Yordan Alvarez put together one of the most memorable nights of the season Saturday, capping a three-hit, six-RBI performance with a walkoff two-run blast that sent the Houston Astros past the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, 10-8, and ended Tampa Bay’s nine-game winning streak.
With no outs in the bottom of the ninth, Alvarez drove in Jose Altuve with his 29th home run of the year — his second of the game — crushing a 1-2 fastball from Rays reliever Casey Legumina (2-2) an estimated 424 feet to dead center field.
The Astros had dug themselves out of a five-run hole, tying the game at 8-8 during a three-run seventh inning. That rally included a sacrifice fly from Alvarez, an RBI single by Isaac Paredes, and a pinch-hit RBI single from Zach Dezenzo. Tampa Bay had built its early advantage in part on a first-inning home run from Junior Caminero — his 11th homer in the last 11 games.
Neither starting pitcher impressed. Houston’s Hunter Brown surrendered seven runs on six hits across four innings, while Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen gave up a season-high-tying five runs on six hits over five frames.
Mariners 11, Blue Jays 0
Logan Gilbert turned in a dominant outing — 7 1/3 innings of one-hit pitching — and Randy Arozarena launched a grand slam as Seattle crushed visiting Toronto. Cal Raleigh added a three-run home run and Dominic Canzone contributed a two-run shot. The win moved Seattle past Texas and into first place in the American League West.
Gilbert (7-5) retired the first 14 Blue Jays batters before Yohendrick Pinango dropped a bloop single into shallow left with two outs in the fifth. He finished with seven strikeouts and no walks over 91 pitches. Toronto starter Shane Bieber (0-1) was roughed up for seven runs on six hits in four-plus innings.
Pirates 7, Nationals 1
Brandon Lowe and Henry Davis each drove in a pair of runs, and Braxton Ashcraft struck out seven in a quality start as Pittsburgh picked up a road victory over Washington. Ashcraft (9-3) gave up one run on six hits across 5 2/3 innings. Bryan Reynolds, Ryan O’Hearn, and Nick Gonzales each recorded two hits for the Pirates, who evened the three-game series heading into Sunday’s finale. James Wood homered for the 23rd time this season for Washington, and Daylen Lile added two hits. Starter Carson Palmquist (0-1) lasted just one-plus inning, allowing four runs on four hits.
Twins 11, Yankees 4
Kody Clemens launched a two-run homer in the first inning and Minnesota went on to slug six home runs total in a convincing win over host New York on a sweltering 95-degree afternoon. Clemens, who has now gone deep five times in eight games, connected off rookie starter Brendan Beck (0-1) following a Trevor Larnach walk and a Byron Buxton RBI double. Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson hit back-to-back homers in the second, Larnach went deep off Tim Hill in the fourth, and Josh Bell homered in back-to-back at-bats against Ryan Yarbrough and Camilo Doval in the seventh and eighth innings. Minnesota won for the eighth time in its last 11 road games and hit six homers for the first time since September 4, 2023. The Yankees dropped their eighth loss in nine games and gave up six home runs for the first time since August 15, 2019.
Tigers 3, Rangers 0
Riley Greene’s two-run homer and a strong start from Jack Flaherty powered Detroit to a shutout win over Texas in Arlington. All three Detroit runs came in the first two innings, with Greene’s 12th homer of the year and a Ben Malgeri RBI groundout doing the damage. Flaherty (2-8) scattered three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings and has now gone 10 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing a run since returning from the injured list. Keider Montero closed out the final three innings for his first career save. Texas starter Cal Quantrill (3-1) allowed three runs and three hits in five innings. Ben Peoples made his major league debut for the Rangers, throwing two scoreless innings.
White Sox 3, Guardians 1
Colson Montgomery hit a go-ahead home run and drove in two of Chicago’s three runs as the White Sox snapped a three-game losing streak with a win at Cleveland. Starter Sean Burke set a new career high with 11 strikeouts, holding the Guardians to one run on seven hits over six innings. Brandon Eisert (2-1) was perfect through the seventh and eighth innings, and Grant Taylor earned the save in the ninth. Cleveland’s only run came on an Austin Hedges solo homer in the fifth. Tim Herrin (1-4) surrendered Montgomery’s decisive blast in the eighth.
Orioles 8, Reds 5
Rookie Samuel Basallo launched a three-run homer in the opening inning and Adley Rutschman delivered a two-run double during a five-run fourth as Baltimore defeated host Cincinnati. Pete Alonso chipped in three hits and an RBI for the Orioles, who have now won three straight. Baltimore starter Brandon Young worked five-plus innings, giving up four runs on eight hits. Jose Trevino had three hits and an RBI for Cincinnati, and Elly De La Cruz contributed two hits and an RBI. The Reds outhit Baltimore 11-10 but stranded nine runners and have now lost six of their last seven.
