Aug 23, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova (46) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning at PNC Park. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
PITTSBURGH — Ivan Nova pitched a six-hit complete game, and Gregory Polanco homered twice and drove in three runs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Houston Astros 7-1 Tuesday.
After belting a home run to left field in the third inning, Polanco smashed his team-leading 19th off left-handed reliever Tony Sipp two innings later to give the Pirates a 6-0 lead through five.
It marked the second time this season and in his career Polanco hit two home runs in a game. He also hit two and finished with three RBI against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 4.
Nova (3-0) used 98 pitches to cruise through his fourth career complete game. He was only challenged by Marwin Gonzalez, who recorded three hits.
Blue Jays 7, Angels 2
TORONTO — Russell Martin had three hits and two RBIs, Michael Saunders homered, R.A. Dickey pitched into the seventh inning as Toronto defeated Los Angeles.
Saunders hit his 21st homer of the season in the eighth against A.J. Achter. Dickey (9-13) allowed six hits, two walks and two runs in 6 2/3 innings. The knuckleballer struck out two and allowed a home run in winning for the second time in his past seven starts.
Nick Buss hit his first major league home run for the Angels. The left fielder also had an infield single and a stolen base.
Reds 3, Rangers 0
CINCINNATI — Joey Votto continued his torrid pace, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Dan Straily tossed six shutout innings to reach 10 wins on the season, lifting Cincinnati past Texas.
Since the All-Star break, Votto is batting .455 with six homers and 32 RBIs.
Straily (10-6) yielded three hits and two walks while striking out five. He outdueled Derek Holland (5-6), who gave up one run on four hits in six innings.
Royals 1, Marlins 0
MIAMI — Lorenzo Cain’s sixth-inning RBI single broke up a scoreless duel as Kansas City topped Miami to win its ninth game in a row.
Paulo Orlando led off the sixth with a four-pitch walk. He stole second and scored when Cain drilled a 3-0 pitch to center.
Yordano Ventura (9-9) tossed six shutout innings, and Kelvin Herrera earned his eighth save. Miami starter Andrew Cashner (4-10) limited the Royals to one run on four hits in six innings.
Red Sox 2, Rays 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mookie Betts’ eighth-inning throw helped Boston beat Tampa Bay.
The Rays had a shot at the setting up the tying run with one out when Kevin Kiermaier ripped a shot down the right field line. As he tried to turn a double into a triple, Betts threw a strike to third base, where Travis Shaw applied the tag on a head-first slide. Instead of the tying run at third base, the Rays had two outs and no rally.
David Ortiz collected his 98th RBI with a third-inning single, and he scored in the inning on an error. Boston starter Clay Buchholz (5-9) threw 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball.
Orioles 8, Nationals 1
BALTIMORE — Kevin Gausman threw six scoreless innings, Adam Jones tied a career high with four hits, and Baltimore topped Washington.
Gausman (5-10) scattered six hits with two strikeouts and two walks to pick up his second consecutive win. Chris Davis hit his 30th home run for Baltimore, a solo shot in the ninth, and Matt Wieters contributed an RBI double and an RBI single.
Washington shortstop Trea Turner had a career-high four hits, but he was called out twice attempting to steal second. Bryce Harper also had a pair of singles for the Nationals, who have lost three in a row.
