Jun 22, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Carlos Gomez (14) is greeted by second baseman Rougned Odor (12) after hitting a three run home run Toronto Blue Jays in the bottom the third inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Photo Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
ARLINGTON, Texas — Carlos Gomez hit two homers to power a home run barrage by the Texas Rangers in an 11-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Park.
Texas (36-36) climbed back to .500 by snapping a two-game skid and splitting the four-game set with Toronto. The Rangers completed their homestand at 4-3.
The Blue Jays (35-37) dropped to 0-9 in games with a chance to get to .500 this season.
Gomez, Mike Napoli, and Robinson Chirinos each clubbed long balls off Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman, who dropped to 7-4 and lost for the first time in six road decisions this season. Gomez added another homer, a two-run shot, in the eighth to finish with five RBIs.
Texas starter Martin Perez wasn’t sharp but enjoyed plenty of offensive support in improving to 4-6 after working six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on nine hits. Perez is 4-0 this season when backed by at least three runs.
Brewers 4, Pirates 2
MILWAUKEE — Eric Sogard had two doubles, scored a pair of runs and prevented a run with a defensive gem in the eighth inning as Milwaukee earned a split of their four-game series against Pittsburgh.
Sogard missed all of the 2016 season recovering from knee surgery but has been red-hot since Milwaukee called him up in early May. He is now batting .366 with a .985 OPS.
Travis Shaw had two doubles and a home run, and the Brewers tagged Pittsburgh starter Ian Nova (7-5) for four runs on 11 hits and two walks over seven innings. Brewers starter Chase Anderson (6-2) went six innings and allowed two runs on two hits while striking out seven.
Phillies 5, Cardinals 1
PHILADELPHIA — Starter Aaron Nola had one of his best efforts of the season, striking out a season-high eight batters and allowing just one run in 7 1/3 innings to help Philadelphia snap the team’s five-game losing streak with a win over St. Louis.
Paul DeJong homered for the Cardinals, and Freddy Galvis and Tommy Joseph hit a home runs for the Phillies.
Joseph went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Diamondbacks 10, Rockies 3
DENVER — Chris Owings and Paul Goldschmidt hit three-run homers as Arizona beat Colorado in the rubber match of their three-game series.
Arizona starter Zack Godley (3-1) gave up two hits in the first inning, including Charlie Blackmon’s 24th career leadoff homer and second this season, but then retired 13 straight batter. Godley also singled home a run in the eighth inning for his second career RBI in 45 at-bats.
The Diamondbacks have won nine of their past 10 games.
Astros 12, Athletics 9
OAKLAND, Calif. — Jake Marisnick and Marwin Gonzalez hit three-run homers in the second inning and rookie right-hander David Paulino pitched 5 1/3 solid innings, helping Houston complete a four-game sweep of Oakland.
The Astros defeated the A’s at Oakland Coliseum for the 10th straight time and have won 15 of the past 16 games overall against Oakland. Houston, which swept the A’s in Oakland for the third straight time, had their seventh series sweep of the season and fifth on the road.
Former A’s player Josh Reddick went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and a solo homer, his seventh home run of the season, for the Astros. He also walked and scored four runs, matching his career high.
