The Pittsburgh Pirates needed a heroic performance to get past the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, and Esmerlyn Valdez delivered exactly that. The Pirates edged the Brewers 7-6 as Valdez crushed a go-ahead grand slam, finishing the afternoon with six RBIs total.
Valdez had already given Pittsburgh a 3-2 advantage with a home run in the third inning. Then, after the Brewers rallied to take the lead, he launched his second homer of the game — a grand slam in the seventh — to put the Pirates back on top for good.
Braxton Ashcraft started on the mound for Pittsburgh, surrendering five runs on five hits while striking out six across five innings. Gregory Soto then worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the top of the ninth to earn his 12th save of the season.
For Milwaukee, starter Brandon Sproat gave up three runs on two hits and struck out three before being pulled after the third inning. Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick each hit home runs for the Brewers.
Pirates 3, Brewers 2 (Game 2)
Pittsburgh completed the sweep in the nightcap, with Bryan Reynolds going 2-for-3 and delivering the go-ahead run in a 3-2 victory. Starting pitcher Bubba Chandler was sharp, striking out six and holding Milwaukee to two runs on five hits across 4 2/3 innings. Valdez added yet another home run in Game 2, giving him home runs in three consecutive games.
Shane Drohan took the loss for Milwaukee, falling to 4-3 after allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. The Brewers have now dropped three of their last four games after going 8-2 in the previous 10.
White Sox 1, Athletics 0
Chase Meidroth came through with an RBI double in the sixth inning to lift Chicago over the visiting Athletics in a tight, low-scoring affair. Meidroth finished 2-for-3, while Luisangel Acuna also had a pair of hits. Five White Sox pitchers combined to hold Oakland to just four hits. Erick Fedde improved to 5-6 with the win, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Athletics starter Gage Jump dropped to 3-4 after surrendering one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer went 2-for-4 with a double, and Jacob Wilson was 2-for-4 with a triple for Oakland.
Red Sox 4, Mets 0
Boston made it eight wins in a row by blanking New York, with Andruw Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida each connecting on two-run home runs. Five Red Sox pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout. Reliever Jovani Moran picked up the win at 2-2 with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while fill-in starter Eduardo Rivera turned in 3 2/3 scoreless frames in only his second big league appearance. Freddy Peralta absorbed the loss, dropping to 5-8 after working 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and five walks. New York went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.
Twins 5, Angels 3
Victor Caratini’s double down the left field line scored Royce Lewis for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh as Minnesota held off Los Angeles in Minneapolis. Lewis had earlier hit a two-run home run to give the Twins a three-run cushion, but the Angels fought back to tie the game. Minnesota then responded with two runs in the seventh — starting with a Lewis double, followed by Caratini’s double and a run-scoring single from Alan Roden. Starter Joe Ryan went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Ryan Johnson took the loss for Los Angeles, giving up three runs on three hits over five innings.
Guardians 4, Marlins 1
Steven Kwan, batting ninth in the order, lined a two-out, two-strike, two-run double and also made a run-saving defensive play as Cleveland topped host Miami. Patrick Bailey, hitting eighth, added another two-out, two-strike, two-run double in the eighth inning for insurance. Tanner Bibee earned the win, improving to 3-9 with a quality start — allowing five hits, four walks and one run across 6 2/3 innings. Eury Perez, who had thrown seven perfect innings in his previous start, took the loss at 5-7, giving up eight hits, two walks and two runs over six innings.
Giants 4, Rockies 2
Casey Schmitt broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run homer in the sixth inning to lead host San Francisco over Colorado. Heliot Ramos and Luis Arraez had opened the inning with singles before Schmitt launched his 19th home run of the season, tying him for the team lead. Arraez went 2-for-4, Tyler Mahle improved to 2-8 after allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings, and J.T. Brubaker closed out the final two innings for his first career save. Kyle Karros homered and Mickey Moniak went 2-for-4 for Colorado, which has lost three of its last four. Starter Kyle Freeland fell to 2-8 after giving up four runs and six hits in six innings.
