Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images The Mariners hit two two-run homers in the first inning and opened the series with a W. On Friday night, the Mariners had Justin Verlander’s number. In a 6-1 victory, Seattle didn’t wait too long to greet the Astros ace with a four-run first inning, capped by two two-run home runs from rookie Julio Rodríguez and Kyle Lewis. After … [Read more...] about Mariners ambush Verlander, Astros to win series opener 6-1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt homered to extend his hitting streak to 18 games and lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 Friday night. Dakota Hudson was pulled after 4 2/3 innings with the bases loaded in the fifth, after allowing five hits and four walks. Drew VerHagen (2-0) got Andrew McCutchen to ground into a forceout that ended the fifth. “I'm … [Read more...] about Goldschmidt homers, Woodruff hurt, Cards beat Brewers 4-2

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jorge Polanco homered in a four-run first inning and Carlos Correa hit a go-ahead homer in the fourth to power the Minnesota Twins to a 10-7 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. Minnesota had a season-high 15 hits. Polanco’s first inning two-run homer was his fifth of the season and it came in his first at-bat after missing three games with an … [Read more...] about Polanco, Correa power Twins past struggling Royals 10-7

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Pinch-hitter Andy Ibañez drove in a pair of runs with a two-out single off Athletics closer Dany Jiménez, and the Texas Rangers scored three runs in the ninth inning for the second consecutive night to beat Oakland 8-5 on Friday. The Rangers rallied with six runs in the final three innings and extended their winning streak to three. It came a day after … [Read more...] about Rangers rally in 9th again to beat A's 8-5 for 3rd in row

SEATTLE (AP) — After being shut down by Justin Verlander twice already this season, the approach by the Seattle Mariners this time around was to be overly aggressive. “I said it to the club before the game, ‘If it looks like you can hit it hard, swing at it. Take our chances,’” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “And that's what we did tonight.” Rookie Julio Rodríguez hit the … [Read more...] about Mariners hammer Verlander for 4 HRs in 6-1 win over Astros

CINCINNATI (AP) — Rookie right-hander Graham Ashcraft earned his first victory with six strong innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat San Francisco 5-1 Friday night following a political protest by Giants manager Gabe Kapler and a scuffle over fantasy football between Tommy Pham and Joc Pederson. It was an eventful day for the Giants. Kapler refused to take the field for the … [Read more...] about Ashcraft lifts Reds over Giants amid Kapler anthem protest

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Luke Voit was one strike away from his third straight strikeout when he got a slider from Wil Crowe and drove it into into the seats in left-center to pull the San Diego Padres into a 3-3 tie with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The three-run homer was a big moment for the designated hitter, who has mostly struggled in his first season with the Padres. Two innings … [Read more...] about Myers, Voit provide punch as Padres beat Pirates 4-3

PHOENIX (AP) — Mookie Betts was almost apologetic about a lack of offense for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Then the slugger was reminded that the team's lineup still smacked three homers and had nine hits in a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The way the Dodgers are hitting the ball these days, a bad day is relative. “It seemed a little slow,” Betts said. … [Read more...] about Rios, Betts hit back-to-back HRs, Dodgers top D-backs 6-4

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. didn't have his cleanest fielding performance. He came through at the plate when was needed the most, though. Which kind of sums up the Toronto Blue Jays Friday night. Gurriel had one of Toronto's three errors, but his single in the ninth inning helped score Alejandro Kirk with the winning run as the Blue Jays rallied for a 4-3 victory … [Read more...] about Blue Jays rally in 9th inning for 4-3 victory over Angels