MLB News

Phillies pound five home runs, pummel Padres

Phillies pound five home runs, pummel Padres

Kyle Schwarber led off the game with the first of five Philadelphia homers and Aaron Nola worked eight solid innings as the Phillies powered to a 9-3 road rout of the San Diego Padres on Friday.

Brandon Marsh, Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto also went deep for the Phillies, earned their second win in a row and improved to 9-2 in their past 11 games. Alec Bohm and Marsh each had three hits, and Realmuto went 2-for-4.

Nola (4-1) allowed seven hits and three runs, benefitting from great run support for the second straight start. He walked one and fanned 10 while throwing 106 pitches, including 74 strikes.

Rookie Graham Pauley homered and Luis Campusano collected two hits for the Padres, who took their second loss in three games.

San Diego starter Joe Musgrove (3-3) absorbed a pounding in his 3 2/3 innings, permitting eight hits and seven runs with two walks and four strikeouts. He yielded four homers.

After blowing a 9-4 lead in the eighth inning of a 10-9 loss at Colorado on Thursday, San Diego didn't have the chance to cough up a big cushion during the opener of a six-game homestand.

It started with Schwarber's blast, his seventh long ball of the year. Marsh added a two-out RBI double in the first to give Nola a 2-0 advantage before he threw a pitch.

Philadelphia made Petco Park, normally a pitcher's paradise for night games, play like a bandbox in a four-run third inning. Harper led off with his sixth homer, which was followed one out later by a two-run shot from Marsh, his sixth. Castellanos slugged a solo blast, his first, to make it 6-0.

After Jake Cronenworth got the Padres on the board in the third with an RBI double, Bohm produced a run-scoring single in the Phillies' fourth.

Realmuto capped Philadelphia's long-ball barrage in the seventh with a two-run bomb, his fourth, off reliever Tom Cosgrove.

Pauley drilled a two-run homer in San Diego's half of the seventh, his second.

Mitch Haniger, Mariners slam Diamondbacks

Mitch Haniger, Mariners slam Diamondbacks

Mitch Haniger hit a grand slam and Emerson Hancock pitched six quality innings as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 6-1 Friday night in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

Josh Rojas and Mitch Garver added solo shots for the American League West-leading Mariners, who have won eight of their past 10 games.

Kevin Newman hit a solo homer for the Diamondbacks, who lost for the sixth time in nine games.

Arizona ace Zac Gallen (3-2) left in the sixth inning due to right hamstring tightness.

Gallen walked Rojas leading off the sixth, and after Julio Rodriguez fouled off a 1-1 fastball, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo and a member of the team's training staff came out to the mound to check on Gallen. Lovullo signaled for Scott McGough to enter from the bullpen, and Gallen trudged to the dugout.

Gallen (3-2) was charged with three runs on three hits and one walk in five-plus innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out three throwing 64 pitches.

Rodriguez greeted McGough by grounding a single to right field, and Cal Raleigh walked to load the bases. Haniger then hit a 3-2 fastball that cleared the fence in deep left-center field to make it 6-1.

Rojas, acquired from Arizona at last year's trade deadline as part of the deal for closer Paul Sewald, homered leading off the bottom of the first inning. Rojas was filling the top spot in the order with J.P. Crawford on the injured list because of a strained right oblique.

Garver hit a towering blast just inside the left field foul pole with two outs in the second to put Seattle up 2-0.

Hancock (3-2), a rookie right-hander, allowed one run on two hits in six innings, with two walks and four strikeouts. He got the Diamondbacks to ground into double plays in three of the first four innings.

Arizona's Christian Walker led off the second inning by lining a single to center. The only other hit Hancock gave up was Newman's leadoff homer to left-center in the sixth.

The Diamondbacks loaded the bases in the ninth on an infield single and two walks before Cody Bolton got Eugenio Suarez to ground out to third to end the game.

Twins hold off Angels for fifth straight win

Twins hold off Angels for fifth straight win

Carlos Santana went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs, and the Minnesota Twins held on for a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Willi Castro finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs for Minnesota, which won its fifth game in a row. Byron Buxton and Ryan Jeffers added one RBI apiece.

