CINCINNATI - Mike Leake doubled and hit a two-run home run Tuesday night, ending Gerrit Cole’s winning streak and leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that completed two days full of home runs and delays.
First, the NL Central rivals completed a game that was suspended in the sixth inning because of rain the previous night. Andrew McCutchen doubled and came around on Russell Martin’s single in the seventh inning, giving the Pirates an 8-7 victory.
Leake (2-1) gave up 3 runs and 5 hits in 6 2/3 innings for a split. The right-hander has won his past four starts against the Pirates. Jonathan Broxton pitched out of a two-on threat in the ninth, converting his first save chance.
Leake, who has the most hits by a major league pitcher since 2010, doubled and scored in the third. He hit his third career home run in the sixth off Cole (2-1), who had won his past six starts.
Todd Frazier hit his second home run in two games, Joey Votto had four hits and Devin Mesoraco had three hits, including a bases-loaded single.
Neil Walker hit three of Pittsburgh’s seven home runs in the two games.
The teams wore their customary uniforms for the completion of the suspended game, then switched to commemorative No. 42 Jackie Robinson jerseys for the later game, which started 5 minutes later than originally scheduled.
It’s been a wild series full of downpours, lead changes and home runs.
The teams put on a record-setting show Monday night before the game was suspended after six innings tied 7-7. They combined for 10 home runs in those six innings, the most for a game in Great American Ball Park’s 12 seasons.
MARLINS 11, NATIONALS 2 Giancarlo Stanton tied a career high with five RBI, including a three-run home run off Stephen Strasburg, and host Miami broke an eight-game losing streak by beating Washington. Strasburg (1-2) endured another rough outing in Miami, allowing 6 runs and 8 hits in 4 innings.
CARDINALS 6, BREWERS 1 Shelby Miller struck out 7 and allowed 3 hits over 6 innings, and Mark Ellis had two RBI in his return from the disabled list to lead visiting St. Louis to a victory over Milwaukee. Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta each hit solo shots in the ninth off reliever Jim Henderson for the Cardinals.
METS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 0 Kirk Nieuwenhuis had three hits and three RBI in his season debut, Jenrry Mejia pitched five effective innings in a combined three-hitter and New York routed struggling host Arizona. Eric Young Jr.had three hits and two RBI, and the Mets finished with 12 hits.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANGERS 5, MARINERS 0 Prince Fielder and Kevin Kouzmanoff hit back-to-back home runs, Robbie Ross limited the opposition to five singles in seven-plus innings and host Texas beat Seattle. Fielder ended a 13-game streak without a home run to start the season with a line drive to right-center field off former Texas first-round pick Blake Beavan (0-1).
ROYALS 4, ASTROS 2 Rookie Yordano Ventura threw seven solid innings for his first major league victory to lift visiting Kansas City to a victory over Houston. Omar Infante homered and drove in two runs for the Royals.
BLUE JAYS 9, TWINS 3 Jose Bautista had three hits and an RBI, and Brett Lawrie hit a grand slam in the ninth inning to help Toronto beat host Minnesota. Edwin Encarnacion had two hits and an RBI, and Aaron Loup (1-0) won in relief of starter Brandon Morrow, who lasted 3 2/3 innings.
WHITE SOX 2, RED SOX 1 Alexei Ramirez scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a throwing error and Chicago edged visiting Boston.
Tuesday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE Pittsburgh 8-5, Cincinnati 7-7 Atlanta at Philadelphia, ppd., rain Cincinnati 7, Pittsburgh 5 Miami 11, Washington 2 St. Louis 6, Milwaukee 1 NY Mets 9, Arizona 0 Colorado at San Diego, (n) LA Dodgers at San Francisco, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE Tampa Bay at Baltimore, ppd., rain Cleveland at Detroit, ppd., inclement weather Texas 5, Seattle 0 Chicago White Sox 2, Boston 1 Kansas City 4, Houston 2 Toronto 9, Minnesota 3 Oakland at LA Angels, (n)
INTERLEAGUE Chicago Cubs at New York, ppd., rain
Sports, Pages 24 on 04/16/2014