New York Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka throws a pitch during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Cubs 3-0. (UPI)
Reuters/New York
Masahiro Tanaka allowed a pair of bunt singles and struck out 10 in eight dominant innings to lead the New York Yankees to a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a day-night double-header in Wednesday’s Major League Baseball.
Despite chilly and breezy afternoon conditions, Tanaka (2-0) ran his strikeout total to 28 in just three starts. Carlos Beltran homered in the first inning for the Yankees (9-6), who added runs in the fourth and fifth against Chicago (4-10) starter Jason Hammel.
Right-hander Michael Pineda scattered four hits in six effective innings and Scott Sizemore had an RBI single as the New York Yankees completed a double-header sweep of the Chicago Cubs. Pineda (2-1) won his second straight start as Brett Gardner also had an RBI single.
Julio Teheran pitched a three-hitter for his first career shutout as he out-dueled Cliff Lee to lead Atlanta past Philadelphia 1-0. Teheran, the second-year right-hander, retired the first 12 hitters he faced and was aided by Evan Gattis who went 4-for-4 with a solo homer for the Braves (10-4), winners of five straight. Lee (2-2) was a complete-game loser for Philadelphia (6-8), allowing 11 hits while striking out 13 and walking one.
Wily Peralta worked into the seventh inning and catcher Jonathan Lucroy had a two-run single as the Milwaukee Brewers avoided a sweep by beating the St Louis Cardinals 5-1. Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Brewers (11-4), who took a 4-0 lead and held off National League Central foe St Louis (9-6).
Pinch-hitter Zach Walters hit a tie-breaking solo home run in the eighth inning to lead the Washington Nationals to a win over the Miami Marlins 6-3. A 24-year-old switch-hitting rookie shortstop, Walters gave Washington (9-6) a 4-3 lead and Ian Desmond added a two-run single to clinch the contest. The Texas Rangers rallied with two outs in the ninth to beat Seattle as Leonys Martin delivered the winning hit off Mariners closer Fernando Rodney. Kevin Kouzmanoff scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
Seattle (7-7) ace Felix Hernandez was in line for the win after striking out nine and allowing one run in seven innings. Texas counterpart Yu Darvish struck out eight and surrendered two runs in seven innings for Texas (8-7).
Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy each drove in a run, and three Baltimore pitchers combined for a shutout as the Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0. Jones went 2-for-4 with an RBI infield single while playing designated hitter and Orioles (7-7) starter Miguel Gonzalez (1-1) needed 98 pitches to get through five innings as Tampa Bay (7-8) repeatedly worked the count but could not produce.
Johnny Cueto pitched his third career shutout, and first baseman Joey Votto hit a two-run home run, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the finale of a three-game series between National League Central rivals. Cueto (1-2) allowed just three hits and had a career-high 12 strikeouts en route to his seventh career complete game as Cincinnati (6-9) got the final say against Pittsburgh (7-8).
Anthony Recker hit his second home run of the season and Dillion Gee pitched seven shutout innings to help the New York Mets complete a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Third baseman David Wright had two singles, an RBI and a stolen base and extended his hitting streak to eight games for the Mets (8-7), who are above .500 for the first time this season.
Yan Gomes had a two-run triple in the second inning and the Cleveland Indians held on for a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Indians (7-7) starter Zach McAllister (2-0) held the Tigers to one run on four hits in six innings while striking out four.