New York starter Gerrit Cole kept the Baltimore Orioles in check over six innings and Aaron Judge finally homered again as the visiting Yankees won 4-1 in a matchup of American League East front-runners on Friday night.
Judge’s majors-leading 33rd home run was his first long ball in nine games. Cole (2-1) allowed one run on five hits to beat Cade Povich (1-4), who surrendered three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
There was tension with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Orioles manager Brandon Hyde became enraged after Yankees reliever Clay Holmes hit Heston Kjerstad in the head with a pitch. The dugouts emptied and there was some pushing and shoving. Hyde was ejected, and Holmes got a grounder and a strikeout to complete his 21st save.
The Yankees won for only the sixth time in their last 21 games, but it was enough to pull them within a game of first-place Baltimore.
Rays 2, Guardians 0
Taj Bradley scattered five hits over seven innings to lead Tampa Bay past Cleveland to open a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Bradley (4-4) walked two and struck out eight, including All-Star David Fry, who was pinch-hitting with two outs and a runner at second to end the seventh. Colin Poche fanned a pair in the eighth, while Jason Adam struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his fourth save and lower his ERA to 1.71.
Yandy Diaz went 3-for-5 with an RBI, Alex Jackson doubled twice and scored two runs, and Josh Lowe also had two hits for Tampa Bay, which won for the third time in its last four games. Carlos Carrasco (3-7) allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings for the Guardians. He surrendered six hits, walked one and struck out three.
Angels 6, Mariners 5 (10 innings)
Willie Calhoun hit a walk-off two-run shot in the bottom of the 10th inning to cap a two-homer performance, lifting Los Angeles over Seattle in Anaheim, Calif.
After the Mariners’ Mitch Garver hit an RBI double in the top of the 10th, Calhoun sent the second pitch of the home half of the inning over the right-center-field wall to pin the loss on Austin Voth (2-3).
Hans Crouse (2-0) got the win, while Brandon Drury and Mickey Moniak had two hits apiece for the Angels. Julio Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer for the Mariners.
Diamondbacks 5, Blue Jays 4
Geraldo Perdomo hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning as Arizona rallied to beat Toronto in Phoenix.
Alek Thomas delivered a tying two-run single in the eighth for the Diamondbacks, who won for the ninth time in 13 games. Justin Martinez (4-1) worked a perfect inning for the win.
George Springer had two hits, but the Blue Jays fell to 4-3 on their nine-game western road swing. Chad Green (2-2) took the loss.
Reds 7, Marlins 4
Rookie Rece Hinds continued the torrid start to his career with a grand slam while Jonathan India stayed hot with a leadoff home run as host Cincinnati beat Miami.
Jeimer Candelario added a solo homer, Elly De La Cruz had three hits and starter Carson Spiers (3-2) struck out a career-high nine over five innings as the Reds improved to 4-4 on their 10-game homestand. Nick Martinez tossed three innings of scoreless relief for the Reds, who won for the fourth time in five games.
Jesus Sanchez hit a three-run homer for the Marlins, who lost their fourth straight and fell for the ninth time in 11 contests. Miami starter Yonny Chirinos (0-1) was charged with seven runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out one and walked four as the Marlins fell to 14-31 on the road.
Dodgers 4, Tigers 3
Shohei Ohtani drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the ninth inning and visiting Los Angeles edged Detroit.
Freddie Freeman had a solo homer as Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing streak. Michael Petersen (3-0) picked up the victory in relief and Daniel Hudson notched his fourth save.
Riley Greene drove in two runs for the Tigers, who had won two straight entering Friday. Detroit starter Tarik Skubal allowed two runs and two hits with eight strikeouts in six innings. James Paxton gave up three runs and five hits while walking four over 3 2/3 frames for the Dodgers.
A’s 6, Phillies 2
Pinch hitter Lawrence Butler belted a two-run home run to help Oakland beat host Philadelphia.
Shea Langeliers added two RBI singles and Brent Rooker contributed two singles and an RBI for the A’s in the opener of a three-game series. Osvaldo Bido (1-1) earned the win with three innings of scoreless relief.
Cristian Pache hit an RBI double and Edmundo Sosa added an RBI single for the Phillies. Ranger Suarez (10-4) tossed six innings and allowed six hits and four runs.
Royals 6, Red Sox 1
Cole Ragans allowed one run in seven innings to help visiting Kansas City extend its winning streak to four games by beating Boston.
