Around the HORN Friday’s other MLB games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Astros 12, Blue Jays 2

TORONTO

George Springer homered twice and tied a career high with five RBIs as Houston rocked Aaron Sanchez in his return from the disabled list, propelling the Astros to a win over Toronto. Springer hit his 26th and 27th homers of the season, including a two-run shot off Sanchez (0-2) in the second inning. The All-Star outfielder had four hits, and the Astros improved their major league-leading record to 59-28. Houston’s Carlos Correa extended the longest active hitting streak in the majors to a career-high 15 with his 18th homer in the first inning. Evan Gattis added his seventh homer in the seventh.

Red Sox 8, Rays 3

ST. PETERSBURG

Dustin Pedroia, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hanley Ramirez all homered, Drew Pomeranz won his third consecutive start, and Boston beat Tampa Bay. Pedroia hit a two-run shot during a four-run third, and Bradley Jr. had a fourth-inning solo drive off Jake Odorizzi (5-4) as Boston took a 5-0 lead. Ramirez scored his 1,000th run on his ninth-inning solo homer. Pomeranz (9-4) limited Tampa Bay to two runs over six innings despite allowing six hits and five walks.

Rangers 10, Angels 0

ARLINGTON

Cole Hamels threw 72/3 shutout innings and Adrian Beltre’s three-run homer highlighted a five-run second inning as Texas blanked the Los Angeles Angels. Hamels (4-0) allowed three singles, two to Albert Pujols, and one walk. He struck out six, matching his season high, in his third start since returning from the disabled list on June 26. Hamels is 26-6 since joining Texas on July 31, 2015, his winning percentage of .813 during that span topping the American League. Ricky Nolasco (4-10) was rocked for eight earned runs in 12/3 innings and gave up back-to-back homers to Beltre and Rougned Odor. He entered the game with 151/3 consecutive scoreless innings that included his sixth career shutout.

Twins 9, Orioles 6

MINNEAPOLIS

Kennys Vargas had three hits, including a big two-run double in the fifth inning, to help lead Minnesota over Baltimore. Trevor Hildenberger (1-0) pitched 21/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first major-league win as the Twins rallied from a 6-0 hole to send Baltimore to its fifth straight defeat. Vargas’ two-run double off reliever Miguel Castro (1-1) tied the score in the fifth, and Chris Gimenez’s RBI single completed the impressive comeback one batter later. Machado homered twice and had his second four-hit game of the year. Seth Smith also homered as he and Machado went deep back-to-back to lead off the game. Brandon Kintzler pitched the ninth for his American League-best 24th save.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Nationals 5, Braves 4

10 innings

WASHINGTON

Daniel Murphy’s one-out RBI single in the 10th inning capped Washington’s comeback victory over Atlanta. Adrian Sanchez led off the 10th against Ian Krol (1-2) with his first major league hit and two batters later moved to third on Ryan Zimmerman’s single. Murphy then lofted an opposite-field single over left fielder Matt Kemp’s head to win it for Washington. Matt Albers (5-1) induced Kemp’s double play grounder to end the 10th to help the Nationals escape a two-on jam.

Padres 4, Phillies 3

PHILADELPHIA

Austin Hedges hit a pair of solo homers and had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth, Jose Pirela also went deep and San Diego beat Philadelphia. After Cory Spangenberg and Carlos Asuaje hit singles off Hector Neris (2-3), Hedges fouled off a safety squeeze before hitting a fly ball to right-center that drove in the go-ahead run. Padres starter Clayton Richard allowed one run and five hits in six innings before a 94-minute rain delay forced him out. Brad Hand (2-4) got four outs for the win and Brandon Maurer finished for his 18th save. Following the long rain delay before the bottom of the seventh, the Phillies rallied off San Diego’s bullpen. Cameron Rupp got it started with a single off Phil Maton, and pinch-hitter Nick Williams followed with a double. Rupp scored on a groundout, and Freddy Galvis hit an RBI single off Hand to tie it at 3-3.

Mets 6, Cardinals 5

ST. LOUIS

Jose Reyes and Jay Bruce hit solo home runs to help Jacob deGrom win his fifth straight decision, and the New York Mets beat St. Louis. Bruce’s homer in the fifth gave broke a 4-all tie. It was his 11th home run in 61 career games at Busch Stadium. DeGrom (9-3) gave up four runs, all on solo homers, in seven innings. It was the first time in his career that deGrom gave up four home runs in a game, but it was good enough to tie his career-best winning streak set in 2014. Addison Reed earned his 15th save in 17 chances. Reyes and Bruce each reached base three times and Reyes scored twice. T.J. Rivera also reached three times, extending his hitting streak to seven games, and drove in two runs.

Associated Press