INTERLEAGUE
RAYS 8, PADRES 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Drew Smyly is putting a nice run together after struggling for two months.
Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks) allowed just a solo home run over seven innings of one-hit ball, Logan Forsythe (Razorbacks) and Kevin Kiermaier each homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the San Diego Padres 8-2 on Monday night.
"Drew, he was outstanding, to say the least," Tampa Bay Manager Kevin Cash said.
Alexei Ramirez hit his fifth home run and Derek Norris walked twice, and those were the only baserunners against Smyly (5-11). The left-hander struck out four during his fifth consecutive start with six or more innings and two or fewer runs.
Before the recent surge, Smyly went 0-7 with a 7.60 ERA in 10 starts from May 21-July 18.
"This game is full of streaks," Smyly said. "You've just got to ride out the good streaks and try and eliminate the bad ones."
Brad Boxberger and Kevin Jepsen completed a three-hitter, with Jepsen allowing a single to former Northwest Arkansas Natural Wil Myers and a home run to Yangervis Solarte in the ninth.
Forsythe hit his fifth home run in his last 13 games off Luis Perdomo (5-7) to put the Rays up 3-1 in the second.
Kiermaier had a three-run drive in a five-run eighth that made it 8-1. He had three hits and two stolen bases.
Logan Morrison had an RBI double and Forsythe added a sacrifice fly during the eighth.
Perdomo allowed 3 runs and 5 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He hit two batters during the first, including Morrison with the bases loaded.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
MARLINS 6, REDS 3 Chris Johnson drove in two runs with a home run and a double, former reliever David Phelps pitched into the sixth inning in his third start of the season and visiting Miami won the opener of its four-game series against Cincinnati. Marcell Ozuna also homered and Dee Gordon beat Joey Votto's high toss to pitcher Blake Wood covering first base for a bases-loaded, two-run infield single. The wild card-contending Marlins have won two consecutive after a three-game skid. Both victories have come since Giancarlo Stanton was lost Saturday for what is expected to be at least six weeks with a groin injury.
NATIONALS 5, ROCKIES 4 Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos homered, Bryce Harper doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Washington held off host Colorado. Washington's bullpen pitched five scoreless innings and Mark Melancon earned his 34th save in 37 chances. The NL East leaders have won three consecutive and four of five.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANGERS 5, ATHLETICS 2 Adrian Beltre hit a grand slam and Martin Perez earned his first victory since late June to lead host Texas over Oakland. Beltre's 100th home run at Globe Life Park came against former teammate Ross Detwiler (1-1) in the fifth with Texas trailing 2-1. His 10th career slam came three batters after Shin-Soo Choo broke his left forearm when he was hit by a pitch. The AL West-leading Rangers were coming off consecutive shutout losses at home to Detroit.
RED SOX 3, INDIANS 2 David Ortiz hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in a three-run sixth inning, and visiting Boston extended its winning streak to four games. Ortiz's 27th home run of his farewell season was the 530th of his big league career. Ortiz homered in all three games the Red Sox played in Cleveland this season. One out later, Jackie Bradley Jr. also homered off Josh Tomlin (11-6), who has given up a major league-leading 29 home runs this season. Drew Pomeranz (1-2) allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings to win for the first time since he was acquired from San Diego on July 14. He had been 0-2 in five starts for the Red Sox.
YANKEES 1, BLUE JAYS 0 Chad Green struck out 11 in six innings, Aaron Judge delivered with an RBI double and Dellin Betances escaped a big ninth-inning jam, leading host New York over Toronto. Betances got major league RBI leader Edwin Encarnacion to ground into a game-ending, around-the-horn double play with runners at the corners. The Yankees won for the fifth time in six games, taking the first 1-0 decision between the teams since 2005. They dropped Toronto percentage points out of first place in the AL East and pulled within 5 1/2 games of new division leader Baltimore.
ROYALS 3, TIGERS 1 Ian Kennedy pitched effectively into the seventh inning to win for the first time since June 26 as visiting Kansas City beat Detroit. The Tigers lost Miguel Cabrera after four innings to a strained left biceps. Cabrera appeared to injure himself in a first-inning collision with Cheslor Cuthbert at first base, but batted twice before leaving the game. Detroit said the slugger is day to day.
Sports on 08/16/2016