Nolan Schanuel went 1-for-3 with two RBIs for the Angels, who lost for the seventh time in their past eight games. Zach Neto was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI.

Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (2-1) allowed two runs on three hits in 7 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out eight.

Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval (1-4) gave up four runs (three earned) on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Twins reliever Caleb Thielbar escaped a jam in the ninth for his first save of the season.

The Twins opened the scoring in the top of the second. Santana belted a solo shot an estimated 425 feet to center field for his second homer of the year.

One inning later, Minnesota made it 2-0. Buxton ripped a two-out RBI single to left, scoring Castro from second base.

Jeffers added a run-scoring single in the fifth to increase the Twins' lead to 3-0.

In the sixth, Santana notched his second RBI of the game with a single to center to drive in Jose Miranda.

The Angels got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Luis Rengifo led off the inning with a single, advanced to third on a double by Neto and scored on a Schanuel's groundout to shortstop.

Schanuel delivered again with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the eighth.

The Twins made it 5-2 in the ninth. Castro drove in Austin Martin with his second double of the game.

Neto hit an RBI single to right field to cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth. The Angels had runners on first and third with two outs for Mike Trout, who grounded out to third base to end the game.

Brewers LHP Wade Miley needs Tommy John; career in jeopardy

Brewers LHP Wade Miley needs Tommy John; career in jeopardy

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Wade Miley was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his left elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his 2024 season and potentially his career.

The future is cloudy, but Miley, 37, said he is not ruling out a comeback.

"I just have to keep my head down and move forward and find other ways to be impactful in the clubhouse and around the fellas, and at the same time working to try to get back next year," Miley said. "That was the hardest thought when you first get the news, like, ‘Dadgum, I'm 37 years old and who knows what's next?' "

Miley said it's a career milestone -- his "first time going under the knife."

"I always said I want to go out on my own and I still feel like I've got more in the tank," Miley said. "I'm weirdly kind of excited. Let's get this thing fixed and maybe I can pitch without pain for a little bit."

Miley was dealing with a left shoulder issue during spring training and made his season debut April 10. His most recent outing was a loss to the San Diego Padres on April 16, in which he gave up four runs on five hits and two walks in three innings. He said he could not pinpoint a moment or a pitch that made the difference.

Miley went 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in two starts for the Brewers in his third season with the club. He played one season for Milwaukee in 2018 and returned last year.

Across 317 career games (310 starts) for the Arizona Diamondbacks (2011-14), Boston Red Sox (2015), Seattle Mariners (2016), Baltimore Orioles (2016-17), Houston Astros (2019), Cincinnati Reds (2020-21), Chicago Cubs (2022) and Brewers, Miley is 108-99 with a 4.07 ERA. He has thrown 1,361 strikeouts in his career and was an All-Star for Arizona in 2012.

Brewers rally for 11-inning victory over Yankees

Brewers rally for 11-inning victory over Yankees

Joey Ortiz delivered a walk-off single with one out in the 11th inning, giving the Milwaukee Brewers a 7-6 victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Pinch runner Owen Miller advanced to third on Brice Turang's leadoff flyout to open the 11th against Michael Tonkin (1-3), who was claimed on waivers by the Yankees from the Mets on Thursday. Ortiz then lined the game-winner to left.

The Yankees failed to score in the top of the 11th when pinch runner Jahmai Jones was thrown out trying to come home from third on a one-out comebacker to the mound.

Jared Koenig (2-0) pitched the final two innings for the victory.

Giancarlo Stanton put the Yankees ahead 6-5 by leading off the 10th with a pinch-hit RBI double. The Brewers tied it in the bottom half William Contreras advanced to third on a passed ball and Willy Adames followed with an RBI single.

The Yankees tagged Brewers starter Colin Rea for three homers in the first four innings for a 5-4 lead.

