MLB roundup: Yankees beat Rays, while A’s snap five-game losing streak with OT win over Rangers

Anthony Rizzo’s second home run of the night was a go-ahead, two-run shot with one out in the eighth inning to lift host New York over an impressive win over the Tampa Bay.

Aaron Judge drew a walk against Kevin Kelly and Tampa Bay brought in Jason Adam (0-1). Rizzo then hit Adam’s first-pitch changeup over the right field wall to give the Yankees their second lead of the game. 

It was Rizzo’s 22nd career multi-homer game and second this season.

Rizzo’s go-ahead homer occurred after Michael King allowed Josh Lowe’s three-run homer, which turned a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead for the Rays in the top of the eighth. 

Randy Arozarena and Jose Siri homered off Gerrit Cole in the opening two innings. Rizzo homered in the first and Anthony Volpe went deep in the fifth to knot it 2-2.

Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo had a second multi-homer game this season vs. the Rays

Yankees rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe went deep in the fifth to level the score 2-2 on Friday

Oakland Athletics 9, Texas Rangers 7

Brent Rooker hit a three-run homer off Brock Burke in the bottom of the 10th inning, rallying the Oakland Athletics to a 9-7 win over the Texas Rangers that snapped a five-game losing streak Friday night.

Esteury Ruiz homered and drove in four runs for Oakland. Kevin Smith and Carlos Pérez also connected for the major league-worst A´s (9-31), who won on a walk-off hit for the third time this season.

This one came after Texas pinch-hitter Adolis García delivered a go-ahead single off Zach Jackson in the top of the 10th. Former A´s shortstop Marcus Semien followed with an RBI single to give Texas a two-run lead before Oakland came back.

Robbie Grossman, the veteran Texas outfielder who spent two seasons with the A´s, homered and had an RBI double in front of another small crowd of 6,575 at the Coliseum. Jonah Heim added two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Ezequiel Duran doubled twice.

Ruiz’s RBI single off Burke (2-1) drove in Nick Allen, who began the 10th inning as the automatic runner at second base. JJ Bleday added another single before Rooker´s 11th home run. The rookie outfielder was mobbed by teammates as he crossed home plate.

Athletics’ Brent Rooker is doused with water by teammates after hitting the game-winning, three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the 10th innin

L.A. Dodgers 4, San Diego Padres 2 

A couple of former MVPs powered the Los Angeles Dodgers to a division win.

Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman homered back-to-back to regain the lead in the seventh inning, and the NL West leaders defeated the San Diego Padres 4-2 on Friday night for their third straight victory.

‘That’s why they’re superstars,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ‘Every time they get up to bat they can change the game.’

The Padres rallied to tie the game 2-all with two outs in the top of the seventh. Ha-Seong Kim doubled to left field off starter Dustin May, scoring Xander Bogaerts and pinch-runner Rougned Odor.

With one out, Betts hit a 426-foot shot to left and Freeman followed with a 370-foot drive to right off Tim Hill (1-1) for a 4-2 lead.

‘Mookie hitting a home run just kind of energizes everyone,’ Freeman said. ‘That’s just showing who we are the last two weeks. It was overall a great performance. We’ve been playing good baseball the last couple weeks.’

Dodgers’ Mookie Betts gestures after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning

Houston Astros 5, Chicago White Sox 1

J.P. France pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning in his second major league outing, José Abreu got a warm reception in his return to Chicago and the Houston Astros beat the White Sox 5-1 on Friday night.

The teams waited out more than a two-hour rain delay at the start. The White Sox honored Abreu with a pregame video tribute, and he responded by popping out of the dugout and pumping his fist as the crowd cheered before jogging toward the clubhouse.

Kyle Tucker walked and scored in the fourth. He also got Houston´s first hit when he chased Chicago starter Michael Kopech (1-4) with an RBI double in the fifth, making it 2-1.

The Astros scored two more in the sixth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Martín Maldonado and Mauricio Dubón against Gregory Santos. Yordan Alvarez homered in his second straight game when he led off the ninth with a long drive to right.

France (1-0) was terrific again after throwing five scoreless innings against Seattle last week in his major league debut. The 28-year-old right-hander went 6 2/3 innings in this one, allowing just one run and one walk.

Abreu, who won an MVP award and made three All-Star teams over nine seasons in Chicago before joining with the World Series champions last winter, was 1 for 5 with a single in the seventh. The Cuban slugger is batting .218 and still seeking his first homer after signing a $58.5 million, three-year contract.

