MLB RECAPS

MLB Recaps: Quintana outstanding in Cubs debut

The Sports Xchange

July 16, 2017 at 7:27 pm.

Jul 16, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Jose Quintana (62) throws the ball in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Photo Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 16, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Jose Quintana (62) throws the ball in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Photo Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

BALTIMORE — Jose Quintana made a sensational debut for the Chicago Cubs, who beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-0 on Sunday to open the second half of the season with a three-game sweep.

Quintana, acquired Thursday in a blockbuster trade with the crosstown White Sox for four minor league prospects, dazzled the Orioles over seven scoreless innings, striking out 12 and allowing just three hits in the process.

Catcher Willson Contreras, batting cleanup, recorded the first four-hit game of his career, while Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant each homered for the defending World Series champions.

The Cubs climbed back over .500 at 46-45 and pulled within 4 1/2 games of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago scored 27 runs and hit 10 home runs in the series.

Dodgers 3, Marlins 2

MIAMI — Justin Turner, who is hitting .374, homered and drove in two runs to lead Los Angeles.

The Dodgers (64-29), who have the best record in the majors, have won 29 of their past 33 games, including nine in a row. They swept this three-game series against the Marlins.

Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill (6-4) allowed five hits, no walks and one run in five innings. Kenley Jansen earned a four-out save. It was his 23rd consecutive save this season, and he has pitched scoreless ball in 20 of his past 21 appearances.

Phillies 5, Brewers 2

MILWAUKEE — Jeremy Hellickson struck out six and Nick Williams hit his first career grand slam as Philadelphia avoided getting swept.

Hellickson (6-5) held Milwaukee to two runs, four hits and a walk in five innings, posting his first victory since May 19.

The Phillies’ bullpen worked four scoreless innings, including another scoreless effort from Pat Neshek, who has held opponents without an earned run in 39 of his 40 outings this season, including his last five in a row.

Brewers starter Matt Garza worked five innings and held the Phillies to a run and three hits with three walks and a strikeout.

Tigers 6, Blue Jays 5 (11 innings)

DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the 11th inning, giving Detroit the victory over Toronto.

Lucas Harrell’s 3-2 pitch was wide, allowing Alex Avila to score. Avila drew a leadoff walk in the frame against Jeff Beliveau (1-1). An error by third baseman Josh Donaldson extended the inning, making the run unearned.

Warwick Saupold (2-1) picked up the win with an inning of scoreless relief for Detroit. J.D. Martinez, who drove in two runs, tied the game with a solo homer in the eighth.

Justin Smoak and Jose Bautista hit two-run homers and Kendrys Morales added a solo shot for Toronto.

Astros 5, Twins 3

HOUSTON — Mike Fiers surrendered a pair of solo home runs but was otherwise marvelous over seven innings, allowing four hits while recording a season-high 11 strikeouts for Houston in its win.

Norichika Aoki had two hits and two RBIs for the Astros, who offset solo homers by Minnesota’s Kennys Vargas and Ehire Adrianza, who had two of Minnesota’s five hits.

Nationals 14, Reds 4

CINCINNATI — Daniel Murphy homered twice and had five RBIs, Adam Lind and Jose Lobaton hit two-run homers, and Anthony Rendon added a solo shot, lifting Washington past Cincinnati.

Washington scored more than 10 runs for the 17th time this season to maintain its 9 1/2-game lead in the National League East over second-place Atlanta.

Rendon, who had two home runs, including a grand slam and six RBIs on Saturday, hit his 19th home run in the seventh inning Sunday.

Tanner Roark (7-6) allowed three unearned runs and only four hits over six innings to snap a personal four-game losing streak.

Pirates 4, Cardinals 3

PITTSBURGH — Adam Frazier’s first career walk-off hit lifted Pittsburgh to a win over St. Louis.

Trailing 3-2, Pittsburgh scored twice in the ninth on an RBI double by Jordy Mercer and Frazier’s RBI single, both against reliever Brett Cecil (1-3).

