AROUND THE HORN Thursday’s other MLB games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Athletics 6, Astros 4

HOUSTON

Mark Canha’s two-RBI single in Oakland’s three-run eighth inning lifted the Athletics to a win over the Houston Astros. The Athletics fell behind early but cut the lead to one with a three-run fifth. An RBI double by Matt Chapman tied it with no outs in eighth before Canha’s single off Chris Devenksi (2-2) with one out made it 6-4. Canha’s hit landed in the corner of left field and the Astros challenged the ruling that the ball was fair, but the call was upheld.

Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 4

BOSTON

Mookie Betts fouled off seven pitches before hitting a grand slam that helped the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays, extending their winning streak to 10 games. Betts added an RBI single in the seventh inning and went 2 for 4, increasing the top batting average in the majors to .352. He finished with five RBIs. David Price (10-6) struck out eight over 62/3 innings for Boston, and Craig Kimbrel earned his 29th save. Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run homer in the first and Kendrys Morales had a solo homer for Toronto, which has lost four of five. All-Star lefty J.A. Happ (10-6) started strong for Toronto, striking out six and holding Boston to two hits before running into trouble and some misfortune in the fourth. The Red Sox capitalized on a missed fly ball and a video review that erased what would have been the second out while scoring five runs — all unearned — before the inning ended.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 1

DENVER

Gerardo Parra and Raimel Tapia had pinch-hit RBI singles in Colorado’s three-run sixth inning, helping the Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks. Trevor Story homered for the Rockies, and Kyle Freeland pitched six-hit ball into the sixth inning. DJ LeMahieu had two hits and drove in a run. Colorado was coming off a 19-2 victory Wednesday night, but it trailed 1-0 before its rally in the sixth.

Nationals 5, Mets 4

NEW YORK

Max Scherzer made a final pitch to start the All-Star Game on his own mound, Anthony Rendon hit two homers and Bryce Harper also connected, leading the Washington Nationals over the New York Mets. Scherzer (12-5) didn’t dominate over his seven innings, but managed to tie Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola for the NL lead in wins. He struck out five, boosting his league-leading total to 182. Scherzer gave up three runs and five hits, including home runs by nemesis Jose Bautista and Kevin Plawecki. The right-hander was met on the top step of the dugout by manager Dave Martinez after the seventh and, after a short discussion, he was done. The three-time Cy Young Award winner exited with a 2.41 ERA, and perfectly lined up to pitch on regular rest next Tuesday night in the All-Star Game at Nationals Park.

INTERLEAGUE

Phillies 5, Orioles 4

BALTIMORE

Jorge Alfaro homered and drove in three runs, Nick Pivetta took a three-hitter into the seventh inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Baltimore Orioles. Making the most of a one-day stay in Baltimore, the Phillies got 12 hits off Kevin Gausman (4-7) while building a 5-0 lead against the team with the worst record in the majors. Alfaro, the No. 9 hitter, singled and scored in the third inning, hit a two-run double in the fourth and led off the fifth with his sixth home run.

Associated Press