WASHINGTON — Arizona center fielder A.J. Pollock had three hits, including a homer, scored three runs and drove in two as the Diamondbacks beat the Nationals in the first game of a three-game series Friday at Nationals Park.
Pollock homered in the second inning and tripled in a run and scored in a two-run sixth inning when the Diamondbacks took the lead for good. At 18-7, they have tied their best start in franchise history, set in 2008.
Daniel Descalso singled, walked, had two RBIs and scored a run for Arizona, which has won its first eight series, the first NL team to do that since the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers. Seattle won its first nine in 2001.
Howie Kendrick had three hits, including a homer, and Trea Turner and Matt Adams had two hits apiece for the Nationals, who have lost five of six. They had 11 hits but left 10 on base.
Giants 6, Dodgers 4: Reliever Pedro Baez balked in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Joe Panik followed with a sacrifice fly that capped a four-run rally, lifting San Francisco over Los Angeles in the opener of a four-game series in San Francisco.
After Los Angeles had scored four times and knocked out Giants starter Derek Holland in the fourth inning, San Francisco tied the game against the Dodgers’ bullpen in the seventh. With runners on second and third, Baez entered the game but stumbled on the mound as he prepared to pitch to Panik, producing a balk that sent Hernandez home with the go-ahead run.
Tony Watson pitched a scoreless eighth for the Giants, stranding the potential tying runs on base, before Hunter Strickland retired the Dodgers 1-2-3 in the ninth, striking out a pair, for his sixth save. In all, five Giants relievers combined to shut out the Dodgers over the final 5 2/3 innings despite allowing four hits and three walks.
Yankees 4, Angels 3 (10 innings): Didi Gregorius’ home run in the top of the 10th inning lifted New York over Los Angeles at Angel Stadium.
Indians 6, Mets 5: Corey Kluber struck out 10 and came within an out of a complete game as Cleveland hit three of their five homers in the bottom of the first inning and held on for a narrow victory over Seattle.
Kluber (4-1) allowed three runs and four hits but carved up Seattle’s lineup by ending at-bats quickly and efficiently. He recorded his 41st career double-digit strikeout game and second this season and narrowly missed his 17th career complete game.
The right-hander threw 79 of 116 pitches for strikes and held Seattle’s left-handed hitters to one hit in 13 at-bats before Kyle Seager singled with two outs in the ninth. He recorded eight strikeouts on three pitches while throwing first-pitch strikes to 21 hitters.
Mets 5, Padres 1: Jacob deGrom did not allow a run in 7 1/3 innings, and Asdrubal Cabrera had a hand in each of the Mets’ first four runs as New York beat San Diego to snap a two-game losing streak.
Rangers 6, Blue Jays 4: Joey Gallo hit a two-run homer, Nomar Mazara and Ronald Guzman added two-run singles and visiting Texas defeated Toronto.
A’s 8, Astros 1: Sean Manaea allowed an unearned run on four hits over seven innings of work and Matt Chapman, Chad Pinder and Mark Canha each hit home runs as Oakland rolled over Houston at Minute Maid Park.
Pirates 6, Cardinals 5 (11 innings): Starling Marte hit a two-out RBI single in the 11th inning as Pittsburgh erased a five-run deficit Friday to beat visiting St. Louis.
Rays 4, Red Sox 3: Wilson Ramos slugged a two-run homer and both Rob Refsnyder and Daniel Robertson clubbed solo shots as visiting Tampa Bay beat Boston at Fenway Park for its seventh straight victory.
White Sox 7, Royals 4 (11 innings): Matt Davidson continued his mastery of Kansas City by hitting two homers, including the tie-breaking two-run blast in the top of the 11th inning, as Chicago picked up a road win at Kauffman Stadium.
Reds 15, Twins 9: Jose Peraza belted two home runs and Joey Votto homered for the fourth straight game and reached base all six times he came to plate as visiting Cincinnati exploded for 20 hits — eight of them in a six-run fifth inning — in sending reeling Minnesota to its eighth straight loss.
Phillies 7, Braves 3: Center fielder Odubel Herrera hit a pair of home runs to support a solid effort from starting pitcher Aaron Nola as Philadelphia beat Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park.
Rockies 1, Marlins 0: Relief pitcher Antonio Senzatela earned the win and smacked an RBI double to lead Colorado to victory over Miami at Marlins Park.
Orioles 6, Tigers 0: Pedro Alvarez hit two home runs, Manny Machado added another and Chris Tillman allowed just one hit in seven shutout innings as Baltimore defeated Detroit, ending a five-game losing streak.
Cubs 3, Brewers 2: Addison Russell led off the seventh inning with an infield hit and came around to score the eventual game-winning run on a two-out error, helping Chicago turn back Brewers in Chicago in the afternoon at Wrigley Field. — Reuters
