ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jose Siri, Randy Arozaena and Luke Raley homered, and the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the sliding Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 on Monday night.
Tampa Bay leads the major leagues with 94 home runs. The Rays opened a three-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East.
After opener Trevor Kelley pitched two scoreless innings, Josh Fleming (1-0) allowed two runs and five hits over the next six as the Rays improved to 22-4 at home.
Toronto’s Chris Bassitt (5-3) pitched 28 consecutive scoreless inning before the Rays scored three times in the second. He allowed six runs — two earned — and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Whit Merrifield and Daulton Varsho homered for the Blue Jays, who have lost seven of eight.
PIRATES 6, RANGERS 4
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tucupita Marcano hit his first career grand slam, rookie Luis Ortiz pitched into the eighth inning and earned his first major league victory and Pittsburgh beat AL West-leading Texas.
Ortiz (1-2) allowed two runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings for the win in his eighth career start. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out four and walked two in a 93-pitch effort.
Marcano’s slam to center field off Joe Barlow capped a five-run seventh inning and put the Pirates ahead 6-1.
Earlier in the inning, Carlos Santana singled to drive in Bryan Reynolds with the go-ahead run with two outs on a play that was overturned after a video review. Reynolds was originally called out on right fielder Adolis Garcia’s throw to home plate, a play that would have ended the inning.
Josh Sborz (1-2) allowed three runs in one inning of relief and took the loss.
Texas rookie Josh Jung hit a two-run homer — his 10th of the season — off closer David Bednar in the ninth inning, pulling the Rangers within 6-4. Bednar then retired the final two batters.
GUARDIANS 3, WHITE SOX 0
CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookie Hunter Gaddis pitched six strong innings for his first major league win and struggling Cleveland catcher Mike Zunino connected for a two-run homer.
Gaddis (1-1) was recalled from Triple-A Columbus and gave the Guardians a badly needed quality start after they were swept over the weekend in New York. He gave up just two hits, combining with four relievers on a three-hitter.
Zunino hit his third homer — first since April 28 — in the seventh off Gregory Santos. Sam Hentges, Nick Sandlin and Trevor Stephan combined for two scoreless innings before Emmanuel Clase worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 21 chances.
The Guardians scored their first run in the second on a wild pitch by Jesse Scholtens (0-2).
DIAMONDBACKS 6, PHILLIES 3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. extended the longest active hitting streak in the majors to 15 games with a homer, double and two RBIs to lead Arizona.
Pavin Smith also homered for the Diamondbacks, who have won eight of their last 10 games.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryson Stott hit solo homers for the Phillies, who have lost six of their last eight games.
Gurriel went 4 for 4 and improved his average to .321. During his hitting streak, Gurriel has a .416 average (25 for 60) with six doubles, seven homers and 14 RBIs.
Zack Wheeler (3-4) was slowed by a fielding error by Stott on a possible double play ball in the second. It proved costly when Geraldo Perdomo doubled into the right field corner, scoring two runs.
Schwarber and Stott cut the deficit to one run with solo homers in the fourth inning off Diamondbacks left-hander Tommy Henry (2-1). Smith answered in the fifth with a leadoff solo shot off Wheeler.
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