MLB: Ramos homers as Rays beat Red Sox 12-6 for 8th straight win

Tampa Bay Rays' Matt Duffy, Denard Span, C.J. Cron and Carlos Gomez, from left, celebrate after the Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 12-6 during a baseball game in Boston, Saturday, April 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

the associated press

BOSTON — Wilson Ramos went deep again and scored on Denard Span’s inside-the-park homer, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 12-6 on Saturday for their eighth consecutive victory.

It’s the longest win streak for Tampa Bay since taking nine in a row in July 2014. The resurgent Rays have won nine of 10 overall to move within one game of .500 at 12-13.

Ramos belted a two-run shot in the third against David Price (2-3), extending his homer streak to three games.

ASTROS 11, ATHLETICS 0

HOUSTON — Lance McCullers threw seven sharp innings, Jose Altuve had four hits and Houston beat Oakland.

Altuve hit a towering home run that left the ballpark and doubled. George Springer, Derek Fisher and Marwin Gonzalez also homered in the highest-scoring this season for the World Series champions.

McCullers (4-1) allowed two hits, striking out seven without a walk for his third straight win. Houston got to Daniel Mengden (2-3) early.

DIAMONDBACKS 4, NATIONALS 3, 10 INn.

WASHINGTON — David Peralta homered twice for Arizona, and Nick Ahmed scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk in the 10th inning.

The NL West-leading Diamondbacks took the first two games of the weekend set in Washington to become the first NL team since the 1907 Cubs to win nine straight series to start a season.

Ahmed led off the 10th with a double off Sammy Solis (0-1). Peralta walked with one out before Austin Adams replaced Solis and issued consecutive walks to Jarrod Dyson and A.J. Pollock, putting the Diamondbacks in front.

Yoshihisa Hirano (2-0) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the win, and Brad Boxberger worked a shaky 10th for his eighth save in eight chances.

DODGERS 15, GIANTS 6, GAME 1

GIANTS 8, DODGERS 3, GAME 2

SAN FRANCISCO — Chase Utley hit three doubles and a single as the Dodgers did damage against every San Francisco pitcher except emergency reliever Pablo Sandoval.

Sandoval was summoned from third base to begin the ninth inning and, in his first major league pitching appearance, retired three straight batters on grounders. The 2012 World Series MVP threw 11 pitches, helping preserve the Giants’ bullpen for the second game of the doubleheader.

Walker Buehler (1-0) struck out six in five innings as Los Angeles ended a three-game losing streak. Chris Stratton (2-2) got the loss.

The Dodgers lost right fielder Yasiel Puig to a sore left hip after he ran into a wall.

MARINERS 12, INDIANS 4

CLEVELAND — Jean Segura hit a two-run homer and matched a career high with four RBIs, powering the Mariners to the victory.

Mike Leake (3-2) allowed four runs in six innings in his second victory against the Indians this season.

Carlos Carrasco (4-1) lost for the first time since Aug. 27, ending a streak of 10 straight winning decisions. The right-hander allowed five runs, four earned, in three innings.

Carrasco said his back stiffened after he slipped on a step in the dugout on his way to the mound before the third. He isn’t sure if he will be able to make his next scheduled start Thursday against Toronto.

RANGERS 7, BLUE JAYS 4

TORONTO — Bartolo Colon pitched seven efficient innings to earn his first win with Texas.

Less than a month from his 45th birthday, Colon (1-0) gave up three runs and six hits. Keone Kela got one out for his sixth save.

Kevin Pillar homered twice and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also went deep for the Blue Jays, who have lost seven of nine. Jaime Garcia (2-2) allowed five runs and five hits in five innings.

CUBS 3, BREWERS 0

CHICAGO — Cubs left-hander Jose Quintana pitched seven sharp innings to continue his dominance of the Brewers.

Quintana (3-1) has thrown 24 straight scoreless innings against Milwaukee dating to July 28.

