Yankees take advantage of Giants' errors to win

NEW YORK -- Dellin Betances gave up a run, so did Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman almost got nicked, too. A surprising sequence for the Yankees' vaunted bullpen trio.

But Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford put on the most startling performance Friday night -- the Gold Glover threw away three balls, all by himself.

Crawford committed three errors for the first time in his career, making a wild toss in the eighth inning that gave New York a 3-2 victory and sent San Francisco to its season-worst sixth consecutive loss.

"We'll take it any way we can get it," said Chase Headley, who slid home just in time with the go-ahead run. "You've got to be opportunistic. We're fighting for our life right now."

The Yankees won for the fifth time in six games, trying to improve their playoff possibilities. Joe Girardi managed as if it was a postseason game, making three defensive replacements in the late innings.

The Giants held the best record in the majors at the All-Star break, but haven't won since. They also lost catcher Buster Posey, who fouled a ball off his right foot and left with a bruise. X-rays were negative and he was listed as day to day.

"We hit a couple of balls hard, but we didn't get a break," Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. "And that's the way it goes. When you're in winning streaks, everything goes right. Right now, it's not going well for us. But still, you make your breaks. We've got to tighten up and play crisper ball."

Masahiro Tanaka shut out San Francisco for six innings, giving up four singles. Giants ace Madison Bumgarner went seven innings, allowing two runs.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ROYALS 3, RANGERS 1 Danny Duffy scattered four hits while pitching into the seventh inning and Kansas City scratched out three runs off Yu Darvish to beat visiting Texas.

ORIOLES 5, INDIANS 1 Mark Trumbo hit a three-run home run, Manny Machado added a solo shot and host Baltimore beat Cleveland.

MARINERS 2, BLUE JAYS 1 James Paxton pitched seven strong innings to win for the first time in three starts, Seth Smith doubled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and visiting Seattle beat Toronto.

TWINS 2, RED SOX 1 Kyle Gibson put an end to a two-game hitting outburst by the Red Sox, allowing just two hits in the first inning as Minnesota edged host Boston.

TIGERS 7, WHITE SOX 5 Miguel Cabrera tied a season high with four hits, including a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh, to lead visiting Detroit to a victory over struggling Chicago.

ASTROS 2, ANGELS 1 Lance McCullers struck out 10 in eight-plus solid innings and Will Harris finished off the ninth to lead host Houston to a victory over Los Angeles.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CUBS 5, BREWERS 2 Dexter Fowler led off the first with a home run and drove in three runs in his first game back from the disabled list, powering visiting Chicago to a victory over Milwaukee.

PHILLIES 4, PIRATES 0 Zach Eflin pitched his first major league shutout in his eighth start and Philadelphia beat host Pittsburgh.

PADRES 5, NATIONALS 3 Matt Kemp homered twice and drove in four runs, rookie Luis Perdomo pitched seven solid innings and visiting San Diego beat Washington.

REDS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 2 Joey Votto extended his post-All Star break surge with a three-run home run, leading host Cincinnati to a victory over slumping Arizona.

METS 5, MARLINS 3 Jose Reyes had his first three-hit game since joining visiting New York early this month and scored twice to help them beat Miami.

ROCKIES 4, BRAVES 3 Jon Gray pitched seven strong innings, Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story hit two-run home runs off relievers after starter Julio Teheran left because of an injury, and host Colorado beat Atlanta.

Sports on 07/23/2016

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