Sep 20, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Photo Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK — Julio Teheran continued his mastery of the New York Mets on Tuesday night, when the Atlanta Braves right-hander allowed one run over seven strong innings as the Braves continued to play spoiler with a 5-4 victory at Citi Field.
The Braves (60-91) have won the first two games of the three-game series against the National League wild card-leading Mets (80-71), who entered Tuesday with a one-game lead over the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.
Teheran (6-10) allowed five hits and one walk while striking out one as his ERA against New York this season rose from 0.78 to 0.90. He is 7-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 15 career games (14 starts) versus the Mets.
Rookie right-hander Robert Gsellman (2-2) carried a shutout into the sixth but took the loss after allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings.
Red Sox 5, Orioles 2
BALTIMORE — David Ortiz got his 36th home run, a three-run shot in the seventh inning, and Boston extended its winning streak to six games with a victory over Baltimore.
The Red Sox increased their lead over the Orioles to five games in the American League East. The Orioles have lost three out of four, but still hold a narrow margin for one of the two wild-card spots.
Eduardo Rodriguez picked up his first win since July 16 — a span of 11 starts — at the expense of his former team. He was charged with two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Mookie Betts continued to pound Orioles’ pitching and went 3-for-5 with two runs, while Jackie Bradley Jr. got his 26th homer.
Cubs 6, Reds 1
CHICAGO — Jon Lester claimed his National League-leading 18th victory as Chicago beat Cincinnati at Wrigley Field.
Lester (18-4) allowed one run on six hits while striking out five and walking none in a seven-inning outing.
His 18 wins are the most since going 19-9 with the Red Sox in 2009.
Anthony Rizzo was 2-for-5 with three RBIs, Kris Bryant added three hits and Dexter Fowler reached base four times as the Cubs mounted a 11-hit attack.
Tigers 8, Twins 1
MINNEAPOLIS — Miguel Cabrera hit his 442nd career home run, and added a bit of drama with his legs, to back Matt Boyd’s career-high eight innings as Detroit beat Minnesota at Target Field.
Boyd (6-4) bounced back from a disappointing loss at home to Minnesota last week by giving up three hits and one walk. He tied a career high with seven strikeouts.
Cabrera’s 34th homer of the season was a two-run liner to left in the seventh inning to tie him with Dave Kingman for 41st in major league history. He also passed Joe DiMaggio for 48th all-time with 1,538 RBIs.
Yankees 5, Rays 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Gary Sanchez belted a three-run homer in a four-run seventh inning as New York rallied past Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field.
Sanchez’s 17 home runs are the most by a Yankees rookie since Alfonso Soriano in 2001. They’re also tied for the most home runs in a player’s first 44 career games in the last century, equaling the Boston Braves’ Wally Berger in 1930. He’s hit home runs in three straight games and has six in his last 11 contests.
New York bounced back from a four-game sweep against Boston that had them losing seven of eight games. Tampa Bay had won four of six coming in with two victories apiece over American League East contenders Toronto and Baltimore.
Marlins 1, Nationals 0
MIAMI — Jose Fernandez pitched eight scoreless innings, and Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run as Miami defeated Washington at Marlins Park.
The Nationals, till comfortably ahead in the NL East, lost four games in a row. The Marlins have been projected to have less than a one percent chance to make the playoffs as an NL wild-card team. They won three games in a row.
Fernandez struck out 12 and allowed just three hits and no walks. It was his ninth double-figure strikeout game of the season, and he retired 21 consecutive batters before running into trouble in the eighth.
Indians 2, Royals 1
CLEVELAND — Brandon Guyer’s pinch-hit double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Cleveland a victory over Kansas City at Progressive Field.
Andrew Miller pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to get the win. Brian Flynn took the loss.
The win reduced the Indians’ magic number for winning the AL Central Division to six games.
Phillies 7, White Sox 6
PHILADELPHIA — Odubel Herrera continued his stellar week as he went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, two stolen bases and three RBIs to power Philadelphia over Chicago at Citizens Bank Park.
Over his last seven games, Herrera is 15-for-28 with two home runs, four doubles and six RBIs.
Tommy Joseph went 2-for-3 with an RBI double as the Phillies’ 2-3-4 hitters went a combined 7-for-11 with five runs scored and six RBIs.
