MLB: Nationals rally in eighth to beat Mets 4-3

WASHINGTON — Michael Taylor had a tying two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning, Danny Espinosa followed with an RBI double and the Washington Nationals rallied from three runs down to beat the New York Mets 4-3 on Wednesday.

In danger of having their lead over the Mets in the NL East cut to one game, Taylor drove in the Nationals’ first run in the fourth with a single off Noah Syndergaard to make it 3-1.

After a wild pitch from Bobby Parnell (1-1) put runners on second and third in the eighth, Taylor ripped a full-count fastball to left to tie it. Taylor then stole second base before Espinosa put Washington in position to take two of three from the Mets and open a three-game lead in the division.

Drew Storen struck out the side in the ninth for his 29th save. Matt Thornton (1-0) pitched the eighth for the win.

CARDINALS 3, WHITE SOX 2

CHICAGO — Yadier Molina hit a bases-loaded triple off David Robertson with two out in the eighth inning, sending St. Louis to a victory over Chicago.

Randal Grichuk singled, Matt Holliday was hit by a pitch and Jason Heyward reached on catcher’s interference before Molina drove a 2-2 pitch into the corner in right for his third hit of the game.

It was the first triple for the All-Star catcher since May 22, 2011, and No. 4 for his career.

Miguel Socolovich (4-1) pitched a scoreless seventh for the win.

Kevin Siegrist struck out Adam LaRoche with runners on the corners for the final out in the eighth, and Trevor Rosenthal finished for his 29th save in 31 chances.

ROYALS 5, PIRATES 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Edinson Volquez pitched effectively into the eighth inning against his old team and Mike Moustakas hit a three-run homer to lead Kansas City over Pittsburgh.

Volquez (9-5), who won 13 games last season for the Pirates, picked up his first victory since June 26. He allowed one run on eight hits, while walking one and striking out eight.

Moustakas homered with two out in the eighth with Alex Rios and Jarrod Dyson aboard. Moustakas drove the 3-0 offering from right-hander Charlie Morton into the Royals’ bullpen.

Dyson’s bunt single scored Omar Infante with the first run of the inning.

Morton (6-4) allowed five runs on seven hits, two of them home runs, walked one, hit two batters and struck out four.

ANGELS 5, TWINS 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Huston Street earned his 300th save, Kole Calhoun had three hits and drove in two runs, and Los Angeles beat Minnesota for its seventh straight victory.

Chris Iannetta homered and Albert Pujols had an RBI double for the Angels (54-40), who have won 13 of 15 while streaking to the top of the AL West.

Johnny Giavotella had three hits and scored three runs for the Angels, who briefly trailed for the first time during their streak in the third inning. They reclaimed the lead later in the inning on the way to their 17th win in their last 20 games.

Brian Dozier had an early two-run single for the Twins, who have lost four straight.

YANKEES 4, ORIOLES 3

NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez hit the 20th homer of his renaissance season, Mark Teixeira connected for an early two-run shot and New York beat Baltimore.

Ivan Nova (2-3) ended the first three-start losing streak of his career, and the AL East leaders won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Dellin Betances struck out two in a perfect eighth, and New York pitchers retired 14 in a row before Andrew Miller gave up a solo homer to Chris Davis with two outs in the ninth. Miller then struck out Jonathan Schoop for his 22nd save in 22 tries.

Ryan Flaherty also homered for the Orioles, who have dropped 11 of 15.

Before the game, vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said the Orioles (46-47) will be buyers as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

ASTROS 4, RED SOX 2

HOUSTON — Preston Tucker homered twice and drove in three runs and Evan Gattis added a solo shot to give Houston a victory over Boston.

Collin McHugh (11-5) allowed seven hits and two runs in seven innings to help Houston extend Boston’s losing streak to a season-high-tying seven games. Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save.

Tucker made it 1-0 with his homer in the first, Gattis hit his in the fourth and Tucker’s 2-run shot pushed the lead to 4-0 in the fifth.

Boston starter Joe Kelly (2-6) yielded six hits, including a career-high three homers, and four runs with six strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings in his first start since June 23 after being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

MARLINS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 3

PHOENIX — Jose Fernandez struck out 11 in seven innings, A.J. Ramos struck out three straight with the bases loaded in the ninth and Miami held off Arizona.

Fernandez (3-0) was sharp in his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery, allowing three runs on five hits for rare road win.

The right-hander also had second RBI of the season, following J.T. Realmuto’s run-scoring double with one of his own in Miami’s three-run first inning off Robbie Ray (3-5).

Aaron Hill led off the ninth with a walk off Ramos, and Ender Inciarte and pinch hitter Wellington Castillo followed with singles to load the bases.

Ramos struck out Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock, then closed out his 16th save by getting Yasmany Tomas to swing through a breaking ball for the final out.

TIGERS 9, MARINERS 4

DETROIT — Nick Castellanos hit a grand slam off the brick facade in left-center field, part of an eight-run third inning for Detroit in its victory over Seattle.

Anibal Sanchez (10-7) won his seventh straight decision, and Ian Kinsler had four hits for the Tigers, who rebounded from an ugly 11-9 loss the previous night.

Detroit entered the night four games behind the American League’s second wild card. With the trade deadline approaching, it’s not clear what the next week or so has in store for the Tigers, but every win helps their postseason chances.

Nelson Cruz homered twice for Seattle. Mike Montgomery (4-4) allowed six earned runs and six hits in 2 2-3 innings.

