MLB roundup: Kumar Rocker gets first career win for streaking Rangers

Kumar Rocker put together a solid outing to earn his first career win as the Texas Rangers downed the slumping Los Angeles Angels 5-3 to finish a three-game sweep in Arlington, Texas.

The former No. 3 overall draft pick allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings to improve to 1-2 on the season for Texas. He struck out eight and did not issue a walk while throwing just 78 pitches.

Leody Taveras had a two-run double and Adolis Garcia and Corey Seager hit solo home runs as the Rangers won their ninth straight at home and set a franchise record with their eighth consecutive victory over the Angels. Texas is an AL-best 9-1 at home.

Texas outhit the Angels 11-5 with Seager, Dustin Harris and Kyle Higashioka each recording two hits.

Jack Kochanowicz (1-2), the first of four Los Angeles pitchers, lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits with one strikeout and a walk. No Angels player had more than one hit as Los Angeles dropped its fourth straight.

Mets 4, Cardinals 1

Griffin Canning tossed six solid innings and combined with three relievers on a three-hitter as host New York defeated St. Louis in the opener of a four-game series.

Mark Vientos homered for the Mets. Francisco Lindor had three singles, including an RBI hit, while Brett Baty had a run-scoring single. Canning (2-1), who was scheduled to start Wednesday but was scratched with an illness, gave up one run on three hits and two walks while striking out a season-high eight.

Brendan Donovan had an RBI single for the Cardinals, who have lost two of three. Donovan is batting .460 (23-of-50) during a 13-game hitting streak. St. Louis starter Andre Pallante (2-1) took the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out two over six innings.

Mariners 11, Reds 7 (10 innings)

Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena clubbed back-to-back homers in the ninth to tie the game and Arozarena drove in two more in a four-run 10th to rally Seattle past host Cincinnati in the rubber game of the series.

Reds closer Emilio Pagan had been 4-for-4 in save chances, but Raleigh took him deep to right to open the ninth and Arozarena tied it with a shot to left. The Mariners took the lead in the 10th when J.P. Crawford singled with none out and runners at the corners against Graham Ashcraft (0-1). Arozarena doubled home a pair and Mitch Garver scored on a field error by Elly De La Cruz.

Seattle right-hander Casey Legumina (1-0) came on for the ninth and retired the side in order to earn the win against his former team. Andres Munoz pitched a scoreless 10th for the Mariners in a non-save situation.

Pirates 1, Nationals 0

Left-hander Andrew Heaney went 7 1/3 shutout innings and Oneil Cruz blasted a leadoff home run to propel host Pittsburgh to victory over Washington.

Cruz’s first career leadoff home run and fourth of the season was a 442-foot blast deep to right-center field off Washington starter Trevor Williams. Heaney gave up five hits on 95 pitches for the Pirates, who picked up three wins in four games against the Nationals.

Nathaniel Lowe had a double among his two hits as the Nationals mustered only five hits overall.

Phillies 6, Giants 4

Cristopher Sanchez struck out a career-high 12 over seven innings as Philadelphia nipped visiting San Francisco to earn a split of their four-game series.

Sanchez (2-0) used his changeup to record 11 strikeouts as part of a stellar performance in which he allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits with only one walk. The Phillies scored five runs on five hits in the first inning against Jordan Hicks (1-2), but they only managed one hit after the opening frame.

Matt Chapman and Tyler Fitzgerald homered for the Giants, who struck out 14 times. San Francisco had won five of its previous seven games.

Diamondbacks 6, Marlins 4

Pavin Smith homered, doubled and drove in two runs as Arizona swept a three-game series from host Miami.

Arizona has won seven of eight, including five straight. Josh Naylor, a former Marlins first-round pick, homered for the third straight game. Arizona stole six bases, including three by Corbin Carroll, who scored twice.

Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2) lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits, zero walks and three runs (one earned) while striking out nine. Marlins starter Edward Cabrera (0-1) gave up four hits, three walks and five runs in four innings, striking out six. Miami’s Rob Brantly went 3-for-3 with one RBI.

Athletics 8, White Sox 0

JP Sears pitched six scoreless innings, Brent Rooker went 3-for-5, including a two-run home run, and the visiting Athletics slugged their way to an 8-0 victory over Chicago. The A’s won all three games at Chicago, earning their first sweep since taking three games against the Los Angeles Angels from July 2-4, 2024.

Sears (2-2) allowed just three hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday and Tyler Soderstrom also blasted home runs. Soderstrom’s homer was his MLB-best ninth.

Davis Martin (1-2) surrendered four runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings for Chicago, which dropped its fourth straight game. Lenyn Sosa went 2-for-3 with a walk for the White Sox.

Orioles 6, Guardians 2

Ryan O’Hearn belted a go-ahead three-run home run in the third inning of Baltimore’s victory against Cleveland, helping the host Orioles post back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Gunnar Henderson (two hits) and Heston Kjerstad also homered to support Baltimore starter Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1), who delivered seven strong innings to clinch a three-game series victory.

Daniel Schneemann and Austin Hedges homered for the Guardians, who have lost three of their last four games.

Tigers 6, Royals 1

Spencer Torkelson drove in three runs and host Detroit opened a four-game series with a win over Kansas City.

Riley Greene broke out of a slump with three hits and two RBIs, while Kerry Carpenter had three hits and scored twice. Reese Olson (2-1) lasted five innings to get the win and Tommy Kahnle got the last six outs for his third save.

Maikel Garcia drove in a run for Kansas City, which went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Michael Lorenzen (1-3) allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Yankees 6, Rays 3

Oswaldo Cabrera hit a solo homer and Ben Rice had four hits and two RBIs as visiting New York opened a four-game series against Tampa Bay with a win.

Tim Hill (2-0) earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief. Ian Hamilton followed with 1 2/3 innings before Devin Williams retired the Rays in order in the ninth for his fourth save. New York has won four straight and six of its last eight.

Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer and Richie Palacios had three hits in his season debut for Tampa Bay, which lost its third straight.