Trent Grisham's three-run shot put the Yanks in front 5-4 in the fourth. Oswaldo Cabrera singled with two outs and Austin Wells walked. Grisham then sent a 2-2 pitch 404 feet to right for his first homer of the season.

The Brewers tied it 5-5 in the sixth when Gary Sanchez doubled to open, chasing starter Luis Gil. Ron Marinaccio relieved and Sanchez advanced on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly.

Milwaukee offset two early solo homers with a pair of two-run shots.

Blake Perkins followed a one-out single in the third by Rhys Hoskins with his third homer to put the Brewers up 4-2.

Ortiz, acquired in the February trade that sent pitcher Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles, brought Milwaukee even at 2-2 in the second with his first career homer following a one-out single by Brice Turang.

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead off solo homers in each of the first two innings.

Juan Soto sent an 0-1 pitch 398 feet to left-center for his seventh homer with one out in the first. Alex Verdugo added his third homer with one out in the second.

Marcus Semien's homer lifts Rangers past Reds

Marcus Semien's homer lifts Rangers past Reds

Marcus Semien hit a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to lead the Texas Rangers to a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night in Arlington, Tex.

Semien, who flew out to the wall in dead-center in his previous at-bat, smashed a 1-1 fastball from Cincinnati reliever Lucas Sims (1-1) 392 feet down the left field line and off the front of the second deck for his fifth home run of the season.

Evan Carter also homered and had two hits and Leody Taveras had a double and two hits for Texas, which won for just the third time in its last seven games.

Jose Leclerc (2-2) pitched a 1-2-3 eighth to pick up the win in relief and Kirby Yates struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth to earn his fourth save. The Rangers bullpen didn't allow a baserunner over the final three innings. Starter Nathan Eovaldi went six innings and allowed one run on three hits, walking five and striking out eight.

Jonathan India had two hits and Elly De La Cruz had two walks, two stolen bases and a run scored for Cincinnati, which suffered its second straight loss.

Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. De La Cruz and Spencer Steer both walked with one out and De La Cruz then tagged and took third on a long flyout to right by Christian Encarnacion-Strand. De La Cruz then stole home on a double-steal, his major league-leading 17th stolen base of the season.

Texas tied it, 1-1, in the second when Carter led off with his fifth home run of the season, a 404-foot drive into the bullpen in right-center. It was also his third homer in the last five games.

White Sox take down Rays to halt 7-game skid

White Sox take down Rays to halt 7-game skid

Martin Maldonado and Eloy Jimenez homered and Chris Flexen pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the host Chicago White Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-4 on Friday to stop a seven-game losing streak.

Chicago won for just the fourth time in 26 games while sending Tampa Bay to its fourth loss in five games.

Nicky Lopez, Tommy Pham, Danny Mendick, Paul DeJong and Maldonado had two hits apiece for the White Sox, who had a season high in runs. Maldonado's three-run blast broke things open in the sixth.

Flexen (1-3) was the benefactor in his return to the starting rotation after a brief detour to the bullpen.

Tampa Bay drew to within 5-2 with a pair of seventh-inning runs before Jimenez got them back with a two-run blast in the bottom half.

Andrew Vaughn opened the scoring for Chicago with an RBI sacrifice fly in the third inning.

Chicago's run snapped a streak of 14 2/3 scoreless innings for Rays right-hander Zach Eflin, although the run was unearned.

Pham, making his White Sox debut, scored after reaching base on a throwing error by Tampa Bay second baseman Curtis Mead. Eflin walked the next two batters before the Rays escaped with allowing only one run.

Another big rally failed to materialize in the White Sox fourth. DeJong singled to score Mendick, who led off the inning with a double, but was erased when Maldonado grounded into a double play one batter later.

Flexen made the support stand up. He retired seven Rays in a row after allowing a leadoff double to Yandy Diaz and yielded only two hits in his five-plus innings to go with three walks and two strikeouts.

Consecutive leadoff walks to start the sixth spelled the end of the night for Flexen. Dominic Leone entered in relief and kept Tampa Bay scoreless.

