Orioles thrash Astros

NEW YORK — The Baltimore Orioles erupted for six home runs, including two apiece by J.J. Hardy and Chris Davis, in a 13-5 victory over the Houston Astros in the opener of a four game series Thursday. Mark Trumbo regained the major league lead with his career-high 35th homer, while Manny Machado got his 27th of the season. Baltimore moved into a second-place tie with the Boston Red Sox and trails the Toronto Blue Jays by 1-1/2 games in the American League East. Houston has lost five in a row. The Orioles’ Kevin Gausman (4-10) allowed five runs (four earned) and seven hits with eight strikeouts over 6-2/3 innings to pick up the win. Indians 5, White Sox 4 Tyler Naquin’s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning drove in the winning run as Cleveland beat Chicago as Andrew Miller (7-1) pitched a scoreless top of the frame to get the win. Indians starter Danny Salazar came off the disabled list to make his first appearance since Aug. 1 and was removed from the game after a 34-pitch, three-walk, three-run first inning. Phillies 5, Dodgers 4 Maikel Franco hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning as Philadelphia beat Los Angeles. Ryan Howard added a solo homer for the Phillies, who salvaged the finale of a three-game series while winning for the fifth time in seven games. Cubs 9, Brewers 6 Kris Bryant went 5-for-5 with two home runs while right-hander Jake Arrieta picked up his 15th win as Chicago completed a four-game sweep of Milwaukee. Bryant, who also scored four times and collected five RBIs, has 30 home runs to tie Colorado’s Nolan Arenado for the National League lead. Tigers 4, Red Sox 3 Andrew Romine walked with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth inning to force home the winning run in Detroit’s victory over Boston. It was the Tigers’ first victory following three straight losses and the first time the Red Sox had tasted defeat in seven games. Reds 5, Marlins 4 Ramon Cabrera hit his second career home run and right-hander Dan Straily outpitched Jose Fernandez as Cincinnati held on to defeat Miami. Fernandez (12-7) eclipsed the 200-strikeout mark in the second inning but not much else went right for the Marlins’ ace, who lasted only four innings. Straily (9-6) allowed two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter. Royals 8, Twins 1 Dillon Gee pitched a season-high seven innings and hot-hitting Alex Gordon belted a grand slam as Kansas City won its fifth straight game. Gee (5-6) gave up one run on five hits while matching a career high with seven strikeouts and claiming his first victory as a starter since May 31. Nationals 8, Braves 2 Rookie right-hander Reynaldo Lopez struck out 11 over seven innings as Washington routed Atlanta, improving to 9-1 against the Braves this year. Lopez (2-1) has recorded both of his major league wins against the Braves. In other games it was: Angels 6, Mariners 4; Giants 10, Mets 7; Padres 9, Diamondbacks 8.