Bobby Witt Jr. (No. 16 of the year) and MJ Melendez (No. 11) each hit solo home runs for the Royals, who scored a run in the first inning, three in the second, one in the fourth and one in the eighth. Ragans (6-6) gave up four hits, struck out seven and walked one.
Ceddanne Rafaela collected two of the Red Sox’ five hits. Starting pitcher Cooper Criswell (3-4) allowed five runs (two earned) on eight hits in six innings.
Mets 7, Rockies 6
Jose Iglesias and Harrison Bader each hit two homers for host New York, which staved off a Colorado comeback attempt to win the opener of a three-game series.
Mark Vientos also went deep for the Mets, who have won the first four games of a six-game homestand to assure themselves a winning record at the All-Star break. New York (48-45) is three games over .500 for the first time since it was 12-9 on April 21.
Michael Toglia and Brenton Doyle each hit a two-run homer for the Rockies, who also got solo shots from Brendan Rodgers and Charlie Blackmon. Colorado trailed 7-2 en route to its fifth loss in six games.
Astros 6, Rangers 3
Jake Meyers and Alex Bregman slugged solo home runs and Jose Altuve clubbed a three-run shot as Houston extended its home winning streak to 10 games by defeating visiting Texas.
It’s the Astros’ second-longest streak at Minute Maid Park. They won 18 straight in 2004. Houston has won 17 of its last 21 games and improved to 25-11 since June 1. Mauricio Dubon, who reached on an error by Rangers shortstop Corey Seager to start the first inning, turned heads-up baserunning into a 1-0 lead. Meyers followed an inning later with his ninth homer, a 382-foot blast to left-center field. Bregman slugged his 12th home run for a 3-0 advantage.
Rangers starter Andrew Heaney (3-10) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings.
Giants 7, Twins 1
Kyle Harrison ended a personal five-game winless streak, Brett Wisely collected a triple, a double and a single, and San Francisco opened a three-game home interleague series against Minnesota.
Jorge Soler had a triple among his two hits for the Giants, whose five extra-base hits in the game all contributed to the scoring. Harrison (5-4), who hadn’t won since May 18, limited the Twins to one run and five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.
Twins starter Joe Ryan (6-6), a San Francisco native making his first start at Oracle Park, allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out six.
Cubs 5, Cardinals 1
Kyle Hendricks threw seven shutout innings as visiting Chicago defeated St. Louis for its fifth straight victory.
Nico Hoerner and David Bote drove in two runs each for the Cubs, and Miles Mastrobuoni scored twice. Hendricks (7-7) scattered five hits and a walk, while Hector Neris secured his 13th save. Chicago left-hander Luke Little exited in the eighth inning with shoulder discomfort, manager Craig Counsell said postgame.
Cardinals starter Sonny Gray (9-6) allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings. Paul Goldschmidt hit an RBI single in the ninth inning as St. Louis lost its third straight.
Nationals 5, Brewers 2
Jesse Winker hit a homer and an RBI double against his former team, helping visiting Washington top Milwaukee.
Juan Yepez also had two hits for the Nationals, and Robert Garcia (1-3) got the win with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Kyle Finnegan tossed a perfect ninth for his 24th save.
The Brewers’ Sal Frelick collected three hits and threw out a runner at the plate from right field. Freddy Peralta (6-5) was tagged for four runs on 10 hits in five innings.
Braves 6, Padres 1
Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach worked seven strong innings and retired the last 12 men he faced as visiting Atlanta sent San Diego to its fifth straight loss.
Marcell Ozuna homered twice and Orlando Arcia added a two run shot for the Braves, who ended a two-game skid. Schwellenbach (3-4) allowed one run on three hits in the longest of his eight major league starts.
Manny Machado hit an RBI double for the Padres, who have scored five runs over their last four games. Matt Waldron (5-8) surrendered four runs on six hits over seven innings.
Pirates 4, White Sox 1
Ke’Bryan Hayes had two hits and an RBI and Marco Gonzales pitched five strong innings in his return from a strained left forearm muscle to lift Pittsburgh over host Chicago.
Making his first appearance since mid-April, Gonzales (1-0) allowed one run and seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts. David Bednar, who was also activated from the IL after recovering from a left oblique strain, pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save.
Pittsburgh won for the fourth time in five games. Chicago has lost five of six. Chicago reliever Jonathan Cannon (1-3) yielded four runs and seven hits in six innings. All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet started the game but pitched only two innings as the club monitors his innings and workload.