Eflin (1-3) scattered five runs, four earned, and nine hits in six innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Pham reached base three times. The White Sox recalled the veteran from Triple-A Charlotte before the game. He signed a minor-league deal on April 16.

Diaz left in the eighth inning after being hit on the left hand with a pitch.

Mead had two hits and an RBI.

Chris Sale settles in, pitches Braves past Guardians

Chris Sale settles in, pitches Braves past Guardians

Chris Sale threw seven masterful innings and Ozzie Albies returned from the injured list to get two hits and help the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Cleveland Guardians 6-2 on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

The Braves have won four in a row and 10 of their last 11. Atlanta and Cleveland are now tied with a major-league-best 18 wins.

Sale (3-1) gave up a game-opening homer to Steven Kwan, but he later retired the final 17 batters he faced. He allowed one run on two hits with one walk and six strikeouts. It was his third straight seven-inning start.

Atlanta's Pierce Johnson pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Tyler Matzek allowed a run while getting one out in the ninth before A.J. Minter notched the final two outs.

Albies hadn't played since his right big toe was broken when hit by a pitch on April 15. He returned to go 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI.

Cleveland starter Logan Allen (3-1) pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five.

The Guardians struck fast when Kwan led off the game with a homer to right field, his third long ball of the season. It was the third time in five starts that Sale has allowed a leadoff home run.

The Braves took a 3-1 in the fourth inning on a two-run double by Marcell Ozuna and an RBI double from Michael Harris II.

Atlanta added a run in the fifth when Albies doubled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Matt Olson's single.

The Braves made it 5-1 in the sixth when Albies singled home Ronald Acuna Jr., who had walked and advanced on a balk.

Atlanta's Orlando Arcia hit his second homer, a solo shot, in the eighth off reliever Pedro Avila.

Cleveland's David Fry hit an RBI single in the ninth before Minter retired the final two batters.

Cardinals hold Mets in check in series opener

Cardinals hold Mets in check in series opener

Miles Mikolas combined with three relievers on an eight-hitter Friday night for the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the New York Mets 4-2 in the opener of a three-game series.

Alec Burleson and Willson Contreras homered for the Cardinals, who have won three of four.

Tomas Nido had two hits, including a homer, for New York, which has lost four of five. J.D. Martinez had two hits, including an RBI double, in his Mets debut. Martinez, a lifetime .287 hitter with 315 career homers, was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse prior to the game.

Mikolas (2-3) allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out five over 5 2/3 innings. The 35-year-old right-hander gave up 10 runs in 9 1/3 innings over his previous two starts.

JoJo Romero retired all four batters he faced, and Andrew Kittredge allowed one hit in the eighth before Ryan Helsley recorded his eighth save of the season by tossing a 1-2-3 ninth.

Mets starter Jose Butto (0-1) gave up four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over 5 2/3 innings. Relievers Josh Walker, Jorge Lopez and Sean Reid-Foley blanked the Cardinals on one hit the rest of the way.

Butto opened the second by hitting Nolan Arenado with a pitch and walking Paul Goldschmidt before Burleson hit his first homer of the season. Contreras led off the third with a homer to left, after which Butto retired 11 straight.

Mikolas kept the Mets in check before Nido homered with two outs in the fifth. Francisco Lindor doubled with one out in the sixth and scored when Martinez chased Mikolas with a two-out double.

Romero struck out Jeff McNeil to strand Martinez at second before throwing a perfect seventh. Kittredge worked around a leadoff single by Brandon Nimmo in the eighth before Helsley struck out two in the ninth.

Joey Meneses helps Nationals down Marlins

Joey Meneses helps Nationals down Marlins

Joey Meneses lined a go-ahead, two-run single to center in the eighth inning as the Washington Nationals defeated the host Miami Marlins 3-1 on Friday night.

The Nationals also got two hits each from Trey Lipscomb and Jacob Young -- their eighth and ninth hitters in the lineup -- and four scoreless innings from their bullpen.

Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth to earn his eighth save of the season.

Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who had been scheduled to start, was placed on injured reserve due to elbow tightness.