Magneuris Sierra was 4-for-4 with an RBI for St. Louis.

Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez made his 13th quality start, allowing two runs and five hits in seven innings.

Rockies 13, Mets 4

NEW YORK — DJ LeMahieu and Mark Reynolds each collected four hits and three runs as Colorado routed New York.

The Rockies were outscored 23-5 in losing the first two games of the series before salvaging the finale.

Charlie Blackmon had two hits, including a two-run homer in the seventh, for the Rockies.

Rookie right-hander Jeff Hoffman (6-1) posted the win in his first career start in his home state.

Left-hander Steven Matz (2-3) took the loss in the worst start of his career. Matz gave up seven runs, nine hits and one walk while striking out two in one-plus inning.

Braves 7, Diamondbacks 1

ATLANTA — Atlanta, swept by Arizona in a three-game home series last year, got payback by completing a sweep of the slumping Diamondbacks, who lost their fifth straight game.

Matt Kemp and Matt Adams homered, Brandon Phillips had three doubles and the Braves won as left-hander Jaime Garcia ended his four-game losing streak.

The Braves have won 16 of their last 24 games to get to .500 after April for the first time since July 7, 2015.

Arizona has lost 10 of its last 13 games.

Yankees 3, Red Sox 0 (Game 1)

BOSTON — Didi Gregorius hit a solo home run, CC Sabathia pitched six scoreless innings and New York beat Boston in the first game of a doubleheader.

Ji-Man Choi and Ronald Torreyes drove in one run apiece as New York (47-42) won its second straight after Saturday’s 4-1 win in 16 innings.

Sabathia (8-3) allowed two hits and issued a season-high five walks. He struck out three to move within seven of Cy Young’s 2,799 for 20th place on MLB’s career strikeouts list. Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save of the season.

Mariners 7, White Sox 6 (10 innings)

CHICAGO — Nelson Cruz homered in the 10th inning and Seattle completed its first sweep in Chicago since 2003.

Cruz homered for the second straight game and the fifth time in eight games. Danny Valencia and Kyle Seager also hit home runs for the Mariners, who extended their winning streak to four.

Cruz’s homer came off Chris Beck (1-1).

Avisail Garcia smacked two home runs for the White Sox, who relinquished a five-run lead.

Royals 4, Rangers 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lorenzo Cain’s sun-aided single drove in the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning as Kansas City Royals topped Texas.

Rangers right-fielder Shin-Soo Choo had trouble picking up Cain’s hit in the sun, although he was wearing sunglasses. The ball glanced off his glove near the right-field line as Alex Gordon scored the winning run.

Jason Grilli (2-5), who was making his third Rangers appearance since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays, took the loss. He retired only two of the six batters he faced.

Athletics 7, Indians 3

OAKLAND, Calif. — Sean Manaea pitched seven strong innings, Jed Lowrie hit his 10th home run of the season and Oakland completed a three-game sweep of Cleveland.

Manaea (8-5) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings. He struck out eight, walked three and had his third straight quality start.

Ryon Healy, rookie Jacob Brugman and Matt Joyce each drove in two runs for Oakland.

Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer (7-8) gave up four runs and three hits in two-thirds of an inning, matching his shortest career start.

Padres 7, Giants 1

SAN DIEGO — Hector Sanchez and Cory Spangenberg hit three-run homers and right-handed starter Trevor Cahill allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings as San Diego beat San Francisco.

The Padres are 14-5 against the Giants since San Francisco won the first nine meetings between the National League West rivals to start the 2016 season.

Sanchez continued his personal assault on his original major league team with a three-run homer in the first — 12 1/2 hours after he defeated the Giants 5-3 with a two-run, walk-off homer in the ninth Saturday night.

Angels 4, Rays 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. – C.J. Cron hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to help Los Angeles salvage the last game of a series with Tampa Bay.

Cron’s homer off Adam Kolarek came in only his fifth at-bat since being recalled July 9. The win was just the third in nine games for the Angels.

Logan Morrison hit his 26th homer for Tampa Bay.