MLB Capsules: John Lackey fans 10 as Chicago Cubs get doubleheader split with Colorado Rockies
DENVER – John Lackey struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings and added an RBI single, helping the Chicago Cubs stop a four-game skid by beating the Colorado Rockies 8-1 on Tuesday for a day-night doubleheader split.
Chicago gave Lackey plenty of cushion with a five-run second inning. Javier Baez added a two-run homer in the eighth and Kris Bryant a solo shot in the ninth.
Lackey (3-3) allowed just four singles, a sharp contrast to his previous start at Coors Field, when he surrendered 10 runs on June 8, 2015.
In the first game, the Rockies cruised past Jake Arrieta in a 10-4 win.
Kyle Freeland (3-2) had one bad stretch in the nightcap. He allowed five runs, three earned, and four hits – all in a second inning that was compounded by two errors. The rookie left-hander finished with four walks and six strikeouts over six innings.
The Cubs figure to sleep well after another exhausting night. They arrived in Denver early Monday after an 18-inning loss to the New York Yankees that lasted 6 hours, 5 minutes. A rainout Monday gave them a brief break, but meant playing two on Tuesday.
Jeimer Candelario was called up from Triple-A Iowa to serve as the 26th player for the second game. He ignited the second by starting the inning off with a sharp single. In all, the Cubs sent 11 batters to the plate and took advantage of errors by shortstop Trevor Story and second baseman DJ LeMahieu. Freeland didn’t help his cause by walking three, including Candelario with two outs and the bases loaded.
Candelario also made a nifty backhanded play at third in the fourth to prevent a run. He’s definitely caught the attention of manager Joe Maddon, especially his .340 average with Iowa.
“He’s tearing up Triple-A. That’s what you have to do to be a big leaguer,” Maddon said. “He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.”
METS 6, GIANTS 1
NEW YORK – Zack Wheeler pitched two-hit ball against the team that traded him, Michael Conforto homered and the New York Mets scored four times in the first inning on the way to a victory over the staggering San Francisco Giants.
Hours after Matt Harvey returned from his three-day suspension with a string of contrite apologies, the banged-up Mets began moving on from their latest commotion. Despite all the injuries and turmoil, New York (16-16) has righted itself on the field by winning eight of 11 following a six-game slide.
Jeff Samardzija (0-5) and the Giants, outhit 13-2, are headed in the opposite direction after their fifth consecutive defeat and eighth in 10 games. San Francisco, with three World Series titles and four playoff appearances since 2010, had the majors’ worst record at 11-23.
The team got more bad news moments before the first pitch when All-Star closer Mark Melancon was put on the disabled list – though it’s not as if he has had many ninth-inning leads to protect.
Wheeler (2-2) went six innings in his best start since missing two seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
ORIOLES 5, NATIONALS 4 (12)
BALTIMORE – Mark Trumbo singled in the tiebreaking run in the 12th inning, and the Orioles extended their season-best winning streak to six games.
Baltimore rallied from a late three-run deficit to complete a two-game sweep of its neighbor. The interleague series shifts to Washington for two games on Wednesday and Thursday.
Singles by Adam Jones and Manny Machado, along with an intentional walk to Chris Davis, loaded the bases for Trumbo against Jacob Turner (1-1). Trumbo hit the first pitch to left field, ending the game just seven minutes short of four hours.
Logan Verrett (2-0) pitched three shutout innings for the Orioles, who improved to 22-10, including 13-3 at home.
REDS 5, YANKEES 3
CINCINNATI – Joey Votto singled with the bases loaded during the latest big inning off CC Sabathia, and the Reds stopped the Yankees’ six-game win streak.
Sabathia (2-2) struggled for the fourth consecutive start, unable to get his fastball in the right spots until Cincinnati was in control. The Reds piled up six singles – most of them grounders through the infield – while scoring five runs in the second inning.
Sabathia gave up seven hits and five runs in six innings. His ERA has risen from 2.25 to 5.77 over his last four starts.
Tim Adleman (2-1), who was born in Staten Island, gave up three runs in five innings against the AL’s top offense, including solo homers by Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius. Raisel Iglesias pitched the last two innings for his sixth save in six chances.
INDIANS 6, BLUE JAYS 0
TORONTO – Carlos Carrasco and two Cleveland relievers combined on a four-hitter, and Yan Gomes hit a three-run homer.
Lonnie Chisenhall reached base three times for the Indians, who scored more than three runs for the first time since a 12-4 win over Seattle on April 30.
Carrasco (4-2) pitched seven innings to remain unbeaten on the road. The right-hander is 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA in four road starts this season.
Andrew Miller worked the eighth and Nick Goody finished up.
Blue Jays designated hitter Kendrys Morales was pulled in the seventh inning because of tightness in his left hamstring. He grounded out twice before leaving.
Called up from Triple-A Buffalo to make his season debut, Blue Jays right-hander Mike Bolsinger (0-1) allowed two runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings.
ROYALS 7, RAYS 6 (12)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Mike Moustakas homered in the 12th inning, helping the Royals to the road win.
Moustakas connected against Diego Moreno (0-1), the eighth Tampa Bay pitcher, on a 1-2 pitch with one out. Moreno was promoted from Triple-A Durham before the game.