Luzardo is the fifth Marlins starting pitcher to go on the injured reserved this season, joining Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett. Only Cabrera has returned.

With Luzardo out, Anthony Maldonado made his major league debut, starting the game and pitching three scoreless innings. He had been Miami's closer at Triple-A this year.

Nationals starter Trevor Williams -- like Maldonado -- got a no-decision. Williams allowed five hits, two walks and one run in five innings.

The win went to Nationals reliever Derek Law (1-1). Law, who played locally for Miami Dade College, pitched two scoreless innings, striking out five batters.

Calvin Faucher (1-1) took the loss, allowing three hits, one walk and two runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Miami opened the scoring in the third inning on Nick Fortes' RBI single, a blooper down the right-field line. Vidal Brujan, who had hit a leadoff single, scored from second base.

Washington tied the score in the sixth inning, loading the bases with no outs on singles by Young and CJ Abrams and a walk by Jesse Winker. Young scored on Meneses' double-play grounder.

The Nationals surged ahead 3-1 in the eighth. Lipscomb singled and advanced on Young's sacrifice bunt. Abrams was then intentionally walked before Winker's infield single loaded the bases. Meneses' two-run single to center gave Washington the lead. Lipscomb scored easily, but Abrams had to make a stellar dive to reach the plate before Fortes' tag.

Shota Imanaga improves to 4-0 as Cubs top Red Sox

Shota Imanaga improves to 4-0 as Cubs top Red Sox

Michael Busch went 3-for-4 while rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong recorded his second straight multi-RBI game to help the visiting Chicago Cubs to a 7-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

The Cubs totaled 14 hits in support of rookie left-handed starter Shota Imanaga (4-0), who struck out seven -- the second-highest total of his young MLB career -- and allowed just one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Christopher Morel and Dansby Swanson also had two hits apiece in Chicago's fourth straight win.

Keegan Thompson pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and allowed two hits after replacing Imanaga.

Tyler O'Neill went 2-for-4 and drove in Boston's lone run on a fourth-inning solo home run.

Kutter Crawford (1-1) allowed four runs (three earned) on 10 hits while striking out four in six innings for the Red Sox.

Crawford's MLB-leading 0.66 ERA entering the game ballooned to 1.35. He had allowed nine hits combined over his previous two starts.

The Cubs scored two times on four hits in the second inning. Busch doubled off the wall in center to begin the inning and Swanson singled to center, moving Busch to third. Matt Mervis lined a single to right to score Busch. Miguel Amaya lined into a double play and Crow-Armstrong drove Swanson home with a single to center.

Chicago added to its lead in the fourth. Swanson hit a leadoff single. One out later, Amaya reached on an error, moving Swanson to third. Crow-Armstrong drove in Swanson with a sacrifice bunt to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead.

Boston responded in its half of the fourth. O'Neill hit a one-out, solo homer to center. Imanaga then walked Rob Refsnyder and allowed a single to Rafael Devers, but he escaped the inning without further damage.

Chicago added to its lead in the fifth thanks to Busch's sacrifice fly that drove in Mike Tauchman, who led off the inning with a single.

Patrick Wisdom ripped a pinch-hit, two-run double that rolled to the wall in center, highlighting a three-run seventh for Chicago.

Dodgers trounce Blue Jays for fifth straight win

Dodgers trounce Blue Jays for fifth straight win

Max Muncy hit a three-run home run, right-hander Gavin Stone pitched seven strong innings and the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 12-2 Friday night.

Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith added solo homers for the Dodgers, who won the opener of the three-game series to extend their winning streak to five games. Smith had four hits and Muncy had three to lead the Dodgers' 19-hit attack.

Stone (2-1) allowed one run, two hits and two walks while striking out two.

Danny Jansen hit a solo home run for the Blue Jays, who have lost four straight.

Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (2-4) allowed nine hits, seven runs and three walks in 2 2/3 innings.

Ohtani, who had been rumored to be joining Toronto as a free agent before signing with Los Angeles, was booed when he came to bat in the first inning. He promptly hit a blast to right for his seventh home run of the season.