Yankees 4, Nationals 2
New York rallied for the second consecutive game, this time with three eighth-inning home runs to top host Washington. Trailing 2-0, Ryan McMahon got things started with a solo shot off right-hander Orlando Ribalta. After Ben Rice drew a walk, Clayton Beeter came on and gave up a two-run blast to Trent Grisham, handing New York the lead. Paul Goldschmidt then followed with his 15th homer of the season. Brent Headrick improved to 5-1 with the win, and David Bednar earned his 18th save in the ninth. For Washington, James Wood had three hits including a homer, and Curtis Mead added a homer and a single. The Nationals recorded their 27th blown save of the season.
Rays 6, Mariners 1
Jonathan Aranda had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run as Tampa Bay claimed its final home series before the All-Star break with a win over struggling Seattle in St. Petersburg. Aranda went 3-for-4 with two doubles, with his first double in the third inning scoring Yandy Diaz to break a 1-1 tie. Pinch hitter Ryan Vilade then added a three-run home run in the seventh. Ben Williamson was outstanding, going 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. The victory lifted Tampa Bay’s home record to 35-14, the best in the majors. Starter Griffin Jax improved to 5-6 after allowing just one run on four hits over five innings. Seattle’s Logan Gilbert fell to 7-6, giving up four runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings as the Mariners dropped their fifth straight.
Phillies 4, Tigers 2
J.T. Realmuto delivered a two-run double and All-Star Cristopher Sanchez turned in more than seven strong innings as visiting Philadelphia snapped Detroit’s six-game winning streak. Sanchez improved to 11-4, allowing two runs on 10 hits while striking out seven — a strong bounce-back after surrendering nine runs to Kansas City earlier in the week. Jhoan Duran recorded his 24th save with a perfect ninth inning. Eduardo Valencia homered and Matt Vierling went 3-for-3 for the Tigers. Starter Casey Mize dropped to 4-6 after giving up all four runs — three earned — on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Orioles 6, Royals 1
Kyle Bradish carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning as Baltimore stretched its winning streak to three games against visiting Kansas City. Bradish finished at 6-9, working 6 2/3 innings and allowing just one run on two hits. Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone broke up the no-hit bid with a single to lead off the seventh and later scored on a Salvador Perez sacrifice fly. Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer for Baltimore, while Coby Mayo, Taylor Ward and Gunnar Henderson each added solo shots. The Orioles also snapped a four-series losing streak at their home ballpark. Royals starter Noah Cameron fell to 5-7 despite striking out nine in seven innings, charged with five runs on five hits.
Cardinals 4, Braves 1
Lars Nootbaar hit a three-run home run in the opening inning and Matthew Liberatore delivered six outstanding innings as St. Louis defeated visiting Atlanta. Liberatore improved to 5-6 with six scoreless frames, giving up four hits while striking out six and walking one. The Cardinals also clinched their final series before the All-Star break. Reynaldo Lopez took the loss at 4-2, allowing four runs on five hits over five innings. Mauricio Dubon homered for Atlanta, which has now dropped five of its last seven games. The loss also trimmed the Braves’ lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East to just two games.
Astros 9, Rangers 3
LaMonte Wade Jr. hit the first grand slam of his career in the third inning as visiting Houston cruised past Texas in Arlington. Yordan Alvarez launched his American League-leading 31st home run in the first inning, and Christian Vazquez added a solo shot as well. Starter Peter Lambert improved to 8-5, allowing just one run on three hits over six innings for his sixth win in seven decisions. Ezequiel Duran drove in all three Texas runs with a pair of home runs. Rangers starter Kumar Rocker fell to 2-8, continuing to struggle at home by giving up three home runs among seven runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Cubs 5, Reds 3
Alex Bregman broke a tie game with a two-run homer in the seventh inning as Chicago defeated host Cincinnati for its fourth win in the last six games. Carson Kelly added a solo home run and Michael Busch had three hits for the Cubs. Drew Pomeranz improved to 2-3 with the win after pitching the sixth inning, though he allowed a run on two hits. Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb each threw a scoreless inning before Trent Thornton recorded the final out for his third save. Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suarez and JJ Bleday each homered for Cincinnati, which has now lost five of its last eight. Starter Nick Lodolo exited with a blister on his left index finger after giving up a leadoff homer to Kelly in the sixth, having allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts to that point.
