Sports FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 45 Verlander denied no-hitter in ninth as Tigers win 5-0 DETROIT: Justin Verlander lost a bid for his third no-hitter runs and five hits for the Pirates, who have won four of five. Kemp added a two-run double and the San Diego Padres tory over the Braves. Miller (5-11) looked like he might break when Chris Iannetta lined a leadoff double in the ninth Pittsburgh (76-49) remains four games behind first-place St. held on to beat the Washington Nationals. Tyson Ross (9-9) the streak, leading 3-0 in the seventh, but he gave up four inning that landed on the left-field line, and the Detroit Louis (80-45) in the NL Central race. Miami’s Chris Narveson allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings for the Padres, who runs in the bottom of the inning before leaving with two Tigers beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-0 Wednesday night. (1-1) struggled in his first start since April 15, 2012, while evened the three-game series and will try for their fifth outs. Jose Reyes capped the rally with a two-out triple to Trying to become the sixth major leaguer to throw three with Milwaukee. He allowed seven runs and eight hits in 3 straight series victory in yesterday’s finale. Denard Span right-center that scored Barnes and Charlie Blackmon. no-hitters, Verlander settled instead for a one-hit shutout. 2-3 innings. Martin Prado homered for the Marlins. doubled twice for Washington in his second game back Daniel Descalso and Blackmon had the other RBIs in the He was an inch away from so much more. Iannetta’s shot, McCutchen hit an RBI double in the first inning and helped from the disabled list following back spasms, but Gio inning for Colorado. Simon Castro (1-0) picked up the win in just barely fair, kicked up chalk and rolled into the left-field spark a six-run second with a three run home run, his 20th. Gonzalez (9-7) failed to pitch more than five innings for a relief for the Rockies, who won two out of three for their first corner. Verlander attempted to will it foul with body English, McCutchen is 6 for 13 with three doubles, a home run, and sixth time in seven starts. Ryan Zimmerman drove in two series win at Turner Field since 2005. Barnes tacked on a then arched his back in disappointment after the ball hit six RBIs in the first three games of the series runs on productive outs for the Nationals, who trailed 5-0 two-run homer in the eighth off Edwin Jackson. right on the line. Verlander (2-6) retired the next three bat- ters to finish his seventh career shutout and first since May RED SOX 3, WHITE SOX 0 18, 2012, against Pittsburgh. The right-hander struck out Rick Porcello pitched seven sparkling innings in his nine and walked two in his first win since July 29. He faced return from a triceps injury, leading the Boston Red Sox to a only 28 hitters - one more than the minimum - after induc- victory over the Chicago White Sox. Porcello and Chris Sale ing double plays following both walks. had nearly identical lines, but Travis Shaw hit a two-run homer off Nate Jones (1-1) with two outs in the eighth. ASTROS 6, YANKEES 2 Robbie Ross Jr. then got three outs for the Red Sox before Evan Gattis hit two home runs, Collin McHugh excelled Junichi Tazawa finished the six-hitter for his third save in once again and the Houston Astros exceeded last season’s nine chances. Porcello (6-11) allowed five hits, struck out win total, beating the New York Yankees. The AL West lead- five and walked none in one of his best starts in a disap- ers improved to 71-57, a year after going 70-92. With 34 pointing debut season with Boston. The right-hander was games left on the schedule, the Astros already have acquired in a December trade with Detroit, and then agreed achieved their best season since 2010. The Yankees have lost to an $82.5 million, four-year contract in April. five of seven, a slide that’s cost them first place in the AL East. McHugh (14-7) kept up a recent run of ace pitching, both for MARINERS 8, ATHLETICS 2 himself and the team with the top ERA in the league. Felix Hernandez made just two mistakes in eight strong Houston has won seven of nine, not permitting more than innings, Nelson Cruz hit his AL-leading 39th homer and two runs in any game. McHugh shut out the Yankees until drove in three runs and the Seattle