Astros starting pitcher J.P. France pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning in his second major league outing

Seattle Mariners 9, Detroit Tigers 2

Julio Rodriguez drove in four runs, including a two-run single that highlighted a five-run second inning, and visiting Seattle rolled to victory over Detroit.

Rodriguez had three hits, adding a two-run, opposite field home run in the ninth. Ty France supplied two hits, two runs and an RBI for Seattle. Winning pitcher Marco Gonzales (3-0) lasted six innings, giving up two runs and five hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Detroit starter Matthew Boyd (2-3) was charged with six runs (five earned) in 1 1/3 innings. He allowed five hits and four walks.

Julio Rodriguez drove in four runs, including a two-run single in an away win against the Tigers

St. Louis Cardinals 8,  Boston Red Sox 6

Pinch hitter Nolan Gorman hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to help visiting St. Louis upend Boston. St. Louis trailed 6-5 entering the ninth but scored three runs off Kenley Jansen (1-1).

Ryan Helsley (1-2) earned the win for pitching two scoreless innings. He struck out four. Nolan Arenado went 4-for-5 with a homer while Willson Contreras also went deep for the Cardinals.

James Paxton struck out nine and gave up two runs in five innings during his Red Sox debut. It was his first major league game since April 6, 2021, as he missed more than two years due to Tommy John surgery and a hamstring injury.

Nolan Gorman, of the Cardinals, celebrates with Lars Nootbaar after hitting a two run home run against the Red Sox

Cincinnati Reds 7, Miami Marlins 4

Jake Fraley homered twice — including a go-ahead, three-run shot in the ninth inning — to lead visiting Cincinnati to a win over Miami.

Fraley went 2-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs. It was his first career multi-homer game, and he doubled his dinger output for the season from two to four.

Marlins right-hander Eury Perez made his major league debut, allowing four hits, two walks and two runs in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out seven. Like Perez, Reds starter Graham Ashcraft got a no-decision. In 5 2/3 innings, Ashcraft allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, walked two and struck out three.

Jake Fraley homered twice — including a go-ahead, three-run shot in the ninth inning

Baltimore Orioles 6, Pittsburgh Pirates 3

Cedric Mullins hit for the cycle and drove in three runs to lead Baltimore to a victory over visiting Pittsburgh.

Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman had two hits each for the Orioles, who have won three straight. In the eighth, Mullins batted with two outs and runners on first and third and lifted a fly ball to right for his fifth homer of the season, completing his first career cycle and making it 6-2. It was the seventh cycle in Orioles history.

Bryan Baker (3-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings with two strikeouts for the win. Starter Kyle Bradish went six innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits. Pittsburgh starter Johan Oviedo allowed one run on four hits over five innings. He walked five and fanned three.

Cedric Mullins, of the Orioles, is soaked with Gatorade after hitting for the cycle, defeating the Pirates

L.A. Angels 5, Cleveland Guardians 4

Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly to cap a two-run, ninth-inning rally that lifted visiting Los Angeles over Cleveland in the opener of a three-game series.

After Cleveland’s Josh Naylor broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth with a solo homer, Mike Trout doubled to lead off the ninth and advanced to third on Anthony Rendon’s one-out single. Trout scored when Andres Gimenez’s throw home was off after Hunter Renfroe’s chopper. Drury then sent a ball to center, allowing pinch runner Brent Phillips to score the winning run.

Drury, Zach Neto and Gio Urshela had RBIs for the Angels, who won for just the second time in six games. Amed Rosario and Gimenez each had three hits for the Guardians, who are 3-4 on their nine-game homestand. Emmanuel Clase (1-3) endured his fourth blown save and took the loss.

Angels’ Brandon Drury points to the dugout to call for a video replay after being called out at home plate vs. the Guardians

New York Mets 3, Washington Nationals 2

Francisco Lindor rapped a bases-clearing single with two outs in the sixth inning as New York rallied past host Washington.

The Mets had struggled to score three runs, doing so just two times in their eight previous games. Five pitchers combined on a four-hitter for New York, which won for just the fourth time in its last 13 games. Starter Tylor Megill (4-2) went five innings, and Drew Smith completed four shutout innings by the relievers by getting the one batter he faced for his first save of the season.

Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore went four shutout innings, throwing 96 pitches. Andres Machado was charged with two runs and Carl Edwards Jr. (1-2) was tagged with the Mets’ third run.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor rapped a bases-clearing single with two outs in the sixth inning

Chicago Cubs 6, Minnesota Twins 2

Christopher Morel clubbed a long two-run homer in the ninth inning and Drew Smyly threw six strong innings as visiting Chicago beat Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Morel provided key insurance with his opposite-field bomb into the second deck in right-center to highlight a three-run ninth. Yan Gomes delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh, Ian Happ finished with three hits and Smyly (4-1) yielded two runs and four hits as Chicago moved back to .500 with its second straight win.

