44 Friday Sports Friday, June 29, 2018 Rangers’ Mike Minor flirts with major perfection in win over Padres Zach Elfin caps unbeaten June, leads Phillies past Yankees

ARLINGTON: Rangers left-hander Mike Minor retired the first 19 hitters he faced Wednesday and allowed no runs on one hit through seven innings, leading Texas to a 5-2 victory over the in the rubber match of a three-game series at Arlington, Texas. Eric Hosmer sharply grounded a single to center with one out in the seventh to end Minor’s bid for the sixth no-hitter and second perfect game in Rangers history. Kenny Rogers was perfect in Texas’ most recent no-hitter on July 28, 1994. Minor (6-4) had five and no walks, getting considerable help from his defense in his bid for his- tory. Keone Kela struck out two in a perfect ninth to pick up his 20th . Padres starter Clayton Richard (7-7) gave up four runs on 10 hits and a walk with three strikeouts in seven innings. The result snapped his personal four-decision winning streak.

ASTROS 7, BLUE JAYS 6 Alex Bregman crushed a walk-off, two-run home run to cap a five- ARLINGTON: Kazuhisa run comeback and send host Houston past Toronto. Bregman, who Makita #53 of the San recorded four extra-base hits in the Astros’ win on Tuesday, doubled Diego Padres throws twice before his 14th home run clinched the rubber match of the series against the Texas for Houston. Bregman smoked his dinger to left off Blue Jays closer Rangers in the eighth (5-3), plating Tony Kemp. The Blue Jays jumped out to a inning at Globe Life Park 5-0 lead in the first inning against Dallas Keuchel, who allowed six runs in Arlington on on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. Wednesday in Arlington, Texas. — AFP RED SOX 9, ANGELS 6 Rafael Devers knocked a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh inning and finished 3-for-4 to lead Boston past visiting Los Angeles. J.D. Martinez added a three-run blast for his major-league-leading 25th homer, Sandy Leon hit a two-run blast and had three RBIs, and Eduardo Nunez added a solo shot as Boston won for the fifth time in over host St. Louis. Rookie right-hander Shane Bieber (3-0) pitched of the game. He had the go-ahead hit in each of the previous two six games. Martin Maldonado slugged a three-run homer and Ian six strong innings and got his first major league hit. He gave up one games of the four-game series and has seven hits, including two Kinsler had a solo shot, but the Angels couldn’t avoid their season- run and six hits before exiting, striking out five and walking one. Jose homers, over the past three games. Bassitt (1-3) was recalled from high-tying fifth straight loss. Martinez had two hits and one RBI for St. Louis, which had a four- Triple-A Nashville to make the start. He gave up just two hits while game winning streak halted. overcoming five walks and striking out five. The Tigers have lost eight GIANTS 1, ROCKIES 0 in a row. Brandon Crawford smacked a walk-off home run with one out in DIAMONDBACKS 2, MARLINS 1 the bottom of the ninth inning, ending what began as a brilliant pitch- Robbie Ray allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings in his PIRATES 5, METS 3 ers’ duel between Madison Bumgarner and Kyle Freeland in a victory first major league start in nearly two months, and Daniel Descalso’s Pittsburgh scored four runs in the top of the ninth, including for San Francisco over visiting Colorado. Crawford’s ninth homer of solo home run in the eighth proved to be the winning run as Arizona David Freese’s go-ahead two-run single, for a comeback win at New the year came on the third pitch of the at-bat from Harrison Musgrave won at Miami. The Diamondbacks have won two in a row and six of York. The Mets entered the ninth with a 3-1 lead. Against reliever (0-3), giving the Giants a fourth straight victory overall and second their past seven games. Arizona is 10-2 in its last 12 road games. Jeurys Familia (3-4), Elias Diaz, Corey Dickerson and Gregory in two days over the Rockies. Bumgarner gave up two hits and two Ray (3-0) issued two walks-back-to-back to open the fourth in- Polanco opened with singles, scoring Diaz to make it 3-2. Familia walks in his seven innings, striking out eight, including the 1,500th ning-and struck out six to improve his ERA from 4.88 to 4.01. Brad walked Jordy Mercer to load the bases and was