Mariners beat the Didi Gregorius hit a two-run homer in the seventh. He out- Oakland Athletics. Seattle closed out its brief homestand pitched Michael Pineda (9-8) for the second time this year, with Hernandez rebounding after getting knocked around and has allowed just seven runs in his last five starts. in his last start against the Chicago White Sox. Hernandez LOS ANGELES: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws during the fifth (15-8) allowed a homer to Billy Burns on the first pitch of the BLUE JAYS 12, RANGERS 4 inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, in Detroit. — AP game and a solo homer to Brett Lawrie on the first pitch of Edwin Encarnacion hit a grand slam to extend his hit- the seventh inning. Oakland’s only other hit off Hernandez ting streak to 21 games, helping David Price get a win on his METS 9, PHILLIES 4 midway through the fourth before closing to within a run was a soft single from Billy Butler in the fifth. Hernandez 30th birthday in Toronto’s victory against Texas. Bartolo Colon tossed five-hit ball and struck out eight in after a three-run seventh. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth struck out seven, walked one and became the second AL Encarnacion sent his 26th homer into the Blue Jays’ bullpen seven sharp innings, Michael Cuddyer hit a long homer and for his 36th save. pitcher to reach 15 wins. Cruz’s homer came in the eighth, in left-center after Kevin Pillar opened a six-run sixth inning the NL East-leading New York Mets beat the Philadelphia but it was an early offensive outburst that backed with a long ball that chased starter Colby Lewis (14-6). Lewis Phillies. Colon (11-11) bounced back from a rough outing in ORIOLES 8, ROYALS 5 Hernandez. Seattle sent 10 batters to the plate in the first issued four of a season-high 11 walks by Rangers pitchers. Colorado, helping the Mets improve to 186 since July 31. Chris Davis, Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop and scored four times that inning off Chris Bassitt (1-6). Pitching on his birthday for the first time in the majors, Price They took a 6 1-2 game lead over second-place each hit a two-run homer off Johnny Cueto, and the (13-4) threw five scoreless innings after allowing Adrian Washington, which lost 6-5 to San Diego. Cuddyer had an Baltimore Orioles totaled five long balls in all to power their INDIANS 6, BREWERS 2 Beltre’s two-run homer in the first. The AL East-leading Blue RBI double in the first inning off Jerad Eickhoff (1-1) and hit a way to a victory over the Kansas City Royals that snapped a Jason Kipnis homered and drove in three runs, and the Jays won their fifth straight, while the Rangers dropped a two-run shot into the second deck in left field off Hector six-game skid. Wei-Yin Chen (8-6) allowed three runs for the Cleveland Indians used six pitchers in a win over the half-game behind Minnesota in the race for the second AL Neris in the eighth. The Mets have dominated the Phillies, Orioles while scattering nine hits over six innings. The losing Milwaukee Brewers. Kipnis, who leads the American League wild card. Jose Bautista walked four times and scored twice winning eight straight, 11 of 12 this season and 23 of the pitcher against the Royals in Game 3 of last year’s AL with a .325 batting average, gave Cleveland the lead with a as Toronto went two games up in the division on the New last 28 meetings. They will go for a four-game sweep Championship Series, he has now gone seven straight starts two-run double with the bases loaded in the second inning. York Yankees. The Astros moved 5 1/2 games ahead of Thursday night with plenty of visiting fans chanting “Let’s without a defeat. Cueto (9-9) labored through five innings He added a solo homer in the eighth. Rookie right-hander Texas atop the AL West. Go Mets!” in Philadelphia’s cozy ballpark. for Kansas City, allowing 10 hits and a walk. It was his second Cody Anderson, starting in place of the injured Carlos consecutive shoddy start after yielding a career-high 13 hits Carrasco, allowed two runs in 4 1-3 innings. Carrasco, who GIANTS 4, CUBS 2 TWINS 5, RAYS 3 in a loss at Boston. leads the Indians in wins, was placed on the 15-day disabled Buster Posey followed Brandon Belt’s leadoff triple in Eduardo Escobar homered twice and Joe Mauer had a list Wednesday with a sore right shoulder.