Nationals beat the Mets

WASHINGTON (AP) — James Wood singled home the go-ahead run in his third major league game, Luis García Jr. hit two homers and the Washington Nationals rallied to beat the New York Mets 7-5 on Wednesday night.

Wood, Washington’s top prospect who made his debut this week, drove in Lane Thomas with a hit off Jake Diekman in the seventh, then stole his first career base moments later. He also singled and scored in the sixth, part of the Nationals’ comeback from a five-run deficit.

Jacob Barnes (4-2) threw a perfect seventh in relief of Mitchell Parker to get the victory as the Nationals ended a three-game skid and won for just the second time in their last nine. The Mets fell back to .500.

The Mets’ beleaguered, overtaxed bullpen finally cost them after doing enough to string together consecutive 10-inning wins. Diekman (2-3) allowed two runs on two hits, getting just one out.

WHITE SOX 8, GUARDIANS 2

CLEVELAND (AP) — Erick Fedde gave up one run in six innings, Martin Maldonado homered and drove in three runs, and the Chicago White Sox routed AL Central-leading Cleveland.

Fedde (6-3) retired the final 12 batters he faced, allowing three hits with three strikeouts.

Lenyn Sosa matched his career-high with three hits and Luis Robert Jr. had a pair of hits and scored twice for the White Sox, who have the worst record in the majors at 25-63.

Guardians starter Gavin Williams (0-1) went four innings and 74 pitches in his season debut after missing three months with right elbow inflammation. He gave up five runs and seven hits in his first major league appearance since Sept. 17 against Texas.

Brayan Rocchio hit a solo homer for Cleveland, which had won six straight at Progressive Field snapped and still has the best home record in the majors at 27-10.

RED SOX 7, MARLINS 2

MIAMI (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela tripled, doubled and drove in three runs, Brayan Bello limited Miami to a run over 6 2/3 innings and Boston beat the Marlins.

Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida each had two hits and two RBIs to help the Red Sox win their third straight after a three-game slide.

In his first start since June 25, Bello (8-5) gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out seven. The right-hander’s previous turn was skipped to help him overcome a difficult stretch, when he dropped three of four decisions.

Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran and left fielder Rob Refsnyder robbed Miami’s Josh Bell of extra base hits with standout defensive plays. Duran ran and tracked down Bell’s drive at the wall in the sixth, and O’Neill dove to catch a line drive in the eighth.

REDS 3, YANKEES 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Andrew Abbott took a two-hit shutout into the seventh inning and reliever Fernando Cruz got Aaron Judge to ground into a pivotal double play, pitching Cincinnati past the struggling New York Yankees.

Noelvi Marte hit a two-run homer and Stuart Fairchild also connected for the Reds, who handed Carlos Rodón (9-6) his fourth straight loss. They’ve won consecutive one-run games at Yankee Stadium to ensure their first series victory since June 6-9.

Cincinnati was 0-4-2 in its previous six series since taking three of four games from the Chicago Cubs.

Anthony Volpe ended an 0-for-18 slump with a two-run double in the seventh off Cruz, who then threw a wild pitch and walked Juan Soto that put runners at the corners in a 3-2 game.

But after a visit from pitching coach Derek Johnson, the right-hander got Judge to ground into an around-the-horn double play that ended the inning. A fired-up Cruz gave a huge fist pump and shouted with joy as he came off the mound.

ASTROS 9, BLUE JAYS 2

TORONTO (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a tiebreaking single in a four-run seventh inning, Yordan Alvarez homered for the third straight game and Houston beat Toronto for their 11th win in 13 games.

Houston’s Yainer Diaz reached base four times and drove in three as the Astros handed the struggling Blue Jays their 11th loss in 15.

Alvarez looked to be in pain after an awkward swing on his ground ball to second base that ended the first inning, but Houston’s designated hitter reached base in his next four plate appearances.

Alvarez doubled home a run in the third, led off the sixth with a solo homer, came around to score after being intentionally walked in the seventh, and capped his night with an RBI double in the eighth. He finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

Right-hander Tayler Scott (5-2) got the win despite allowing a game-tying single to the only batter he faced. Bryan Abreu worked a perfect seventh, Bryan King pitched the eighth and Rafael Montero finished.

Toronto’s Bo Bichette struck out on a pitch that hit him in the ninth.

PIRATES 5, CARDINALS 4, 10 INNINGS

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz hit run-scoring singles on consecutive pitches in the 10th inning, and Pittsburgh rallied to beat St. Louis.

Willson Contreras’ two-run homer in the eighth off Colin Holderman tied the score 3-3.

Alec Burleson’ put St. Louis ahead with a 10th-inning sacrifice fly off Aroldis Chapman (1-3) after Masyn Winn’s infield single advanced automatic runner Dylan Carlson to third.

With Joey Bart the automatic runner on second starting the bottom half, Michael A. Taylor struck out while trying to bunt and Andrew McCutchen drew a walk from Andrew Kittridge (1-4).

JoJo Romero relieved and Reynolds lined a fastball into center to drive in Bart and advance McCutchen to second. Cruz drove a slider to right and McCutchen scored standing up as the ball bounced to the right-field wall.

Rowdy Tellez had three hits for the Pirates, including an opposite-field home run just inside the left-field foul pole leading off the seventh against Giovanny Gallegos. Pittsburgh had lost three of four.

Wynn had three hits for the Cardinals.

BRAVES 3, GIANTS 1

ATLANTA (AP) — Chris Sale allowed only three hits in six innings to earn his 11th win, leading Atlanta to a victory over San Francisco.

Sale (11-3) tied Kansas City’s Seth Lugo for the most wins in the majors. It is Sale’s most wins since finishing 12-4 in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox. Sale recorded nine strikeouts while allowing one run.

The Giants were held to four hits off Sale and three relievers.

Austin Riley hit a two-run double in the fifth.

Sale needed only six pitches to retire the Giants in order in the first, setting the stage for his strong start. The left-hander struck out the side in the third. Sale added two more strikeouts to open the fifth before Curt Casali lined a single to center field for San Francisco’s first hit.