Right fielder Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in three runs to lead the 10th consecutive win for the New York Yankees, who beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1, in interleague duel. The Yankees ended leader Atlanta’s nine-game winning streak, which was the first meeting in nearly 120 years between teams that have won at least nine games in a row. Stanton homered in the second off young Dominican starter Huascar Ynoa (4-3), 23, and tied the game 1-1 in the sixth with a two-run double and two outs.
Dominican catcher Gary Sanchez gave New York safety with a two-out hit in the eighth, a two-run single. Starter Jordan Montgomery (5-5) worked to pass four walks in five innings, limiting the Braves to just two hits, including a home run by shortstop Dansby Swanson.
The Yankees bullpen took over at that point. Nicaraguan reliever Jonathan Loaisiga pitched two scoreless innings and struck out four opposing batters. Dominican Wandy Peralta worked by beating a pair of hits in the eighth inning and Cuban closer Aroldis Chapman finished with Atlanta by working the ninth with three “outs” to conga rhythm.
The Yankees’ Latin American hitting featured Sanchez, who went 4-1 with two RBIs.
Travis Shaw hits a grand slam and saves the Red Sox
First baseman Travis Shaw hit a game-ending grand slam in the 11th inning of the game that The Boston Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 8-4. Shaw, who came in as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning, hit a 3-2 home run off Dennis Santana (2-3), sending the ball over the Boston bullpen. He waved the bat and turned toward the cave before hitting the bases, his teammates huddling to meet him at the plate. The hit was Shaw’s first since he arrived on August 15 after being placed on the Milwaukee Brewers transfer list.
Mexican left-center fielder Alex Verdugo and right-hander Hunter Renfroe also drew the ball out of the park for the Red Sox in a game that could not be played Sunday due to rains caused by Hurricane Henri.
Garrett Whitlock (5-2) worked 2 2/3 innings for the Red Sox win.
The Rangers have the fewest major league wins since the All-Star break, going 8-26. Cuban designated hitter Andy Ibanez, who went 4-2, hit a two-run double to tie the score in the ninth inning off Matt Barnes.
Venezuelan Ortega helps the Cubs end their losing streak
Venezuelan center fielder Rafael Ortega hit a home run to end the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Chicago Cubs stopped their longest losing streak at home by beat the Colorado Rockies 6-4. Ortega emerged as the decisive player in the Cubs’ offense, going 1-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and RBIs.
Pinch-hitter Jason Heyward opened the ninth with a single and, after one out, Ortega hit the only homer of the game, depositing the ball in the right-field seats.
The Cubs scored five times in the last two innings to break a 13-game losing streak at Wrigley Field, the worst in franchise history. Reliever Daniel Bard (7-9) allowed the final home run after the Cubs took advantage of the walks in the eighth inning that allowed them to reduce the difference.
Rockies reliever Jhoulys Chacín filled the pads with three consecutive walks to open the eighth inning and Hispanic right fielder Michael Hermosillo doubled to cap a three-touchdown attack that tied the score at 4-4. Center fielder Sam Hilliard hit a two-run single in a first inning in which the Rockies crossed the plate plate three times. First baseman CJ Cron had three hits for Colorado, who fell for the second straight game after a five-game winning streak.
The victory went to the Mexican Manuel Rodríguez (2-2) when he retired the ninth inning in order.
Tsutsugo and Reynolds lead the Pirates comeback and win
Japanese pinch hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a home run and center fielder Bryan Reynolds tripled in the seventh inning to help the Pittsburgh pirates to complete the comeback and beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 in duel of losing teams.
With the game tied for the eighth, Noé Ramírez (0-1) had three consecutive walks to occupy the pads before Jake Faria came in to face third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes with one out. Hayes hit the short ball on the 10th pitch and Kevin Newman scored.
Tsutsugo kicked off Pittsburgh’s comeback in the seventh inning with his second home run as a pinch hitter this season, with a solo shot off the right-field wall. Reynolds hit Hayes with a 3-pointer to right-center on a homerun off reliever Joe Mantiply to bring Pittsburgh to one. Reynolds scored on an error by Venezuelan third baseman Asdrúbal Cabrera and put the tie on the board.
Pittsburgh has won three of four after losing 13 of its last 14 to improve to 3 1/2 games for the Diamondbacks, who are last in the National League.
Venezuelan Valera scores the winning run of the Blue Jays
Pinch-running back Breyvic Valera scored the tiebreaker run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning, and The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1. Valera ran for Reese McGuire after the Blue Jays catcher singled off closer Craig Kimbrel (2-4) to start the inning. Valera advanced to second on a wild pitch by Kimbrel to strike out Bo Bichette, advanced to third with a groundout and scored when the reliever uncovered another wild pitch, this time to Dominican outfielder Teoscar Hernández.
Reliever Tim Mayza (3-1) pitched a perfect eighth for the win and closer Jordan Romano finished for his 12th save in 13 chances.
Toronto spoiled a strong outing by Lance Lynn with Chicago and gave the White Sox their fourth loss in five games. The Blue Jays, coming off seven of nine, improved to 9-14 in games within one run. Lynn allowed a run on four hits in seven innings, but missed the decision for the fifth straight time as a starter. He has not won since a win over the Brewers on the road in Milwaukee on July 25.