WASHINGTON — Stephen Strasburg did not allow a hit or run in 6 2/3 innings and Danny Espinosa had four hits, including two homers, and six RBIs as the first-place Washington Nationals slugged a season-high six homers to crush the last-place Cincinnati Reds 12-1 Sunday.
Strasburg, who came off the disabled list before the game, had not allowed a hit when manager Dusty Baker pulled him after throwing 109 pitches with two outs into the seventh and a runner on third. Blake Treinen came on to pitch with the score 9-0 and retired Billy Hamilton on a grounder to end the inning.
Strasburg (11-0, 2.71 ERA), who struck out five and walked four, is the last qualifying starter in the majors who does not have a loss. He has won 14 games in a row dating back to last year and is the first National League starter to begin the year 11-0 since Andy Hawkins of the San Diego Padres in 1985.
Mets 14, Cubs 3: Wilmer Flores tied a franchise record with six hits and his homer leading off the second inning launched a seven-run outburst that lifted New York over Chicago and a sweep of the four-game series.
Flores had an RBI single later in the second, a single in the fourth, a two-run homer in the fifth and singles in the seventh and eighth. The second six-hit game in franchise history — Edgardo Alfonzo achieved the feat on Aug. 30, 1999 — raised Flores' average from .224 to .255.
The Mets outscored the Cubs 32-11 in a rematch of last year's National League Championship Series, which New York also swept in four games.
Blue Jays 17, Indians 1: Russell Martin had five RBIs, Troy Tulowitzki added four RBIs, left-hander J.A. Happ struck out a season-best 11 in seven innings and Toronto defeated Cleveland .
Tigers 5, Rays 1: Ian Kinsler started a rally with a double and scored the tying run in the eighth, then capped a four-game sweep with his 200th career home run in the ninth as Detroit beat Tampa Bay.
Phillies 7, Royals 2: Philadelphia wasted little time jumping on Kansas City starting pitcher Yordano Ventura en route to a win that was highlighted by a three-run homer from Cameron Rupp in the first inning.
White Sox 4, Astros 1: Jose Quintana dazzled for seven innings and Chicago won its fourth consecutive series by claiming the rubber match against Houston.
Red Sox 10, Angels 5: Sean O'Sullivan turned in a much-needed strong start and Boston used a seven-run fifth inning to beat Los Angeles.
Twins 5, Rangers 4: Minnesota got to one of the best pitchers in the American League and then hung on late to beat Texas to take the rubber match of the three-game series.
Dodgers 4, Rockies 1: Right-hander Brandon McCarthy pitched five shutout innings in his first appearance in 14 months to lead Los Angeles over Colorado at Dodger Stadium.
Mariners 9, Orioles 4: Another home run from left fielder Seth Smith helped Seattle sweep Baltimore at Safeco Field.
Pirates 6, A's 3: Left-hander Francisco Liriano gave up three runs over five innings and ended his five-game losing streak as Pittsburgh rallied for the third straight game to defeat Oakland and complete a series sweep at the Oakland Coliseum.
Giants 5, Diamondbacks 4: Ramiro Pena's pinch-hit double drove in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning, and San Francisco continued its roll through the National League West with a victory over Arizona at Chase Field.
Yankees 6, Padres 3: Mark Teixeira drove in three runs with a pair of homers after Didi Gregorius hit a solo homer and New York defeated San Diego at Petco Park to prevent a three-game sweep.
Brewers 9, Cardinals 8: Stephen Piscotty's two-out grand slam in the bottom of the sixth led St. Louis to a three-game sweep of Milwaukee at Busch Stadium.
Marlins 5, Braves 2: Adam Conley pitched six shutout innings, and Miami perked up on offense to defeat Atlanta in an historic event on the Army base at Fort Bragg.
