AROUND THE HORN Thursday’s other MLB games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Orioles 3, Rays 1

BALTIMORE

Gabriel Ynoa pitched eight innings of five-hit ball, Manny Machado homered and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays in a matchup between fading AL East teams. Machado’s two-run homer in the first inning off Matt Andriese (5-4) propelled the Orioles to their third win in 15 games. Ynoa (2-2) struck out three and walked two in earning his first win as a starter in six career tries. He failed to go past five innings in any of his previous starts.

Royals 1, Blue Jays 0

TORONTO

Jason Vargas and four relievers combined on a two-hitter, Melky Cabrera had three hits and the game’s only RBI, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays. Vargas (17-10) struck out seven in 61/3 innings to win his third straight start. None of the three batters he walked advanced beyond first base. The Blue Jays did not have a runner reach scoring position. Kendrys Morales hit a leadoff single in the second and was promptly erased on a double play, with Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar using his glove to flip the ball to second baseman Whit Merrifield. Darwin Barney had the only other hit off Vargas, a leadoff single in the fifth. Kansas City’s run came in the third against Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ (9-11). Alex Gordon walked with one out and advanced to second on a two-out single by Lorenzo Cain before Cabrera hit an RBI single to center.

Twins 12, Tigers 1

DETROIT

Joe Mauer and Jorge Polanco had three hits each, and the Minnesota Twins extended their lead for the American League’s second wild card by beating the Detroit Tigers. Minnesota scored three runs apiece in the fourth and sixth innings, then added four more in the eighth. Adalberto Mejia fell one out short of a win, allowing a run and four hits in 42/3 innings. Dillon Gee (3-2) was credited with a victory in relief. Jordan Zimmermann (8-13) yielded three runs and five hits in four innings.

White Sox 3, Astros 1

HOUSTON

Chris Volstad and Chicago’s bullpen covered 82/3 innings after starter Carson Fulmer left with a blister, and the White Sox beat the Houston Astros. Volstad (1-0) got his first win since 2012 with the Chicago Cubs. He allowed a run over 41/3 innings, and six relievers kept Houston scoreless from there. Juan Minaya worked around two walks in the ninth for his fifth save. Tim Anderson homered to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games, and Kevan Smith added two hits for Chicago.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Dodgers 5, Phillies 4

PHILADELPHIA

Pinch-hitter Andre Ethier and Curtis Granderson homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a tie for the NL West title, ending a four-game losing streak by beating the Philadelphia Phillies. Ethier tied it with a home run in the seventh off reliever Ricardo Pinto (1-2) that made it 4-all. Chris Taylor followed with a triple and scored the go-ahead run on a grounder by Austin Barnes. Rookie Walker Buehler (1-0) pitched a hitless inning to win his first major league decision. Kenley Jansen got four outs for his 39th save.

Braves 3, Nationals 2

ATLANTA

R.A. Dickey frustrated Washington with his knuckleball for eight innings, Ozzie Albies had three hits and the Atlanta Braves beat the Nationals. After Ryan Zimmerman’s leadoff homer in the second inning, the 42-year-old Dickey gave up only one hit — a two-out single by Trea Turner in the third — over the next five innings. Turner was picked off first base. Dickey (10-10) gave up two runs, four hits and no walks. Arodys Vizcaino struck out the side in a perfect ninth for his 12th save in 15 chances.

Cardinals 8, Reds 5

CINCINNATI

Dexter Fowler delivered again, getting three hits and driving in two runs as the St. Louis Cardinals overcame Scott Schebler’s two home runs to beat the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game sweep. The Cardinals began the day 2 1/2 games behind Colorado for the second NL wild-card spot and five games behind the Central-leading Chicago Cubs. Carlos Martinez (12-11) lasted 61/3 innings on a muggy night with a gametime temperature of 85 degrees, allowing four runs and nine hits.

Associated Press