Nationals thrash Pirates

WASHINGTON — Stephen Strasburg remained unbeaten and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1, thanks to several defense breakdowns by the visitors in the key inning. Strasburg (13-0), who gave up one run and three hits with six strikeouts in eight innings, plated the winning run in the four-run seventh on a strange play. With runners on first and third and no outs, Strasburg laid down a nice bunt up the first-base line.Reliever Neftali Feliz picked up the ball and looked home before throwing to first. Danny Espinosa, who led off with a walk and was on third, took off for home and scored while Strasburg reached first. The pitcher was credited with an RBI sacrifice when first baseman David Freese, who was credited with an error, did not touch the bag while his throw to home was too late to retire Espinosa. Cubs 6, Rangers 0 Kyle Hendricks allowed just three hits over six strong innings while the Chicago Cubs’ bats contributed with a five-run sixth in a 6-0 victory over the Texas Rangers. Hendricks (8-6) struck out three and walked two while throwing 87 pitches. Martin Perez (7-6) lost his second consecutive start and was chased with two outs in the sixth inning after giving up four earned runs. Red Sox 5, Yankees 3: Steven Wright retired the first 14 hitters he faced as the Boston Red Sox began the second half with a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees. Ryan Hanigan, Travis Shaw and Xander Bogaerts homered off Yankees starter Michael Pineda for the Red Sox (50-38), who won for the eighth time in 10 games. Carlos Beltran drove in two runs and Brian McCann had the other RBI for the Yankees (44-45), who fell 8-1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles. Mets 5, Phillies 3: Neil Walker hit a three-run homer and Juan Lagares added a solo shot as the New York Mets opened the second half of their season with a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Asdrubel Cabrera went 3-for-5 and Bartolo Colon (8-4) picked up his fifth victory in his last six decisions, helping the Mets snap a three-game losing streak. Jeurys Familia, the last of five New York pitchers, worked a perfect ninth to post his 32nd save. Colon worked 5-2/3 innings and allowed three unearned runs and four hits while striking out four and walking two. Orioles 4, Rays 3: Jonathan Schoop’s solo homer in the eighth inning was the deciding run as the Baltimore Orioles came out of the All-Star break with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles (52-36) have won five of six games, overcoming a rough start from Yovani Gallardo. The Rays (34-55) have lost seven straight and a franchise-record 23 of their last 26. Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer (4-13) leads the majors with 13 losses. Tigers 4, Royals 2: Justin Verlander tied his season high with 10 strikeouts and Victor Martinez knocked in the go-ahead runs with a rare infield hit as the Detroit Tigers downed the Kansas City Royals. Verlander (9-6) reached the 10-strikeout mark for the fourth time this season while holding the Royals to two runs — one earned — and four hits in seven innings. Francisco Rodriguez notched his 25th save. Ian Kinsler and Tyler Collins, who was recalled from Triple-A Toledo earlier in the day, had solo home runs for the Tigers. Reds 5, Brewers 4: Tucker Barnhart cued a go-ahead, two-run double down the left field line as the Cincinnati Reds snapped a three-game losing streak, holding on for a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Reds All-Star Adam Duvall just missed hitting a three-run homer, settling for a run-scoring double that helped set up Barnhart’s sixth-inning hit. Jay Bruce added an RBI double in the seventh to help Anthony DeSclafani (4-0) overcome Jonathan Villar’s run-scoring single and a Scooter Gennett solo home run. Rockies 11, Braves 2: Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez celebrated his 1,000th game with three hits and an RBI to spark the Colorado Rockies to an 11-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with a walk, scored a run, drove in a run and threw out a runner at the plate. Other results: Indians 5, Twins 2; Marlins 7, Cardinals 6; Dodgers 13, Diamondbacks 7; Angels 7, White Sox 0; Astros 7, Mariners 3; Padres 4, Giants 1; Athletics 8, Blue Jays 7.