faced Roark (4-4) for the first time since trading him to the Reds in the offseason. Parra’s homer in the second inning ended Roark’s string of 36 2/3 innings without allowing a homer, the second longest of his career.
Tanner Rainey (1-1) entered in the fifth inning and fanned three of the five batters he faced for his first major league win. Sean Doolittle picked up his 11th save in 13 chances.
Washington’s Juan Soto went 0 for 4, ending his career-best hitting streak at 14 games.
BRAVES 10, TIGERS 5
ATLANTA (AP) — Mike Soroka won his sixth straight decision, Freddie Freeman and Austin Riley each hit a two-run homer, and Atlanta beat Detroit to snap a three-game skid.
Soroka (6-1) scuffled a bit, allowing season highs of three runs and seven hits and striking out five in 6 2/3 innings.
Braves closer Luke Jackson earned a five-out save, his eighth overall this season in 12 chances.
Daniel Norris (2-4) allowed six hits, one walk and six runs — five earned — and struck out four.
ANGELS 6, MARINERS 3
SEATTLE (AP) — Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout homered late, Andrew Heaney struck out 10 and Los Angeles overcame two home runs by Edwin Encarnacion and beat Seattle.
Calhoun’s second home run of the series broke a 3-3 tie and helped overcome Encarnacion’s 34th multi-home run game. The Mariners’ designated hitter tied the game in the sixth inning with a two-run shot, his second of the game and 15th this season.
César Puello beat out a slow roller to third in the eighth inning that chased reliever Brandon Brennan (2-3). Two outs later, Calhoun homered on a 3-2 pitch to give the Angels a 5-3 lead.
Trout added an insurance run in the ninth with his 14th home run of the season.
Cam Bedrosian (2-3) earned the win in relief and Hansel Robles earned his seventh save. Bedrosian, Ty Buttrey and Robles each pitched one inning of relief with one strikeout.
ROCKIES 4, BLUE JAYS 2
DENVER (AP) — Jon Gray struck out seven in a solid seven-inning outing, Nolan Arenado singled to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and Daniel Murphy drove in two runs as Colorado beat Toronto.
David Dahl had three hits as the Rockies won their seventh straight and improve to 8-1 on their homestand. Scott Oberg got the final out for his second save.
Gray (5-4) allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings and didn’t allow a run for the second time this season.
Gray’s scoreless outing overshadowed a strong start by Toronto’s Marcus Stroman (3-7). The right-hander settled down after a rough first, giving up four runs, three earned, in seven innings.
Raimel Tapia extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double in the fifth inning.
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