Manuel Margot blasted a one-out, three-run homer in the ninth inning as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays beat the Seattle Mariners 8-7 on Friday night for their fifth straight win.
With Tampa Bay down 6-5 after Jarred Kelenic’s pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth, Margot swatted a fastball from Paul Sewald (0-1) to center field in his first at-bat after entering the game on defense. One-out singles by Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe set up the heroics.
Kelenic ripped a 1-0 sinker from Ryan Thompson (2-1) out to right-center for his third homer of the season and his first career pinch-hit long ball.
Arozarena went 4-for-5 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Rays leadoff hitter Yandy Diaz had two hits, stretching his on-base streak to 17 games. Playing for the first time in 14 games, Francisco Mejia finished 3-for-4 with a double and a run.
Seattle’s Eugenio Suarez slugged two homers, and Jesse Winker (two doubles, run), Adam Frazier (double, run, walk), Julio Rodriguez (run, walk) added two hits apiece. The American League Pitcher of the Month for April, Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert wasn’t involved in the decision after yielding four runs on seven hits in five innings.
Twins 2, Athletics 1
Jose Miranda and Byron Buxton each hit a solo home run, and Minnesota held on for a win over visiting Oakland in Minneapolis.
Right-hander Josh Winder (2-0) earned his second straight victory for the Twins. He allowed one unearned run on three hits in six innings, walking none and striking out eight. Twins right-hander Emilio Pagan escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to earn his third save.
Jed Lowrie notched the only RBI for Oakland, which lost its seventh game in a row. Athletics left-hander Zach Logue (1-1) took the loss in his first career start. Logue allowed two runs on five hits in five innings, and he walked two and struck out five.
Cardinals 3, Giants 2
Dylan Carlson hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning as St. Louis spoiled Willie Mays’ 91st-birthday celebration in San Francisco with a victory over the slumping Giants.
Ryan Helsley (1-0), who struck out four of the five batters he faced in 1 2/3 perfect innings, earned the win. Cardinals closer Giovanny Gallegos allowed a one-out single to Thairo Estrada in the bottom of the ninth before inducing Luis Gonzalez to ground into a game-ending double play for his sixth save.
Giants starter Alex Cobb allowed two runs and three hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out eight.
Astros 3, Tigers 2
Luis Garcia worked seven innings for the third time in his career while Chas McCormick and Martin Maldonado clubbed back-to-back home runs as Houston extended its winning streak to five games with a victory over visiting Detroit.
Garcia (2-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks with a career high-tying nine strikeouts.
Candelario was the second of 15 consecutive batters retired by Garcia to cap his outing. Garcia recorded a called third strike on Harold Castro to strand Baez at third in the third and later struck out five consecutive batters over the fifth and sixth innings, all swinging.
Angels 3, Nationals 0
Jhonathan Diaz and four relievers combined on a four-hit shutout in Los Angeles’ victory over Washington in Anaheim, Calif.
Diaz (1-0), just called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to replace Jose Suarez in the rotation, went five innings and allowed three hits and four walks while striking out four and making 67 pitches.
The Angels had only five hits themselves, including two by Mike Trout, who had the big hit of the night. Trout’s bases-loaded double in the fifth inning off Nationals starter Joan Adon drove in two runs.
White Sox 4, Red Sox 2
Luis Robert hit a two-run homer in the third inning and visiting Chicago held on for a win over Boston in the opener of a three-game series.
Tim Anderson had three hits for the White Sox, who have won four in a row. Vince Velasquez (2-2) allowed one run and three hits in five innings for the victory. Liam Hendriks pitched the ninth for his eighth save.
Nathan Eovaldi (1-1) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings for the Red Sox, who have lost three in a row and five of six.
Brewers 6, Braves 3
Left-hander Eric Lauer allowed only two hits over 6 1/3 innings to lead visiting Milwaukee to a win over Atlanta.
It was the fourth straight win for Milwaukee, which has won nine of its past 10 games. Atlanta took its fifth loss in seven games.
Lauer (3-0) gave up two runs, one earned, while walking three and striking out eight. Josh Hader worked around an error to pitch a scoreless ninth to earn his 11th save of the season. The losing pitcher was Atlanta reliever Collin McHugh (0-1), who allowed two runs in one-third of an inning.
Diamondbacks 4, Rockies 1
Daulton Varsho and David Peralta hit eighth-inning home runs and Merrill Kelly pitched 8 2/3 innings in Arizona’s win over Colorado in Phoenix.
Varsho belted his sixth home run of the season with one out in the eighth inning, snapping a 1-1 tie. After Pavin Smith hit a line-drive single to center field, Peralta followed with his fourth home run.
An anticipated duel between pitchers with two of the best ERAs in the majors went as expected. Colorado starter Chad Kuhl entered the game with a 1.90 ERA and Kelly was at 1.27. Kuhl wound up allowing one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings. Kelly (3-1) allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out eight.
Padres 3, Marlins 2
Yu Darvish allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings and Steven Wilson worked his way out of a two-on, no-out jam in the ninth to pick up his first major league save as San Diego held on to defeat visiting Miami.
Eric Hosmer, Matt Beaty and Manny Machado had RBI hits for the Padres. Machado had two of the team’s five hits.
Jesus Aguilar’s two-run homer wasn’t enough for the Marlins, who took their sixth straight loss, the past five all by one run.