The Mariners did make it close enough to force Detroit to use closer Joakim Soria, who got four outs for his 22nd save in 25 chances.

REDS 9, CUBS 1, GAME 1

CUBS 6, REDS 5, GAME 2

CINCINNATI — Taylor Teagarden singled home the tiebreaking run off Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth inning, completing Chicago’s biggest comeback of the season and a doubleheader split with Cincinnati.

Cincinnati won the opener behind another strong showing by Mike Leake (8-5), who could be traded this month.

The Cubs overcame a five-run deficit to get the split, completed with Teagarden’s pinch-hit single off Chapman (3-4). Hector Rondon (4-2) escaped a bases-loaded threat in the eighth, and Jason Motte finished it for his sixth save in as many chances.

Leake went eight innings in the opener to beat the Cubs for the fifth straight time. Todd Frazier extended his post-derby surge with three more hits, including a two-run double in the first inning off Kyle Hendricks (4-5).

Joey Votto added a solo homer off Hendricks, who gave up four runs while facing nine batters in the first inning.

PHILLIES 5, RAYS 4, 10 INNINGS

PHILADELPHIA — Pinch-hitter Odubel Herrera’s RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning lifted Philadelphia to a victory over Tampa Bay.

The Phillies lost a franchise-record 62 games before the All-Star break, but are 5-1 since returning. They swept a three-game set against Miami and took two of three from the Rays to win consecutive series for the first time since last September.

Domonic Brown led off the 10th with a single off Brad Boxberger (4-6) and advanced on a sacrifice. After a bouncer to the mound for the second out, Herrera lined the 11th pitch he saw to left-center to drive in Brown.

Herrera was mobbed by teammates after rounding first and was taken down to the ground by Jonathan Papelbon as players piled on.

Papelbon (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

DODGERS 3, BRAVES 1

ATLANTA — Mike Bolsinger pitched seven strong innings and Los Angeles scored three runs in the fifth inning to beat Atlanta.

Having used their bullpen for 9 1-3 innings in first two games of the series, the NL West-leading Dodgers were hoping Bolsinger would pitch past the sixth for the first time in his last eight starts.

Alberto Callaspo, Jimmy Rollins and Joc Pederson each drove in a run for Los Angeles.

Bolsinger (5-3) retired 14 straight batters before a two-out walk of A.J. Pierzynski in the seventh. Kenley Jansen pitched around a leadoff walk in the ninth for his 17th save.

Julio Teheran (6-5) struck out seven of the first 10 batters he faced but struggled with his command in the fifth inning.

INDIANS 7, BREWERS 5

MILWAUKEE — Michael Brantley homered, doubled and drove in four runs, and Cleveland closer Cody Allen withstood a rocky ninth to help Cleveland hold on for a win over Milwaukee.

Allen entered the game with a three-run lead. But a string of 5 1-3 scoreless innings for the bullpen ended with Adam Lind’s RBI double with one out in the ninth. A single for Aramis Ramirez put runners on first and third before Khris Davis hit into a game-ending double play started by third baseman Giovanny Urshela.

Allen pumped his fist on the mound after picking up his 20th save. Austin Adams (1-0) threw 1 1-3 innings of scoreless relief.

Cleveland snapped an eight-game losing streak dating to 2001 in the interleague series with the Brewers.

RANGERS 10, ROCKIES 8

DENVER — Elvis Andrus hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the ninth, and Texas bounced back from blowing an early five-run lead to beat Colorado.

Rougned Odor homered and finished with three hits for the third time in the last six games for the Rangers.

Carlos Gonzalez and Nick Hundley homered in Colorado’s four-run eighth. Gonzalez’s three-run shot off Tanner Scheppers (4-1) tied it at 8.

Odor led off the ninth with a walk against closer John Axford (2-3). Adrian Beltre singled and one out later pinch-hitter Prince Fielder was intentionally walked. Andrus singled to left on drawn-in infield to give the Rangers the lead.

Shawn Tolleson worked the ninth for his 15th save.

GIANTS 7, PADRES 1

SAN DIEGO — Brandon Belt hit a tying solo home run in the sixth inning and Buster Posey hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh to lead San Francisco to a victory over San Diego.

Matt Cain pitched six strong innings in his fourth start of the season for the defending World Series champions, who took two of three and have won eight of nine overall.

Padres ace James Shields left with a 1-0 lead after throwing 96 pitches in five innings, and the bullpen promptly gave up the lead.

Belt homered into the sandy play area beyond the fence in right-center on a 3-2 pitch from Marcus Mateo with two outs in the sixth. It was Belt’s 10th.

OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 3, 10 innings

OAKLAND, Calif. – Pinch-hitter Ike Davis beat out an infield single with two outs in the 10th inning that went to replay review, lifting the Oakland Athletics past the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Wednesday night.

The play went to review with the A’s already in the midst of a postgame celebration near the mound. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons immediately emerged from the dugout to challenge, and Oakland players stood together near the mound during the review that took 2 minutes, 45 seconds before they celebrated again.

It confirmed that Davis barely beat the throw by shortstop Jose Reyes, for his fifth career walkoff hit and first since July 1, 2014. That ended the 3-hour, 49-minute game.

Josh Reddick hit a one-out double against Roberto Osuna (1-4) to start things off in the bottom of the 10th.

Fernando Rodriguez (1-1) pitched the top half for the win.