MLB capsules: Rays beat Yankees 6-3, drop New York to AL-worst 5-9

The Tampa Bay Rays' Francisco Mejia follows through on a RBI double during the ninth inning of a baseball game agains the New York Yankees on Saturday, April 17, 2021, in New York. The Rays won 6-3. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
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NEW YORK — Manuel Margot hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Tyler Glasnow overcame cramps and poor control to pitch five innings of one-run ball and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 6-3 Saturday and dropped New York to an AL-worst 5-9.

New York lost its seventh straight series to the Rays is last this late in the season for the first time since 1991, per Elias Sports. Fans in the Bronx again booed the Bombers, but they were more restrained a day after some hurled baseballs and other items on the field late in an 8-2 loss to the Rays.

Francisco Mejía hit a solo shot in the second off Jordan Montgomery (1-1), and Margot made it 3-1 with his homer off the left-hander in the fourth. Joey Wendle added a two-run shot against Jonathan Loaisiga in the seventh, and Mejía had an RBI double in the ninth.

Glasnow (2-0) walked four but also struck out seven and limited New York to two hits as the Rays (7-8) won their second straight in the series.

DODGERS 2, PADRES 0

SAN DIEGO — Mookie Betts made an outstanding diving catch and Clayton Kershaw starred on the mound and at the plate for Los Angeles.

Kershaw (3-1) struck out eight while working six innings of three-hit ball. He also drew a bases-loaded walk against Yu Darvish (1-1) in the fifth, leading Los Angeles to its eighth straight win. Justin Turner hit a solo homer in the ninth.

With runners on second and third, Tommy Pham hit a sinking liner to center that looked as if it was going to tie the game. But Betts got over for a terrific diving grab, and then pounded on his chest in celebration.

Darvish was terrific for San Diego, allowing one hit in seven innings. He struck out nine and walked two.

METS 4, ROCKIES 3, 1ST GAME

ROCKIES 7, METS 2, 2ND GAME

DENVER — New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom struck out nine straight batters against Colorado, falling one shy of matching Tom Seaver’s major league record, and finished with 14 strikeouts to win the doubleheader opener.

German Márquez pitched a two-hitter for his second career complete as the Rockies won the nightcap, stopping a seven-game losing streak and the Mets’ four-game winning streak. Josh Fuentes broke open the game with a three-run homer in the fifth off Jacob Barnes.

Coming off a 14-strikeout performance in a 3-0 loss to Philadelphia, deGrom (1-0) became just the ninth pitcher to strike out as many as nine in a row. The streak ended in the fifth inning, when the Rockies took a 3-1 lead with three unearned runs, but the Mets rallied to win a series opener delayed a day by snow when pinch-hitter Jonathan Villar hit a tying double off Daniel Bard (0-1) in the seventh inning and Dominic Smith had a sacrifice fly.

Pete Alonso had homered in the sixth to pull the Mets within a run.

DeGrom (1-1) allowed three unearned runs and three hits in six innings and walked one, lowering his ERA to 0.45. Edwin Díaz struck out the side for his first save this season.

In the nightcap, Márquez (1-1) struck out six with a pair of walks.

CUBS 13, BRAVES 4

CHICAGO — Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras each homered twice, and Chicago won on an afternoon when Atlanta returned Sean Kazmar Jr. to the major leagues for the first time in 13 years.

Javier Báez and David Bote also homered for the Cubs. who stopped a three-game losing streak. Trevor Williams (2-1) allowed one run and four hits in five innings.

Atlanta selected the contract of Kazmar, a 36-year-old infielder, from its alternate training site before the game. He pinch hit in the fifth inning grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Kazmar had not played in the major leagues since Sept. 23, 2008, with the San Diego Padres.

The gap between big league appearances was the greatest since that of right-hander Ralph Winegarner, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Winegarner played on June 23, 1936, for the Cleveland Indians and did not return to the majors until July 7, 1949, with the St. Louis Browns — a span of 13 years and 14 days.

ASTROS 1, MARINERS 0

SEATTLE — Zack Greinke pitched eight sharp innings, rookie Taylor Jones drove in the only run and depleted Houston ended a six-game losing streak.

Greinke (2-1) allowed four hits and walked none. He struck out six, two on 67 mph curveballs. Ryan Pressly pitched the ninth for his first save.

Greinke finished the game with 2,705 career strikeouts. His teammate, Justin Verlander (18th at 3,013), and the Washington Nationals’ Max Scherzer (22nd at 2,808) are the only active players ahead of him on the career list.

Chris Flexen (1-1) picked up the loss as Houston snapped Seattle’s three-game winning streak. He allowed 10 hits through six innings, striking out three with no walks.

NATIONALS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 2

WASHINGTON — Yan Gomes homered off Luke Weaver (1-1), drove in two runs and became the first major league catcher to throw out Tim Locastro on a steal attempt after 29 consecutive swipes to start his career, and Washington strung together consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Locastro was thrown out making a dive into second base in the third inning and left the game with a dislocated left pinkie finger.

Erick Fedde (1-1) tied his career high with nine strikeouts in five innings for Washington, which is 5-7. He gave up one run and five hits.

ATHLETICS 7, TIGERS 0

OAKLAND, Calif. — Matt Olson, Aramís García and Mark Canha each homered and Oakland shut out Detroit for a second straight game while winning its seventh win in a row.

After Oakland’s 3-0 victory Friday, Cole Irvin (1-2) struck out six, didn’t walk a batter and allowed four hits over six innings to earn his first victory since joining the A’s. The last time the A’s blanked the Tigers on back-to-back days was in June 1973 when Ken Holtzman and Catfish Hunter did it on Oakland’s way to the second of three straight World Series championships.

Casey Mize (1-1) gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings.

MARLINS 7, GIANTS 6, 10 INNINGS

MIAMI — Jorge Alfaro hit a game-ending, two-run double, and Miami rallied from two-run deficits in the ninth and 10th innings.

San Francisco led 5-3 before RBI singles in the ninth by Alfaro and Starling Marte off Jake McGee. The closer threw 35 pitches in the inning, retiring Adam Duvall on an inning-ending flyout that stranded the bases loaded.

Brandon Belt’s run-scoring double against Yimi García (2-1) put the Giants ahead 6-5 in the 10th.

Jazz Chisholm walked against Jarlin García (0-1) with one out in the bottom half, joining the pandemic-rules automatic runner to give Miami two on. Chad Wallach flied out, and Alfaro lined a double that bounced to the left-field wall.

ORIOLES 6, RANGERS 1

ARLINGTON, Texas — Trey Mancini had a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning for Baltimore.

The Orioles got all their runs against three relievers after Rangers rookie starter Dane Dunning threw six scoreless innings. They snapped a 1-1 tie off Joely Rodriguez (0-1) in his season debut. Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Brett de Gues.