MLB: Texas extends lead over Houston with long ball

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Prince Fielder hit two of Texas’ season-high five homers and drove in five runs in the AL West-leading Rangers’ 14-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Prince Fielder hit two of Texas’ season-high five homers and drove in five runs in the AL West-leading Rangers’ 14-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.

After taking over first place with a 6-5 victory Tuesday night, Texas increased its advantage over Houston to 1 1/2 games going into the series finale Thursday night

Fielder’s RBI single in the first put the Rangers ahead to stay. The slugger pulled both of his homers into the second deck in right field, leading off the third and then capping an 11-pitch at-bat in the sixth with a three-run shot that made it 12-1. Mike Napoli, Rougned Odor and Bobby Wilson also homered to help Texas win its third straight game in the series.

BLUE JAYS 9, BRAVES 1

ATLANTA — David Price allowed one run in seven innings, Russell Martin hit a homer and drove in four runs, and Toronto beat Shelby Miller and Atlanta to protect its AL East lead.

Price (16-5) gave up six hits and had nine strikeouts. He improved to 7-1 since coming to Toronto in a trade with Detroit, and lowered his ERA to 2.42.

The Blue Jays stayed three games ahead of second-place New York.

YANKEES 3, RAYS 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Prized rookie Luis Severino rebounded from his worst start, Greg Bird homered and drove in two runs, and New York beat Tampa Bay.

Severino (4-3) allowed one run and six hits in 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander gave up a career-high six earned runs over 2 1-3 innings in an 11-5 loss Friday to Toronto.

CUBS 3, PIRATES 2, 12 INNINGS

PITTSBURGH — Pinch-runner Quintin Berry raced home on Anthony Rizzo’s sacrifice fly in the top of the 12th inning, and Chicago slipped by Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh rallied to tie it in the eighth against Jake Arrieta, spoiling his bid to become the first 20-game winner in the majors this season. Arrieta allowed two runs, one earned, and six hits, but failed to pick up a win for the first time since Aug. 4.

MARLINS 6, METS 0

NEW YORK — Adam Conley slowed New York’s pursuit of the National League East title with a career-high seven innings for streaking Miami.

Facing a makeshift lineup of all right-handers, Conley (4-1) allowed three hits and struck out six as Miami beat New York for a second straight night to secure its fifth straight series win — matching a franchise record set in 2003 for most consecutive series won in one season.

NATIONALS 12, PHILLIES 2

PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Werth hit two homers, Bryce Harper also went deep and Gio Gonzalez tied his career high with 12 strikeouts in Washington’s victory over Philadelphia.

Werth and Harper each had four home runs in the three-game sweep that extended the Nationals’ winning streak to four. Gonzalez (11-7) allowed two runs on five hits with a pair of walks in seven innings.

DODGERS 2, ROCKIES 0

LOS ANGELES — Alex Wood pitched one-hit ball for eight innings on only 78 pitches and retired his last 19 batters, leading Los Angeles past Colorado.

GIANTS 5, REDS 3

SAN FRANCISCO — Giants pitcher Jake Peavy homered through the low-hovering mist for his first long ball in more than nine years, leading San Francisco past Cincinnati.

Peavy struck out eight in six-plus innings on the mound and connected for his third career home run in the fourth against reliever Collin Balester. It was Peavy’s first since July 26, 2006, at Dodger Stadium with the Padres.

CARDINALS 5, BREWERS 4

MILWAUKEE — Tommy Pham homered twice and tripled, Matt Carpenter added a solo shot and Jaime Garcia went 6 1-3 innings in St. Louis’ 5-4 victory over Milwaukee.

Pham’s two-run shots came in the second and the fourth off Wily Peralta (5-9).

Carpenter led off the third with his 22nd home run and 74th RBI of the season, both team highs.

Jaime Garcia (9-5) won for the third time in his last four starts and improved to 6-1 in nine starts since Aug. 1, helping the Cardinals go 8-1 over that span.

RED SOX 10, ORIOLES 1

BALTIMORE — Dustin Pedroia homered twice and had a season-high five RBIs to back a dominant pitching performance by rookie Henry Owens in Boston’s victory over Baltimore.

David Ortiz also went deep for the last-place Red Sox, his 35th homer of the season and 501st overall.

Owens (3-2) gave up six hits over 7 2-3 shutout innings. The 23-year-old lefty struck out four, walked none and reduced his ERA from 5.25 to 4.33.

INDIANS 5, ROYALS 1

CLEVELAND — Francisco Lindor was 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs to lead Cleveland past Kansas City.

Lindor had a solo homer in the first for his 100th hit since being called up from the minors June 14, added a two-run single in the second and an RBI single in the fourth.

TIGERS 7, TWINS 4

MINNEAPOLIS — Ian Kinsler’s two-out RBI single preceded a two-run homer by J.D. Martinez in the top of the 12th inning, pushing Detroit past Minnesota in a game delayed by rain.

Martinez’s 37th home run came off Brian Duensing (4-1). The Twins remained 1 1/2 games behind Houston for the second AL wild card.

MARINERS 3, ANGELS 1

SEATTLE — Jesus Montero continued to get the best of Los Angeles’ Jered Weaver, hitting a three-run homer to help Seattle hand the Angels their third loss in four games.

PADRES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 3

PHOENIX — Matt Kemp hit a three-run homer to back Andrew Cashner and San Diego beat Arizona.

Cashner (6-15) allowed seven hits and three runs, striking out six and walking two in seven innings. He had lost 13 of his previous 17 decisions since April 24.

WHITE SOX 9, ATHLETICS 4

CHICAGO – Mike Olt hit a two-run homer and Melky Cabrera had a two-run double in a six-run fourth inning to help Chicago beat Oakland.