GOTCHA! Houston Astros catcher Carlos Corporan tags out Texas Rangers’ Ian Kinsler (R) at home plate during the ninth inning of their American League MLB baseball game in Houston. (Reuters)
AFP/New York
Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer during a six-run sixth inning and Yu Darvish won his fourth consecutive decision as visiting Texas Rangers defeated the Houston Astros for the second straight night.
David Murphy hit the go-ahead double off Philip Humber (0-8), Leonys Martin had a two-run triple and Elvis Andrus capped the six-run uprising with a run-scoring single as the Rangers knocked off the Astros for the 18th time in the last 22 meetings.
Adrian Beltre and Lance Berkman also homered for the Rangers.
Darvish (6-1) allowed three runs and three hits in seven innings and struck out eight to raise his major-league leading total to 80.
Matt Dominguez had two homers and three RBIs against Darvish. Dominguez hit a solo shot in the third and a two-run homer in the fifth that gave Houston a 3-1 lead.
Cardinals 3 Rockies 0
Adam Wainwright took a no-hitter into the eighth on way to his sixth career shutout while Allen Craig recorded three hits and an RBI as St. Louis blanked visiting Colorado for the second straight day.
A day after Shelby Miller retired 27 straight batters in a one-hit shutout, Wainwright (5-2) struck out seven and surrendered two hits while walking one. It was the veteran right-hander’s second shutout of the season and his 13th career complete game.
Wainwright finally allowed a hit when rookie Nolan Arenado sent a clean single to center with one out in the eighth, ending a string of 49 straight outs without a hit for Rockies batters.
Rays 8 Padres 7
Evan Longoria belted a two-run, two-out homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied past the San Diego Padres for a fourth straight victory.
Ben Zobrist walked with two outs and Longoria hammered a pitch by closer
Huston Street (0-2) over the left-center field wall to set a franchise record with his fifth walk-off home run.
James Loney also hit a two-run homer and Cesar Ramos (1-0) did not allow a hit over 2 1/3 innings to get the victory.
Yankees 3 Royals 2
Vernon Wells belted a two-run homer to back seven strong innings from Andy Pettitte as visiting New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals to extend their winning streak to four games.
Pettitte (4-2) rebounded from a pair of rocky outings to win his 10th consecutive decision against Kansas City.
Angels 3 White Sox 2
Mike Trout slugged a two-run homer and the visiting Los Angeles beat the Chicago White Sox to match a season high with their third straight victory.
Jerome Williams (2-1) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings to pick up his first win as a starter since June 1, 2012.