The Dodgers scored six in the third.

Mookie Betts singled and stole second, Ohtani walked and Freddie Freeman and Smith hit RBI singles. Muncy then hit his fifth homer of the season on a drive to right.

To cap off the Dodgers' outburst, former Blue Jay Teoscar Hernandez hit an infield single, stole second and scored on Gavin Lux's single.

Smith hit his second homer of the season on a one-out shot to left in the fourth against Trevor Richards to make it 8-0.

Jansen stroked his first homer of the season to left with two outs in the home fourth.

The Dodgers scored a run against Brendon Little in the fifth on a single by Andy Pages and a double by Betts.

The Dodgers added two more in the sixth. Smith doubled and scored when second baseman Cavan Biggio was charged with a throwing error on Muncy's infield single. James Outman singled before Nate Pearson replaced Little, and Pages hit a sacrifice fly to make it 11-1.

Toronto scored one in the eighth against Nick Ramirez. Biggio walked, took third on George Springer's double and scored on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s groundout.

Toronto infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa pitched the ninth and allowed one run on Smith's sacrifice fly.

A's rally past Orioles to win in 10 innings

A's rally past Orioles to win in 10 innings

Brent Rooker hit an RBI double to drive in the go-ahead run in extra innings as the visiting Oakland Athletics rallied past the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 in 10 innings on Friday to open a three-game series.

Rooker finished 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Shea Langeliers hit a home run and Lawrence Butler added a double for Oakland. Mason Miller pitched a perfect 10th inning and struck out Gunnar Henderson with the tying run on third to secure his seventh save of the season and the Athletics' second straight win.

Ryan O'Hearn had two singles and an RBI, and Cedric Mullins hit his sixth home run of the season for the Orioles, who led 2-1 entering the ninth inning.

Rooker led off the ninth with a double off Baltimore closer Craig Kimbrel. JJ Bleday followed with a walk before Abraham Toro seared a line drive that glanced off Ryan McKenna's glove in deep right-center for an RBI double to tie the score.

The Athletics nearly took the lead on the next pitch when Kimbrel threw a breaking ball past catcher Adley Rutschman. Bleday dashed in from third and narrowly scored on a headfirst slide ahead of Kimbrel's tag, but a replay review overturned the initial safe call, leaving Toro on third base with one out.

Kimbrel walked Darell Hernaiz and Butler to load the bases with one out. Keegan Akin entered and retired the next two batters to keep the score tied.

After Mitch Spence (2-1) set down Baltimore in order in the ninth, Rooker came up with two outs in the 10th and hit a sweeper from Jacob Webb (0-1) into left field for a double that scored Langeliers from first. Langeliers had reached on a fielder's choice after Ryan Noda was tagged out in a rundown between third and home.

Miller fanned Colton Cowser in the bottom of the frame and induced a groundout from Heston Kjerstad before blowing a 101 mph fastball past Henderson to seal the win.

Mullins propelled the Orioles ahead 2-1 with one out in the bottom of the fourth when he hit a hanging changeup from Athletics starter Ross Stripling over the right-field wall. The center fielder's homer came an inning after O'Hearn tied the score at 1-1 with a two-out RBI single up the middle.

Langeliers opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-out solo shot off Baltimore starter Corbin Burnes, who gave up one run on three hits and three walks in six innings. Burnes struck out six.

Royals bust out with 7 in the 9th to rout Tigers

Royals bust out with 7 in the 9th to rout Tigers

Seth Lugo pitched seven dominant innings and the visiting Kansas City Royals scored seven ninth-inning runs to notch an 8-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday afternoon.

Lugo (4-1) allowed only three hits and tied his career-best with nine strikeouts. John Schreiber and Will Smith completed the shutout.

Bobby Witt Jr. drove in three runs and Maikel Garcia knocked in a pair during the opener of the three-game series. Adam Frazier scored two runs, drove in another and made a sparkling defensive play.

