SEATTLE -- Chris Sale pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, top prospect Rafael Devers became the youngest Boston player to hit a home run in more than 50 years, and the Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 4-0 on Wednesday to salvage the final game of the series.
Barely 12 hours after the clubs wrapped up a five-hour, 13-inning marathon, the Red Sox got exactly what they needed from their ace to avoid being swept. The left-hander was masterful, striking out 11, the 14th time this season he had at least 10 strikeouts in a game. He allowed doubles to Jean Segura and Guillermo Heredia, and a broken-bat single to Ben Gamel, but none of the three to reach base via hit ever advanced.
Sale (13-4) has struck out at least nine batters in each of his 12 road starts this season, the longest streak dating to 1913.
Sale has won five of his last six decisions and became the first pitcher in the American League with 13 wins. In two starts on Boston's road trip, Sale allowed seven total hits in 13 innings and struck out 20.
The only way Sale could be overshadowed would be if the Red Sox's top prospect, Devers, did something special. Which he did, leading off the third inning by sending a 2-1 fastball from starter Andrew Moore out to center field for his first hit in the majors.
At 20 years and 275 days old, Devers was the youngest Red Sox player to homer since Tony Conigliaro in September 1965. He added a single in the seventh inning.
Yankees 9, Reds 5
NEW YORK -- Luis Severino dominated over seven innings, Didi Gregorius and Todd Frazier homered, and the New York Yankees beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-5 to sweep the two-game series.
The Yankees have won six of eight, inching closer to first-place Boston in the AL East.
Severino (7-4) did not allow a runner past second base until the seventh. He struck out nine, eight swinging, many on a devastating slider that looked untouchable at times.
The 23-year-old fireballer has emerged as New York's de facto ace, pitching brilliantly since the All-Star break. Severino has allowed just one earned run in 21 innings (0.43 ERA) and has completed seven innings in a career-best four straight starts.
Reds starter Homer Bailey (2-5) lost his third-straight outing, charged with seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits in six-plus innings.
Rays 5, Orioles 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Evan Longoria and Steven Souza Jr. homered and Alex Cobb pitched seven strong innings for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Longoria's two-run shot off Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez, his 15th of the season, put Tampa Bay up 2-1 in the sixth after a walk to Mallex Smith.
Souza's 21st homer of the season came off reliever Darren O'Day in the seventh.
Cobb (9-6) gave up one run on four hits with six strikeouts. He has given up two runs or fewer in seven of his last nine starts.
Jonathan Schoop's home run off Cobb had given the Orioles a 1-0 lead in the fourth. It was the team-leading 22nd home run for Schoop, who has driven in runs in nine of his last 10 games.
Jimenez (4-7), who lasted a total of 5 2/3 innings in his first two starts against Tampa Bay this season, gave up two runs on three hits in six innings.
Giants 2, Pirates 1
SAN FRANCISCO -- Brandon Belt doubled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning in support of starter Jeff Samardzija, who threw seven strong innings.
Pinch-hitter Miguel Gomez doubled to lead off the seventh for the Giants, who won their second straight and third of five. Denard Span sacrificed him to third and Belt drove a ball to left field that Starling Marte seemed to have trouble finding. It fell in front of him, allowing Gomez to score.
Adam Frazier drove in a run for the Pirates, who lost their fourth in five following a six-game winning streak.
Samardzija (5-11) allowed a run and four hits, striking out eight and walking two in winning for the first time since July 2. He had allowed 12 runs in his previous 10 1/3 innings.
Pirates starter Trevor Williams pitched well, allowing a run and five hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out two.
Tony Watson (5-3) pitched the seventh and took the loss.
Hunter Strickland pitched a spotless eighth and Sam Dyson worked the ninth for his sixth save.
Sports on 07/27/2017