With Kris Bryant back in the lineup, the Cubs improved to 6-1 against the Brewers this season, including four shutouts. Bryant went 0 for 3 with a walk in his first appearance since being hit in the helmet by a pitch last Sunday.

Junior Guerra (2-1) pitched six innings of one-run ball, but Milwaukee finished with just two hits.

TWINS 3, REDS 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Jake Odorizzi pitched into the seventh inning, Mitch Garver homered and the Twins snapped an eight-game losing streak.

Odorizzi (2-2) gave up one run and five hits. Fernando Rodney worked around two walks while pitching a scoreless ninth for his third save in six chances.

Cincinnati right-hander Sal Romano (1-3) lasted 4 2/3 innings and was charged with three runs, two earned, and six hits.

BRAVES 4, PHILLIES 1

PHILADELPHIA — Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera reached way into the bushes beyond the wall to make a sensational catch that robbed Freddie Freeman of a home run, but Atlanta went on to the victory.

Mike Foltynewicz (2-1) got the win and Arodys Vizcaino pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.

Maikel Franco homered for the Phillies. Nick Pivetta (1-1) got the loss.

WHITE SOX 8, ROYALS 0 GAME 1

ROYALS 5, WHITE SOX 2 GAME 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eric Skoglund overcame a leadoff homer by Tim Anderson that led to a bench-clearing incident, pitching Kansas City past Chicago to end a five-game losing streak in a doubleheader split.

Skoglund (1-2) gave up two hits and struck out nine in seven innings. Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his fifth save in as many opportunities.

Dylan Covey (0-1) took the loss.

The White Sox won the opener as Carson Fulmer (2-1) allowed four singles over seven innings and Daniel Palka had four hits and drove in three runs. Trevor Oaks (0-1) gave up five runs on 12 hits over five innings in his major league debut.

TIGERS 9, TIGERS 5

BALTIMORE — Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in five runs and Detroit ended a three-game skid.

Francisco Liriano (3-1) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Manny Machado had two hits and two RBIs for the Orioles, who have lost 12 of 14. Andrew Cashner (1-4) was hit hard.

PIRATES 6, CARDINALS 2

PITTSBURGH — Francisco Cervelli homered in the second inning and delivered a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the sixth, helping Pittsburgh top St. Louis.

Trevor Williams (4-1) pitched six innings of two-run ball. Michael Feliz, George Kontos and Edgar Santana combined for three scoreless innings in relief.

Rookie Jack Flaherty (0-1) got the loss.

MARLINS 4, ROCKIES 1

MIAMI — Wei-Yin Chen pitched into the sixth inning in his first start in nearly a year and Miami beat Colorado.

Chen (1-0) allowed one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two in his first game since last May 1 against Tampa Bay due to an elbow strain.

German Marquez (1-3) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings, throwing a career-high 113 pitches.

PADRES 12, METS 2

SAN DIEGO — Franchy Cordero hit a three-run homer estimated at 453 feet, Christian Villanueva had a two-run shot and Austin Hedges drove in a career-high five runs as the Padres roughed up Jason Vargas and the Mets.

Rookie lefty Joey Lucchesi (3-1) limited the Mets to four hits in 5 2-3 innings while striking out six and walking two. He exited two batters after surrendering a two-run homer by Yoenis Cespedes that sailed into the Padres’ bullpen beyond the fence in center field.

Vargas (0-1) had a rough season debut five weeks after breaking a bone in his glove hand in spring training. He allowed nine runs and nine hits, four for extra bases, in 3 2-3 innings.

YANKEES 11, ANGELS 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Masahiro Tanaka struck out nine in six strong innings, and the Yankees’ bats continued to sizzle in a victory over the Angels.

The Yankees (17-9) have won eight consecutive games and have outscored opponents 62-17 during that streak. They had 14 hits Saturday and still left 0 men on base.

Angels starter Garrett Richards (3-1) allowed four extra-base hits in 1 2/3 innings before he was chased.