BOSTON — Chris Sale gave up his third and fourth home runs in a Red Sox uniform, but that did not keep the left-hander from pitching Boston to a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the middle game of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
Sale, winning his third straight start, surrendered homers to Logan Morrison (his 10th) and Kevin Kiermaier, but those were the only hits he allowed in seven strong innings that included 12 strikeouts.
Mookie Betts clubbed a two-run homer, his fourth blast in six games, and doubled home a run. Deven Marrero, Boston’s latest third baseman, doubled home two runs off Blake Snell (0-4) for Boston.
Sale (4-2, 2.15 ERA) left to a standing ovation after the seventh inning and Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel, who posted his 11th save, finished with an inning and two strikeouts apiece.
Dodgers 4, Rockies 0: Alex Wood gave up five singles (two infield hits), walked one and struck out 10 — all swinging — in six innings as Los Angeles shut down Colorado for its seventh victory in its last eight games.
Wood (4-0), who was 0-2 with a 11.25 ERA in four previous starts at Coors Field, lowered his season ERA to 2.27 while throwing 60 of 88 pitches for strikes. Wood has 48 strikeouts and 11 walks in 35 2/3 innings this season.
Los Angeles scored two runs in the second and another in the fifth on Brett Eibner’s mammoth home run, an estimated 465-foot shot well into the trees behind the center-field fence.
Tigers 4, Angels 3: J.D. Martinez slugged a pair of home runs, including the game-winner in the eighth inning, to lift Detroit over Los Angeles.
Rangers 6, Athletics 5: Nomar Mazara delivered a go-ahead two-run double in a four-run seventh inning as Texas won its season-high fifth straight game.
Pirates 4, Diamondbacks 3: Andrew McCutchen and pinch-hitter John Jaso had RBIs and Trevor Williams pitched five efficient innings to help Pittsburgh snap a six-game slide.
Blue Jays 7, Mariners 2: Jose Bautista hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the seventh inning and Toronto defeated Seattle for its fourth win in a row.
Twins 4, Indians 1: Jose Berrios pitched 7 2/3 strong innings and Max Kepler homered as Minnesota beat Cleveland at Progressive Field. The slumping defending AL champion Indians have lost seven of their last 11 and continue to have trouble scoring runs.
Giants 3, Reds 1: Matt Moore continued his dominant form at AT&T Park, pitching San Francisco to a victory over Cincinnati.
Cardinals 5, Cubs 3: Carlos Martinez allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings and drove in one run with one of his two hits to lead St Louis to a win over Chicago.
Braves 3, Marlins 1: Marcell Ozuna, the left fielder for slumping Miami, lost a ball in the lights, leading to a two-run Atlanta rally and a 3-1 victory at Marlins Park.
Royals 4, Orioles 3: Brandon Moss hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning and Nathan Karns struck out a career-high 12 in a no-decision as Kansas City held on to beat Baltimore.
White Sox 5, Padres 4: Yolmer Sanchez delivered a walk-off single in the ninth inning as Chicago snapped a six-game losing streak with a victory over San Diego.
Brewers 11, Mets 4: An eight-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Travis Shaw, pushed Milwaukee past New York at Miller Park.
Nationals 6, Phillies 4: Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer with two outs in the last of the ninth inning off Edubray Ramos as first-place Washington stormed back to beat Philadelphia.
The game between Astros and Yankees was postponed due to rain. — Reuters