lifted. Anthony punchout of his career against the first batter he faced. Freeland al- Boxberger allowed a solo home run to Starlin Castro in the ninth but Swarzak gave up Freese’s base hit on his first pitch, giving Pittsburgh lowed four hits and one walk in his seven innings, striking out four. held on for his 19th save of the season. a 4-3 lead. After Austin Meadows struck out, Josh Bell followed with PHILLIES 3, YANKEES 0 a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3. Zach Eflin pitched seven shutout innings, Rhys Hoskins hit a three- REDS 6, BRAVES 5 run homer, and Philadelphia salvaged the final game of the series with Adam Duvall’s two-run single capped a three-run rally in the sev- WHITE SOX 6, TWINS 1 a shutout of visiting New York. Eflin (6-2) gave up four hits and two enth inning and lifted Cincinnati to a victory at Atlanta. The Reds scattered four hits while pitching seven shutout in- walks while striking out six. Cesar Hernandez and Hoskins con- mounted the comeback against Sam Freeman (2-4) and scored all three nings, and Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia each homered as host tributed two hits for the Phillies, who managed eight overall. Yankees runs with two outs. Scooter Gennett drove in the first run with a single Chicago won its third straight game in beating slumping Minnesota. starter Luis Cessa (0-1) lasted only three innings, giving up five hits and Duvall, after replaced Freeman, put Cincinnati ahead It was just the second win since for Shields (3-9). He and three runs. Aaron Hicks had a pair of hits for the Yankees, who with a two-run single to right field. Cincinnati won two of three in the walked two and struck out five while allowing three earned runs or played without Aaron Judge (rest) and managed just four hits. series and has won nine of its last 10 games. The Reds improved to 31- fewer for the eighth time in his past nine starts. Abreu had two hits, 31 since Jim Riggleman became interim manager on April 19. including his 12th homer of the year in the fifth inning, and scored two MARINERS 8, ORIOLES 7 (11 INNINGS) runs. Leury Garcia, Tim Anderson and Charlie Tilson each added two Kyle Seager tied the game with a two-run homer in the ninth inning, ROYALS 5, BREWERS 4 hits and an RBI for Chicago. and Denard Span delivered a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning as visiting Mike Moustakas homered and Danny Duffy threw six strong in- Seattle rallied past Baltimore. Jean Segura started the winning rally nings to lead Kansas City to a win at Milwaukee. Brad Miller hit a DODGERS 7, CUBS 5 with a double off Mychal Givens (0-5) leading off the 11th. Donnie three-run home run in the ninth inning to get the Brewers within one Max Muncy, and Cody Bellinger hit home runs, and Hart came on for the Orioles with one out and gave up a single to Sea- with no outs. Royals reliever Wily Peralta came in, recorded a strike- Alex Wood went seven innings for the first time since his season ger that moved Segura to third. Span then sent a fly ball to medium- out, and after a pinch-hit single by , got Ryan Braun to debut as Los Angeles defeated visiting Chicago. The Dodgers in- deep center field that brought in Segura with the decisive run. Chasen ground into a game-ending double play. Duffy (4-7) allowed one run creased their major-league-leading home run total in June to 51, the Bradford (5-0) earned the win, and Edwin Diaz got his major-league- on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. second most in a single month in franchise history and two off the leading 30th save-his third in three nights versus Baltimore. club’s all-time high. Pederson has 11 home runs on the season, with ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 0 10 of those in June alone. Muncy hit his ninth in the month, and INDIANS 5, CARDINALS 1 Jed Lowrie continued his rampage against Detroit, Chris Bassitt Bellinger hit his eighth. Both have 16 total. drove Edwin Encarnacion and Lonnie Chisenhall hit back-to-back collected his first win of the season, and Oakland claimed a shutout in four runs for the Cubs, who saw starter give up six homers to help Cleveland salvage a three-game set with a victory win at Detroit. Lowrie had a pair of doubles and drove in the first run earned runs in a start for the first time since June 19, 2015. — AFP