Giants’ Alex Cobb loses no-hit bid with 2 outs in the 9th, settles for 1-hit, 6-1 win over Reds

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Alex Cobb came within one out of a no-hitter before Spencer Steer doubled with two outs in the ninth inning of the San Francisco Giants’ 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

Cobb dazzled to shut down Cincinnati before Steer’s double provided the Reds’ only run, coming so close to the majors’ fifth no-hitter this year.

Center fielder Austin Slater had made the defensive play of the game when he chased down a shallow fly ball by Will Benson with a diving catch in left-center to end the eighth.

The 35-year-old right-hander just missed tossing San Francisco’s first no-hitter since Chris Heston on June 9, 2015, at the Mets.

After getting Noelvi Marte’s first-pitch flyout to start the ninth, Cobb (7-5) issued a one-out walk to Nick Senzel before another fly to right by TJ Friedl. Then Steer came through with an opposite-field hit.

A run scored on the double, and Cobb threw a called third strike past rookie Elly De La Cruz on his career-high 131st pitch for his eighth strikeout.

Senzel was credited with a single in the third inning on a two-hopper that third baseman Casey Schmitt snagged with a backhand grab. The rookie’s throw from foul territory was high and pulled a leaping J.D. Davis off the first-base bag. Official scorer Chris Thoms originally called the play a hit, then changed it to an error several minutes later.

Patrick Bailey hit a two-run homer to help Cobb win for the first time in nine starts since July 5. The Giants went ahead in the second on a balk then Luis Matos delivered an RBI double to back Cobb.

ATHLETICS 3, MARINERS 1

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle’s two-day stay alone atop the AL West ended in a loss to major league-worst Oakland, which built an early lead on home runs by Seth Brown and Shea Langeliers and beat the Mariners for the first time in nine games this season.

Seattle had won 12 of its previous 13 games, turning a 7 1/2-game deficit into a one-game lead over Texas. The Rangers won 2-1 at the New York Mets, matching the Mariners at 75-57. Houston is a percentage point back at 76-58.

Star outfielder Julio Rodríguez was scratched of a pinch nerve in his left foot that left him day to day, and starter pitcher George Kirby was scratched before the game because of illness and replaced by Luke Weaver (2-5). First baseman Ty France left after two innings with a bruised left thumb sustained on a pickoff.

Sean Newcomb (1-0), the third of six A’s pitchers, struck out four in 1 2/3 innings for his first win with Oakland. Trevor May got his 15th save in 18 chances, finishing a four-hitter.

DODGERS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 1

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts hit his career-best 36th home run, David Peralta went 3 for 4 and drove in a pair of runs and Los Angeles won its fourth straight home game, beating Arizona.

The Dodgers pounded out 16 hits while improving to 23-4 in August. Jason Heyward was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, and Chris Taylor was 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run. Will Smith also homered.

Clayton Kershaw (12-4) allowed one run and three hits in five innings, struck out five and walked three. He tied Don Drysdale (209) for second on the franchise wins list.

Merrill Kelly (10-6) gave up seven runs and 12 hits in five innings, struck out one and walked three. Corbin Carroll led off the fifth with a homer for Arizona.

YANKEES 4, TIGERS 2

DETROIT (AP) — New York won consecutive games for the first time in four weeks, beating Detroit as Gleyber Torres homered for the second straight game.

Kyle Higashioka and Anthony Volpe also homered for the Yankees, who had not won back-to-back games since Aug, 2 against Tampa Bay and the next day against Houston. New York has won consecutive road games for the first time since June 28-29 at major league-worst Oakland.

Last-place New York (64-68), in danger of ending its streak of 30 consecutive winning seasons, has two chances against the Tigers to end its run of 10 winless series since a three-game sweep of Kansas City from July 21-23.

Detroit (59-73) has lost four straight.

CUBS 1, BREWERS 0

CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Steele struck out eight in six innings, shaking off a comebacker that hit him on his left leg, and Chicago snapped Milwaukee’s nine-game winning streak.

Steele (15-3) allowed six hits and walked one, improving to 6-0 with a 3.09 ERA in his last eight starts. Chicago (70-62) pulled within four games of NL Central-leading Milwaukee (74-58).

Steele was struck near his left knee by Victor Caratini’s one-out liner in the second but stayed in the game, drawing a cheer from the Wrigley Field crowd of 33,294.

Corbin Burnes (9-7) also was terrific, striking out seven in seven innings for Milwaukee, which had seven hits and went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position in their first loss since Aug. 17. It was the team’s longest winning streak since 2021.