MLB RECAPS

MLB Recaps: McCutchen’s 8 RBIs leads Pirates to win

The Sports Xchange

September 26, 2017 at 10:20 pm.

Sep 26, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA;  Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) reacts as he circles the bases after hitting a grand-slam home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the second inning at PNC Park. The grand-slam was the first of McCutchen's career. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 26, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) reacts as he circles the bases after hitting a grand-slam home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the second inning at PNC Park. The grand-slam was the first of McCutchen’s career. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen recorded a career-high eight RBIs, including a grand slam and a three-run homer, to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

In the second inning, McCutchen cracked his first career grand slam over the center-field wall to give Pittsburgh a 6-0 lead. His second home run made it 10-1 in the sixth.

McCutchen was taken out of the game at the start of the seventh inning, allowing the crowd to give him a standing ovation. He also had a double and a single to go 4-for-4 while becoming the first Pirate to have eight RBIs in a game since Jason Bay on July 2, 2004.

Trevor Williams (7-9) allowed one run and three hits with six strikeouts through six innings. Steven Brault blanked Baltimore for the final three innings, earning his first major league save.

Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 4

BOSTON — Chris Sale was hammered for four home runs in five innings, and Toronto played the role of spoiler for a second straight night by beating Boston.

Josh Donaldson hit two solo homers, Teoscar Hernandez delivered one, and Kendrys Morales belted a two-run shot off Sale (17-8). The left-hander came in 3-0 with 22 scoreless innings against the Blue Jays this season.

Hernandez added a three-run homer in the eighth inning, and J.A. Happ (10-11) pitched seven strong frames to keep the Red Sox from moving closer to their second straight American League East title. Boston leads the New York Yankees by three games with five to play.

Yankees 6, Rays 1

NEW YORK — Jordan Montgomery survived an eventful first inning and pitched six effective innings as New York clinched at least home-field advantage in next week’s wild-card game with a victory over Tampa Bay.

Aaron Hicks returned from a second disabled list stint because of an oblique injury and had an eventful start. He helped Montgomery (9-7) by leaping in front of the 385-foot sign to rob Wilson Ramos of a grand slam.

Hicks also drew three walks and lost his belt after stealing second base, but was lifted from the game after striking out in the sixth. Montgomery settled down and allowed one run on six hits. He struck out five and walked one in a 79-pitch outing.

Phillies 4, Nationals 1

PHILADELPHIA — Jake Thompson allowed one run in five-plus innings as Philadelphia spoiled the return of Bryce Harper in its victory over Washington.

Thompson (3-2) hit Anthony Rendon with a pitch to start the sixth inning and was removed after allowing one run and four hits with five strikeouts. He exited with a 3-1 lead thanks to a three-run third inning that featured a two-run double by Cameron Rupp.

Harper, who played for the first time since Aug. 12 (left leg injuries), batted three times and was removed after his fifth-inning pop out in the top of the fifth. The slugger finished 0-for-2 with a walk.

Mets 4, Braves 3

NEW YORK — Travis Taijeron’s RBI single with one out in the ninth inning capped a comeback that gave New York a victory over Atlanta.

Kevin Plawecki, whose two-run homer in the seventh pulled the Mets within 3-2, led off the ninth with a single off A.J. Minter (0-1). Dominic Smith then drew a walk before Minter struck out Amed Rosario. Taijeron followed with a line drive over the head of left fielder Jace Peterson as pinch runner Juan Lagares raced home.

Jeurys Familia (2-2) picked up the win with a one-hit ninth.

Twins 8, Indians 6

CLEVELAND — Brian Dozier’s three-run homer in the eighth inning lifted Minnesota to its fifth straight victory and to the brink of a playoff berth.

The Twins, whose magic number to clinch the second AL wild-card spot was reduced to one, pounded out 17 hits and used a club-record 10 pitchers in the game that saw starter Bartolo Colon leave after one inning because of illness.

Taylor Rogers (7-3), the eighth Minnesota pitcher, got the last two outs of the seventh inning for the win. Matt Belisle pitched the ninth for his eighth save.

Royals 2, Tigers 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jason Vargas claimed his 18th victory, and Whit Merrifield scored a run and drove in a run as Kansas City defeated Detroit.

Vargas (18-10) picked up his first win over the Tigers since June 16, 2014. He surrendered one run on five hits over six innings, throwing 54 strikes in 82 pitches. He walked one and struck out three.

Vargas matched Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians for the most victories in the American League. His 18 wins are the most by a Royals pitcher since 1993 when Kevin Appier won 18.

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