KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Julio Rodriguez had a career-high five hits to go with five RBIs, including a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Seattle Mariners escaped Kansas City with a 6-4 victory over the Royals on Thursday.
Rodriguez, who had four hits a night earlier, had three singles and a triple to go with his home run while joining Alex Rodriguez, Mike Cameron and Ruppert Jones in select company. The homer was the 20th of the season for Rodriguez, who already had stolen 30 bases, making the 22-year-old phenom just the fourth Mariners player in the 20-30 club.
Cal Raleigh added a homer in the ninth inning. Isaiah Campbell (3-0) earned the win for the Mariners with a scoreless seventh inning. Trent Thornton tossed a perfect eighth and Matt Brash picked up his fourth save.
Carlos Hernandez (1-8) took the loss. Nelson Velazquez homered for the fourth time in seven games for Kansas City, and MJ Melendez, Michael Massey and Freddy Fermin also drove in runs.
NATIONALS 10, RED SOX 7
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chris Sale failed to get through the fifth inning in his second start back from a shoulder injury, and Boston suffered another blow to its playoff hopes in a loss to Washington.
Luis Urías hit his first grand slam in the seventh as Boston tried to rally from eight runs down. Rafael Devers added a two-run homer later in the inning, getting the Red Sox within 9-7, but the rally failed as Kyle Finnegan earned his 19th save in 26 chances.
Sale (5-3) was lifted with one out in the fifth. Josh Winckowski entered and gave up a tiebreaking two-run double to Joey Meneses, the first of four straight hits by the Nationals, who scored five times in the inning.
Meneses drove in five runs and Patrick Corbin (8-11) pitched six sharp innings for rebuilding Washington. Keibert Ruiz went 3 for 3.
Rookie Triston Casas hit his 20th homer of the season for the Red Sox, who slipped 3 1/2 games behind AL East rival Toronto for the final wild-card spot and are fourth in the AL East.
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