NEW YORK — Matt Holliday ended Jharel Cotton’s no-hit bid by hitting a two-run homer with two out in the sixth inning and the New York Yankees defeated the Oakland Athletics 3-2 Saturday.
Cotton (3-5) allowed three runs and two hits in his return to the majors after a two-week stint with Triple-A Nashville. He took his no-hit bid through 104 pitches, but saw it end when Holliday sent a 1-and-0 slider into the Oakland bullpen and gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
Cotton was bidding to no-hit the Yankees for the first time since six Houston Astros did it on June 11, 2003. The last Oakland no-hitter was Dallas Braden’s perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 9, 2010, although Cotton probably would have combined on the no-hitter because of his rising pitch count.
Blue Jays 3, Rangers 1: Jose Bautista hit a go-ahead three-run homer and Marco Estrada struck out eight in six innings to carry Toronto to victory.
It was the fifth straight win for the Blue Jays (23-26) and the second victory in succession over the Rangers (24-26), who have lost five in a row.
Red Sox 6, Mariners 0: Brian Johnson, summoned from Triple-A to make a spot start, pitched a five-hit shutout and got help from strong defense as Boston recorded their its straight victory by blanking floundering Seattle.
Johnson, 26, pitched Boston’s first complete game of the season, the team’s first shutout since Steven Wright last Aug. 5 and Boston’s first at Fenway Park since Rich Hill on Sept. 25, 2015.
Nationals 3, Padres 0: Stephen Strasburg struck out a career-high 15 and allowed just three hits in seven innings as first-place Washington overcame some early fielding woes and baserunning blunders to beat last-place San Diego.
White Sox 3, Tigers 0 (Game 1)
Five Chicago pitchers combined to hold Detroit to four hits in the first game of a doubleheader.
Tigers hitters struck out 15 times and stranded 12 baserunners after entering Saturday 11th in the American League with a .242 batting average.
Tigers 4, White Sox 3 (Game 2): Victor Martinez and John Hicks homered as Detroit’s offense awoke to end a three-game losing streak in the second game of the doubleheader.
Twins 5, Rays 3: Brian Dozier hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to send Minnesota past Tampa Bay.
Brewers 6, Diamondbacks 1: Chase Anderson went seven innings without allowing a hit and Jesus Aguilar hit his fourth home run as Milwaukee snapped a five-game losing streak with a victory over Arizona at Miller Park.
Angels 5, Marlins 2: Mike Trout hit a titanic 443-foot solo home run, helping Los Angeles defeat Miami.
Royals 5, Indians 2: Alcides Escobar’s two-run double capped a three-run sixth inning rally, and Mike Moustakas homered in the ninth inning, lifting Kansas City over Cleveland at Progressive Field.
Phillies 4, Reds 3: Tommy Joseph delivered his second walk-off hit in three days, and Philadelphia topped Cincinnati at Citizens Bank Park.
Astros 5, Orioles 2: Dallas Keuchel made a triumphant return from the disabled list and George Springer homered and scored twice as Houston claimed the victory.
Dodgers 5, Cubs 0: Veteran second baseman Chase Utley drove in three runs with a pair of singles, and versatile Chris Taylor hit his sixth home run of the season as Los Angeles shut out Chicago for the second game in a row.
Pirates 5, Mets 4 (10 innings): John Jaso had an RBI pinch-hit single in the ninth to send the game to extra innings, then hit a bases-loaded RBI single in the 10th inning to give Pittsburgh a walk-off victory over New York.
Cardinals 3, Rockies 0: Adam Wainwright continued his mastery of Colorado, giving up three singles in seven innings of St. Louis’ victory.
Giants 6, Braves 3: Nick Hundley and Brandon Belt supported Ty Blach with two early home runs, and the left-hander pitched effectively into the eighth inning to lift San Francisco over Atlanta. — Reuters