The Twins, who managed just four hits and scored both of their runs in the second inning, dropped to 4-6 in May. Starter Sonny Gray allowed a run, four hits and struck out nine with a walk over 94 pitches, but he lasted just 5 1/3 innings. He maintained the major league lead with his ERA rising from 1.35 to 1.39.

Christopher Morel, of the Cubs, clubbed a long two-run homer in the ninth inning

Philadelphia Phillies 6, Colorado Rockies 3

Alex Bohm and Kyle Schwarber homered, Bryce Harper had two hits and two RBIs and Philadelphia beat Colorado in Denver.

Matt Strahm (3-3) pitched a scoreless inning of relief and Craig Kimbrel fanned three in the ninth inning to record his fourth save for Philadelphia, which has won four straight.

Ryan McMahon, Jurickson Profar and Kris Bryant had two hits each for Colorado, which had won eight of its previous 10 games. Rockies starter Austin Gomber retired the first 14 batters he faced and threw just 56 pitches through six innings. Phillies starter Taijuan Walker was nearly as sharp before Colorado got to him in the sixth inning.

Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber watches his two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Austin Gomber during the seventh inning

Milwaukee Brewers 5, Kansas City Royals 1

Corbin Burnes tossed six scoreless innings and Owen Miller had his first homer for his home-state team to pace host Milwaukee’s victory over Kansas City in the opener of the three-game series.

Burnes (4-2) allowed two singles, struck out seven and walked four. He retired 10 of the final 11 he faced in a 104-pitch outing. Miller, who played at nearby Ozaukee High School, about 35 miles from American Family Field, led off the third inning against Max Castillo with his first homer as a Brewer to make it 2-0. He finished a triple shy of the cycle.

Josh Taylor (0-1), the Royals’ fill-in starter, allowed an unearned run in a 25-pitch first inning but took the loss. Kansas City’s run came on the third homer of the season by Freddy Fermin in the seventh inning.

Corbin Burnes tossed six scoreless innings in a nearly perfect game for the Brewers against the Royals

Arizona Diamondback 7, San Francisco Giants 5 

Dominic Fletcher hit his first major league home run, doubled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and had four RBIs to help the Arizona Diamondbacks rally past the San Francisco Giants 7-5 Friday night, ending their three-game losing streak.

Fletcher, a 25-year-old who made his big league debut on April 30, raised his average to .457. Hitting ninth in the order, he tied the score 3-3 with a three-run homer in the second off Ross Stripling, a 428-foot drive off the sign above the swimming pool area in right-center field.

Fletcher singled in the fourth and then doubled off Jakob Junis (2-2) for a 5-4 lead. With a chance to hit for the cycle, Fletcher stranded the bases loaded in the seventh with an inning-ending groundout.

Blake Sobol’s run-scoring passed ball gave Arizona a two-run advantage, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s RBI double in the seventh made it 7-4.

Casey Schmitt had a one-out RBI double in the eighth against Andrew Chafin, who with runners on second and third retired Wilmer Flores on a groundout and struck out Bryce Johnson. Miguel Castro got two outs for his second save.

With Arizona wearing gold City Connect jerseys and caps, Anthony Misiewicz (1-0) got his first with win for the Diamondbacks. He retired four batters without allowing a hit.

Dominic Fletcher hit his first major league home run, doubled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning against the Giants

Toronto Blue Jays 3, Atlanta Braves 0

Chris Bassitt pitched his second career shutout as the Toronto Blue Jays blanked the visiting Atlanta Braves 3-0 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.

George Springer delivered the tiebreaking single in the fifth inning, and Daulton Varsho homered in the eighth for Toronto, which improved to 10-3 at home. The complete-game shutout was the first for Toronto since Mark Buehrle blanked the Washington Nationals on June 3, 2015.

Bassitt (5-2) allowed two hits and two walks and struck out eight while outdueling Atlanta fireballer Spencer Strider. Bassitt threw 103 pitches while winning his fourth consecutive decision and extending his scoreless streak to 20 innings.

Strider (4-1) struck out 12 in 6 2/3 innings to raise his season count to a major-league-high 79 in just 46 2/3 frames. He was charged with two runs and gave up five hits and one walk.

Chris Bassitt pitched his second career shutout as the Toronto Blue Jays blanked the Braves