Detroit starter Reese Olson (0-4) limited the Royals to one run and three hits in seven innings.

Neither side had a baserunner until Frazier hit a one-out single in the top of the third. Kyle Isbel followed with another single and Garcia drew a walk, loading the bases. Witt then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Frazier.

Frazier saved two runs in the bottom of the frame. Javier Baez drew a leadoff walk and, with one out, Parker Meadows ripped a long fly to right. Frazier made a leaping grab to rob Meadows of a home run, then doubled Baez off first.

The Tigers didn't have a hit until Mark Canha's one-out single in the fourth. Spencer Torkelson reached on an infield single but Kerry Carpenter lined out to short and Matt Vierling flied out, ending the threat.

Kansas City had a pair of runners in the fifth when Isbel walked and Garcia smacked a two-out single. Witt flied out to center to keep the score at 1-0.

The Tigers had two on with two outs in the seventh, as Vierling singled and Colt Keith walked. Lugo then induced Baez to pop out.

Kansas City blew the game open in the ninth. Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe singled off Tyler Holton and Nelson Velazquez drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Frazier and Isbel were then hit by pitches to force in two runs.

Will Vest replaced Holton and gave up a two-run single to Garcia. Witt brought in two more runs with a triple and Vinnie Pasquantino added a sacrifice fly.

Astros, expecting Framber Valdez back, option JP France to Triple-A

Astros, expecting Framber Valdez back, option JP France to Triple-A

The struggling Houston Astros optioned right-handed starter JP France to Triple-A Sugar Land Friday, clearing the way for the team to activate left-hander Framber Valdez from the 15-day injured list.

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Thursday night that Valdez, who has been sidelined by soreness in his left elbow, likely would start Sunday in Mexico City against the Colorado Rockies.

The teams also match up in Mexico City on Saturday.

France, 29, posted an 0-3 record and a 7.46 ERA over his first five starts (25 1/3 innings) this season after a strong 2023 performance during which he delivered a 3.83 ERA in 136 1/3 innings.

The 30-year-old Valdez (0-0, 2.19), an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, has made two starts this season, allowing 11 hits and three runs, walking six and striking out 10 in 12 1/3 innings.

The 7-19 Astros, tied with the Rockies for the third-worst mark in the majors entering Friday, also will recall 1B/OF Trey Cabbage as their 27th man for the Mexico City series, according to MLB.com.

Orioles option struggling Jackson Holliday to Triple-A

Orioles option struggling Jackson Holliday to Triple-A

The Baltimore Orioles optioned struggling infielder Jackson Holliday to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.

Holliday, 20, is just 2-for-34 (.059) with one RBI and 18 strikeouts in 10 games since making his major-league debut on April 10.

The son of seven-time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday, the younger Holliday joined the Orioles after hitting .333 with two homers and nine RBIs in 10 games at Norfolk.

He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Stillwater (Okla.) High School. Playing shortstop and second base, he has batted .321 with 15 homers, 93 RBIs and 29 stolen bases in 155 games in the minors.

Also on Friday, the Orioles selected the contract of outfielder Ryan McKenna and designated catcher David Banuelos for assignment.

McKenna, 27, is batting .244 with two homers and five RBIs in 12 games this season with Norfolk. He has hit .221 with six homers and 43 RBIs in 282 career games with the Orioles.

Banuelos, 27, did not record a hit in his lone at-bat in his major-league career on April 16.

Report: White Sox calling up OF Tommy Pham

Report: White Sox calling up OF Tommy Pham

The Chicago White Sox are calling up outfielder Tommy Pham from Triple-A Charlotte, The Athletic reported Friday.

The team will designate journeyman outfielder Kevin Pillar for assignment to clear room on the roster, per the report.

The White Sox signed Pham, 36, to a minor league deal on April 16. He hit .294 (5-for-17) with a double, an RBI and two stolen bases in four games at Charlotte.

Pham spent time with the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks last season, playing in 129 games. He hit .256 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs.

