RED SOX 9, BRAVES 4
BOSTON -- Boston Red Sox fans seemed too excited about the end of a long losing streak to notice the significance of Brock Holt hitting a triple in the eighth inning.
Holt was a little surprised himself after the three-base hit meant he had hit for the cycle as the Red Sox slugged their way out of a seven-game losing streak with a 9-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.
"It's a pretty special day. It's something I'll remember for a while," said Holt, Boston's first player to hit for the cycle in 19 years.
Holt's solo home run in the seventh gave Boston a 5-2 lead and left him a triple shy of completing the cycle. He wasn't really expecting to get another at-bat, let alone come through with a triple. But he knew he had a chance when he drove a fly ball into Fenway Park's famed triangle in center field.
"Once it gets in the triangle, anything's possible. I was just running," Holt said. "I tried to soak it all in. I looked in the dugout and my teammates were all pretty pumped at the top of the step."
Fenway fans didn't seem to catch on until the top of the ninth, when a message on the scoreboard announced Holt had completed the cycle.
"Any time a guy hits for the cycle he's had a stellar day," said Manager John Farrell, who started Holt at second base while resting Dustin Pedroia.
It was the first cycle in the majors this season and the first for the Red Sox since John Valentin did it on June 6, 1996, against the White Sox in Boston.
Wade Miley (6-6) tied his season high with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 solid innings and the Red Sox won for the first time since beating Oakland on June 7.
"He had great stuff. He was keeping everything down," Atlanta Manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Miley had plenty of offensive support from Holt and Alejandro De Aza. Holt had four of Boston's 18 hits and De Aza drove in three runs on two hits, including a two-run double in the sixth inning as the Red Sox rallied for three runs and broke a 2-all tie.
"It's always great to get the run support like we did today," Miley said.
The Red Sox tagged Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (4-3) with six earned runs and 13 hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Juan Uribe had three hits for the Braves, who scored two runs off Koji Uehara in the ninth before Boston's closer settled down and ended the threat.
GIANTS 6, MARINERS 2 Matt Duffy homered and drove in three runs to help host San Francisco snap a nine-game home losing streak by beating Seattle. Casey McGehee added a two-run double and Angel Pagan hit an RBI single as the Giants snapped their longest home skid since an 11-gamer at New York's Polo Grounds in 1940. Tim Lincecum (7-3) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings to get the victory in his second start against his hometown team. Brad Miller hit a home run and drove in two runs for the Mariners, who split the two-game series in San Francisco and finished 4-4 on an eight-game road trip.
ATHLETICS 6, PADRES 5 Eric Sogard singled in the go-ahead in the top of the ninth off closer Craig Kimbrel, lifting visiting Oakland to a victory over San Diego and spoiling the debut of interim manager Pat Murphy. Kimbrel (1-2) issued a two-out walk to Billy Burns, who stole second and scored on Sogard's ground ball single to center. The game was played on the one-year anniversary of the death of longtime Padre and Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. The Padres played a brief video tribute to the eight-time NL batting champion before the game. Murphy, named interim manager before the game, replaced Bud Black who was fired on Monday. San Diego has lost both games since Black's firing, including Monday night's 9-1 loss to Oakland under acting manager Dave Roberts. San Diego's Matt Kemp hit a solo homer in the eighth off Evan Scribner (2-1) to tie the game at 5-all. It was Kemp's third home run of the season. Tyler Clippard pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances.
ASTROS 8, ROCKIES 5 Luis Valbuena homered twice and drove in four runs, and host Houston beat Colorado. Hank Conger hit a solo home run for the Astros, who lead the major leagues with 91 home runs. Houston is 25-0 this year when it has multi-home-run games. Valbuena hit a solo home run in the second off Chris Rusin (2-2) and added a three-run drive in a five-run third that increased his team-leading home run total to 16. Will Harris (3-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of rookie Vince Velasquez, who gave up 5 runs and 7 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Luke Gregerson threw a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 19 chances.
CARDINALS 3, TWINS 2 St. Louis extended its winning streak to five by beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2 behind Michael Wacha's pitching and Mark Reynolds' two-run single. The Cardinals completed a soggy homestand in which three games were delayed and another against Kansas City was postponed until July 23. Wacha (9-2) halted warmups before the first pitch was delayed 45 minutes and didn't return after a 47-minute rain delay with one out in the seventh and the Cardinals leading 3-1. He allowed two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings.
PIRATES 3, WHITE SOX 0 Charlie Morton pitched seven innings to remain unbeaten since returning from hip surgery and host Pittsburgh beat Chicago for its sixth consecutive victory.
ORIOLES 19, PHILLIES 3 Manny Machado and newcomer Chris Parmelee each hit two of an Orioles-record eight home runs, and Baltimore breezed past visiting Philadelphia.
REDS 5, TIGERS 2 Todd Frazier homered twice and Jay Bruce added a solo shot to lift Cincinnati to a victory over host Detroit. Michael Lorenzen (2-2) allowed 2 runs — 1 earned — and 6 hits with 3 walks in 6 innings, only striking out 1. MARLINS 12, YANKEES 2 Miami scored a franchise record eight first-inning runs against former teammate Nathan Eovaldi and beat visiting New York to complete a two-game sweep.
METS 3, BLUE JAYS 2 Matt Harvey returned to form with seven shutout innings and an RBI double, leading host New York to a victory over Toronto.
NATIONALS 16, RAYS 4 Wilson Ramos homered twice off position players, Bryce Harper and Clint Robinson also went deep, and visiting Washington routed Tampa Bay.
INDIANS 6, CUBS 0 Carlos Santana hit a three-run home run and an RBI double, Trevor Bauer pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, and Cleveland beat host Chicago.
RANGERS 3, DODGERS 2 Robinson Chirinos hit a game-ending home run leading off the bottom of the ninth inning and Texas beat visiting Los Angeles.
ROYALS 7, BREWERS 2 Chris Young became the first Royals pitcher to drive in three runs in a game since 1972 and worked seven innings of five-hit ball, leading Kansas City to a victory over host Milwaukee.
Sports on 06/17/2015