Kansas City right-hander Jakob Junis (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Omaha, worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the 11th. Kelvin Herrera got three outs for his fifth save.
Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer for the Royals. The All-Star catcher went 3 for 4 and walked twice.
RANGERS 11, PADRES 0
SAN DIEGO – Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin dominated his hometown Padres with a four-hitter for his second career shutout.
Joey Gallo, Ryan Rua and Robinson Chirinos homered for Texas, which scored two more runs than in its previous four games combined. Gallo and Rua each drove in three runs.
After splitting a two-game series, the teams head to Arlington for two more.
All four hits off Griffin (4-0) were singles, and the Padres got only one runner as far as third base.
San Diego right-hander Jered Weaver lasted only three innings, allowing seven runs and six hits.
CARDINALS 6, MARLINS 5
MIAMI – Pinch hitter Dexter Fowler singled home the tiebreaking run with one out in the ninth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied from a late four-run deficit for their fifth consecutive victory by beating the Miami Marlins.
The game was tied when Magneuris Sierra reached on an infield single with one out in the ninth and continued to second on an errant throw to first by A.J. Ramos (1-2). Fowler, held out of the starting lineup for the previous five games because of a sore shoulder, followed with a sharp single to right field, and the speedy Sierra slid home ahead of Giancarlo Stanton’s throw.
St. Louis overcame a 5-1 deficit with four runs against Kyle Barraclough in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Matt Adams had an RBI single, and Jedd Gyorko’s two-run single off Brad Ziegler tied the game.
Trevor Rosenthal (1-1) pitched around a leadoff walk in the eighth. Seung Hwan Oh pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save.
BREWERS 11, RED SOX 7
MILWAUKEE – Eric Thames hit his 13th homer of the year in a five-run first inning, Keon Broxton drove in four runs and finished a double short of the cycle, and the Milwaukee Brewers outslugged the Boston Red Sox.
The Brewers overcame a big night by Boston’s Mookie Betts, who went 4 for 4, drove in four runs and finished a triple short of the cycle.
But the Red Sox had to play catch-up after the Brewers’ first inning highlighted by two-run shots from Thames and Broxton off Drew Pomeranz (3-2).
Thames, the bearded slugger, has gone deep in two straight games after nine in a row without a homer. He had two of Milwaukee’s 13 hits.
Betts led Boston’s 12-hit attack with a leadoff homer in the first and a two-run double in the eighth that cut the deficit to four.
ASTROS 8, BRAVES 3
HOUSTON – Carlos Correa and Carlos Beltran hit consecutive homers off Bartolo Colon during a five-run first inning and the Houston Astros cruised to a win over the Atlanta Braves.
Houston led 4-0 after Correa launched a three-run shot with no outs. Beltran followed his third homer this season.
Josh Reddick also homered for Houston, connecting on his 100th career home run with a solo shot in the fifth.
Houston starter Charlie Morton (4-2) allowed three runs – one earned – in 5 2/3 innings for his third straight win.
Colon (1-4) gave up eight runs and three homers, both season highs, in 5 2/3 innings. His ERA ballooned to 7.22.
TWINS 7, WHITE SOX 2
CHICAGO – Hector Santiago beat his former team once again, Byron Buxton had three hits and the Minnesota Twins rolled over the Chicago White Sox 7-2 on Tuesday night.
Santiago (4-1) allowed two runs, three hits and five walks over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six and dropped his ERA to 2.76. The left-hander is 5-1 with a 1.59 ERA against the White Sox, who drafted him in the 30th round in 2006 and traded him in 2013 to the Los Angeles Angels.
Chicago scored twice in the third inning but did not have another hit until two outs in the ninth. Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers closed out Minnesota’s four-hitter.
Kennys Vargas hit a two-run shot off Mike Pelfrey (0-3) in the fourth inning.
TIGERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 3
PHOENIX – Justin Upton and James McCann homered, Mikie Mahtook singled in two runs and the Detroit Tigers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks to open a two-game series.
Justin Verlander (3-2) went six innings plus two batters to get his second straight win. He gave up three runs, seven hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
Robbie Ray (2-3) lost his third straight start. The left-hander allowed five runs, five hits and five walks in five innings. He struck out eight.
Although it wasn’t a save situation, new closer Justin Wilson pitched a perfect ninth for the Tigers. Manager Brad Ausmus announced before the game that Wilson would take over closing duties from Francisco Rodriguez after a pair of blown saves over the weekend in Oakland.
ANGELS 7, ATHLETICS 3
OAKLAND, Calif. – Yunel Escobar hit a three-run homer and had four RBIs, Albert Pujols and Ben Revere added solo shots and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Oakland Athletics.
Yonder Alonso homered twice for Oakland, raising his career-best total to 11 with his second career two-homer game – four days after his first.
Pujols homered in the first only to see Alonso answer with a two-run drive in the bottom half. Then the Angels hit two more in the second as the first seven runs all scores on long balls.
Escobar added an RBI groundout in the fourth and Cliff Pennington singled in a run to back Alex Meyer (1-1), who earned his first career road victory.
The A’s didn’t have that late-game magic on this night as Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant watched from behind home plate. Oakland had won its previous three games with walkoffs.