Pham has compiled a .259 batting average with 130 homers and 431 RBIs in 1,005 games with the St. Louis Cardinals (2014-18), Tampa Bay Rays (2018-19), San Diego Padres (2020-21), Cincinnati Reds (2022), Boston Red Sox (2022), Mets and Diamondbacks.

Pillar, 35, is batting .160 with one homer and four RBIs in 17 games this season with the White Sox.

He is a career .257 hitter with 107 home runs and 427 RBIs in 1,131 games with the Toronto Blue Jays (2013-19), San Francisco Giants (2019), Red Sox (2020), Colorado Rockies (2020), Mets (2021), Los Angeles Dodgers (2022), Atlanta Braves (2023) and White Sox.

J.D. Martinez expected to debut Friday for Mets

J.D. Martinez expected to debut Friday for Mets

J.D. Martinez is expected to make his long-awaited New York Mets debut on Friday when the team opens a seven-game homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Signed to a one-year, reported $12 million contract on March 23, Martinez wasn't in spring training with the Mets. He needed time to prepare for the season, then dealt with a back issue.

In a pair of games at Triple-A Syracuse, Martinez was 3-for-8 with three runs driven in.

With the Mets, Martinez is expected to bat behind Pete Alonso at designated hitter.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said earlier this week that barring a setback, Martinez would be in the lineup Friday. He will not be the everyday DH from the start.

"I'll have a conversation with him, but out of the gate, I'm not gonna run this guy and DH him every day," Mendoza said. "He's gonna need some days, you know. I think it's one of those where, like I said, I'll sit down with him and put together a game plan here because it's important. He's too valuable for this team and we gotta take care of him."

Martinez, 36, was an All-Star for the third season in a row last year, the sixth selection of his career and only one with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Martinez hit .271 with a .321 on-base percentage, a .572 slugging percentage, 33 homers and 103 RBIs over 113 games in 2023.

Martinez spent the previous five years in Boston, helping the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series, a year in which he led the majors with 130 RBIs.

Martinez previously played for the Houston Astros (2011-13), Detroit Tigers (2014-17) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (2017). In 1,522 career games, he has a .287/.350/.524 batting line with 315 home runs and 1,002 RBIs.

Without Martinez, the Mets are 13-11 entering play Friday.

Marlins LHP Jesus Luzardo (elbow) scratched from start

Marlins LHP Jesus Luzardo (elbow) scratched from start

The Miami Marlins scratched left-hander Jesus Luzardo from Friday's scheduled start due to elbow discomfort.

The team said Luzardo, 26, will undergo further testing.

In his place, right-hander Anthony Maldonado is scheduled to make his major-league debut when the Marlins open a four-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals on Friday night.

Maldonado, 26, was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville, where he's gone 11-3 with a 1.84 ERA across 78.1 innings pitched over three seasons.

Luzardo has struggled through five starts this season, going 0-2 with a 6.58 ERA. He has struck out 27 batters, walked 13 and allowed five home runs in 26 innings of work.

He owns a career record of 23-30 with a 4.32 ERA in 98 games (82 starts) with the Oakland A's (2019-21) and Marlins.

Braves reinstate 2B Ozzie Albies from injured list

Braves reinstate 2B Ozzie Albies from injured list

The red-hot Atlanta Braves reinstated star second baseman Ozzie Albies from the 10-day injured list on Friday.

He landed on the shelf April 16 with a broken big toe, sustained when he was hit by a pitch on the right foot the previous day.

Albies, a three-time All-Star, is batting .317 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 15 games this season.

Albies, 27, established career bests of 33 homers and 109 RBIs last season. He has a .273 career average with 133 homers and 469 RBIs in 787 games since reaching the majors with the Braves in 2017.

The Braves made room for Albies by sending shortstop David Fletcher back to Triple-A Gwinnett after Thursday's 4-3 win against the Miami Marlins in 10 innings.

Fletcher, 29, appeared in five games for the Braves and batted .250 (2-for-8) with two RBIs.

Atlanta has won three straight and nine of its last 10 games entering a three-game weekend series at home against the Cleveland Guardians.

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