Phillies 6, Royals 1
J.T. Realmuto, Gabriel Rincones Jr., and Alec Bohm all went deep to back Jesus Luzardo as visiting Philadelphia topped Kansas City. Luzardo (7-4) was sharp, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings with nine strikeouts and no walks. Kyle Schwarber — one of five Phillies named to the All-Star team earlier Saturday — went 3-for-4. Kansas City starter Michael Wacha (5-6) gave up four runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings. Nick Loftin drove in the lone Kansas City run. The Royals have now dropped eight of their last nine.
Braves 14, Mets 3
Eli White homered and matched his career high with four RBIs to lead Atlanta to a blowout win over visiting New York. White went 2-for-2 and was one of five Braves to go deep. Mauricio Dubon, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Riley — ending a 36-game homerless drought — and Michael Harris II also homered, with Harris connecting off position player Luis Torrens. Chris Sale (9-6) went five-plus innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. The Mets have now lost 12 of their last 14 and sit 17 games behind Atlanta in the National League East. Starter Sean Manaea (1-4) was tagged for six runs on six hits in five innings. Tyrone Taylor and Mark Vientos homered for New York.
Red Sox 8, Angels 1
Sonny Gray limited the Angels to one run on four hits over six innings, and Willson Contreras and Romy Gonzalez each hit home runs as Boston cruised past Los Angeles in Anaheim. Wilyer Abreu drove in two runs and scored twice for the Red Sox, who have won the first two games of the series. A four-run fifth inning — all against Samy Natera Jr. — put the game away. Josh Lowe homered for Los Angeles, which has now dropped five straight. Starter Sam Aldegheri (3-4) allowed three runs and one hit in four innings.
Cardinals 3, Cubs 0
Rookie JJ Wetherholt reached base four times — including a first-inning home run — as St. Louis shut out Chicago, which has managed just one run in two games against the Cardinals after scoring 35 runs in a three-game sweep of San Diego. Wetherholt also walked in the third, doubled in the fifth, and singled in the seventh. Starter Kyle Leahy (7-4) held the Cubs to three hits over five innings. Riley O’Brien earned his 22nd save with a clean ninth. Cubs starter Shota Imanaga (5-7) surrendered four hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out eight over 86 pitches.
Diamondbacks 4, Brewers 3
Adrian Del Castillo’s three-run first-inning homer gave Arizona the lead, and the Diamondbacks held on to beat Milwaukee in Phoenix, leveling the series. Starter Merrill Kelly (6-8) snapped a five-start losing skid by holding the Brewers to two runs on eight hits over five innings. Ildemaro Vargas added a key RBI double in the eighth. Closer Paul Sewald gave up a Jackson Chourio homer in the ninth but still recorded his 20th save. Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff (2-2), making just his third start after nearly two months on the injured list, left the mound with a trainer after a sudden drop in velocity with two outs in the fourth. Christian Yelich also homered for the Brewers, and Brice Turang had three hits for the second consecutive night.
Marlins 7, Athletics 2
Otto Lopez celebrated his first career All-Star selection by going 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs as Miami beat the host Athletics in West Sacramento, California. Kyle Stowers hit a two-run home run and Joe Mack added a solo shot for the Marlins, who have scored 19 runs in winning the first two games of the series. Liam Hicks had three hits and scored twice. Sandy Alcantara (10-4) was outstanding, allowing just one run on six hits over eight innings to extend his winning streak to seven straight decisions. Carlos Cortes, Henry Bolte, and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer each had two hits for the Athletics, who have lost 10 of their last 13. Aaron Civale (5-6) gave up four runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings, losing his fifth consecutive start.
Giants 6, Rockies 4
Robbie Ray won his fifth straight decision, Bryce Eldridge homered, and San Francisco evened its three-game series at Colorado in Denver. Luis Arraez collected three hits, while Sam Hentges, Dylan Smith, and Caleb Kilian combined for three innings of one-run relief. Ray (8-6) gave up a three-run homer to Cole Carrigg in the first inning but settled in and allowed nothing further over six frames. Rockies rookie left-hander Sean Sullivan (0-3) — a late replacement for scheduled starter Tomoyuki Sagano — pitched 5 2/3 innings but allowed all six Giants runs on 12 hits.
Dodgers 3, Padres 0
Freddie Freeman homered and Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered seven shutout innings as Los Angeles blanked visiting San Diego. Yamamoto (9-5) matched his season best with 10 strikeouts, allowing three hits and two walks. Andy Pages opened the scoring with an RBI single, and Freeman tacked on an eighth-inning RBI single to seal the win. Los Angeles improved to 10-2 since June 22 and 7-2 against the Padres this season. San Diego right-hander Griffin Canning (1-6) gave up one run on two hits over four innings. Fernando Tatis Jr. had two of the Padres’ four hits, but San Diego’s losing streak extended to eight games — the franchise’s longest since a 10-game skid in 2013.
