MLB roundup: Verlander reaches K milestone, helps Tigers beat Twins

DETROIT — Justin Verlander struck out 10 batters, including the 2,000th of his career, to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 6-3 on Wednesday.

The Tigers have won four straight, equaling a season high, after losing 11 of 12 games.

Verlander (3-4) allowed six hits and three runs over 7 1/3 innings while matching his season high in strikeouts. He joined Mickey Lolich as the two pitchers in franchise history with 2,000 career strikeouts, and became the 76th in baseball history to reach the milestone.

Ricky Nolasco (1-2) gave up nine hits and four runs over five innings.

The Twins have lost 11 of 13, dropping to 10-29 for the worst record in the majors.

CUBS 2, BREWERS 1, 13 INNINGS

MILWAUKEE — Pitcher Travis Wood drove in the go-ahead run when he walked with the bases loaded in the 13th inning after getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the 12th to lead Chicago over Milwaukee.

With the Cubs out of position players, manager Joe Maddon had Wood hit with two outs after the Brewers intentionally walked Miguel Montero to load the bases. Wood drew the walk when Carlos Torres (0-1) missed on a 3-1 cutter, forcing Ben Zobrist home with the go-ahead run.

Wood (2-0) allowed a leadoff double to Jonathan Villar in the bottom of the 13th, and the Brewers later put runners on the corners with one out.

The Cubs’ last eligible player, left-hander Clayton Richard came on in relief to get the last out, retiring lefty-hitting Kirk Nieuwenhuis on a groundout for his first career save.

NATIONALS 7, METS 1

NEW YORK — Daniel Murphy drove in two runs against his former team to back Gio Gonzalez in his latest win at Citi Field, sending patient Washington past New York.

Anthony Rendon snapped a fifth-inning tie with a two-run single for the Nationals, who stopped a three-game skid and held onto first place in the NL East. They took advantage of uncharacteristic wildness by Bartolo Colon (3-3) and the Mets, drawing 11 walks and getting hit by pitches twice in a game that dragged on for 3 hours, 42 minutes.

Gonzalez (3-1) carried a two-hitter into the seventh before three singles loaded the bases with one out. Felipe Rivero relieved and escaped the jam unscathed, retiring Kevin Plawecki and pinch-hitter Michael Conforto to protect a four-run lead.

Yoenis Cespedes hit his 13th home run for the Mets, who have lost five of six.

GIANTS 2, PADRES 1

SAN DIEGO — Johnny Cueto threw a four-hitter and Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer, leading San Francisco to its seventh straight win with a victory over San Diego.

Cueto (6-1) struck out eight and walked two while allowing one run in his second complete game of the season — both coming against the Padres. He improved to 4-1 in his career vs. San Diego, including a shutout on April 26.

The Giants, whose have won six straight on the road, also improved to 5-0 against San Diego this season, and have won 13 of the last 16 contests between the teams.

Buster Posey led off the fourth with a walk from Drew Pomeranz (4-4), who hadn’t allowed a run in 18 consecutive innings, and Pence followed with a homer that just cleared the right field wall.

• Game 1: ROYALS 3, RED SOX 2

• Game 2: RED SOX 5, ROYALS 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts homered to back a strong start by David Price, and Boston beat Kansas City to salvage a split of their day-night doubleheader.

The Royals won the opener 3-2 behind a strong performance by Ian Kennedy and their bullpen. Kennedy allowed two runs on six hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine, before Brian Flynn — who earned his first career win — and Luke Hochevar combined to strike out four consecutive batters.

It was Price (6-1) who shined in the nightcap, allowing two runs over 7 1/3 innings. Craig Kimbrel handled a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.

The Red Sox were clinging to a 2-1 lead when they loaded the bases off Edinson Volquez (4-4) with two outs in the sixth inning. Christian Vazquez dribbled a single up the middle to score two runs, giving the Red Sox plenty of cushion the way their left-hander was pitching.

In the first game, Boston’s Steven Wright (3-4) surrendered five hits without a walk in a complete game loss.

CARDINALS 2, ROCKIES 0

ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright threw six-hit ball into the seventh inning in his best start of the season and Matt Holliday had a two-run double and St. Louis ended the Colorado Rockies’ five-game winning streak.

Stephen Piscotty had three hits and scored a run for the Cardinals, who had lost three of four.

Chris Rusin (1-2) allowed two runs in six innings for the Rockies.

Wainwright (4-3) worked a season-high 6 2/3 innings, a third of an inning longer than his previous best, and lowered his ERA 88 points to a still-unsightly 5.92. He’s 8-1 with a 1.31 ERA for his career against Colorado.

ANGELS 8, DODGERS 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout homered and the Angels broke the game open with five runs in the fifth inning to beat the Dodgers in the Freeway Series.

C.J. Cron’s bases-loaded infield single put the Angels ahead 2-1 and opened the floodgates. Mike Bolsinger (0-1) began the inning by giving up a single to Yunel Escobar and issuing a one-out walk to Trout. Louis Coleman relieved and immediately loaded the bases by walking Albert Pujols.

Cron scored on Howie Kendrick’s error that made Johnny Giavotella safe at first. Rafael Ortega’s double dropped in front of charging left fielder Trayce Thompson, leading to two more runs. Carlos Perez’s sacrifice fly extended the lead to 6-1.

Nick Tropeano (2-2) tossed four-hit ball into the seventh inning in his longest start of the season for the Angels.

ASTROS 5, WHITE SOX 3

CHICAGO — Jose Altuve had three hits and two runs batted in, Colby Rasmus and Jason Castro each had a solo home run and Houston beat Chicago despite the White Sox turning their second triple play of the season.

Altuve went 3 for 4 with a walk and Castro went 2 for 3 with a walk.

Jose Abreu went 2 for 4 with two RBIs for Chicago, which has dropped a season-high four straight and six of seven overall.

Doug Fister (4-3) allowed three runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings to get the win. Luke Gregerson, who had blown three of his last four save chances, got the final three outs for his ninth save.

Mat Latos (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season.

The White Sox turned a 5-4-3 around-the-horn triple play in the eighth inning.

INDIANS 8, REDS 7, 12 INNINGS

CINCINNATI — Rajai Davis hit a tying, two-run homer in the ninth inning, and Francisco Lindor led off the 12th with another homer, powering Cleveland to a victory.

The Indians won the first two games of the interleague series 15-6 and 13-1 in Cleveland, then made the 250-mile trip south and pulled out another.

Lindor connected off Keyvius Sampson (0-1) for Cleveland’s 10th win in 15 games. The Indians (20-17) moved a season-high three games over .500.

Cody Allen (1-3) pitched two hitless innings. Dan Otero gave up a single and a walk in the 12th but retired Brandon Phillips on a routine fly to right, earning his first save since 2014.

Jay Bruce hit two solo homers, and Eugenio Suarez had a three-run shot that allowed the Reds to take a 7-5 lead into the ninth. A beleaguered bullpen couldn’t hold on.

YANKEES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2

PHOENIX — Nathan Eovaldi retired the 18 batters he faced after allowing a freak leadoff base hit and New York salvaged the final game of a three-game series in Arizona.

Jean Segura’s ground ball to start the first inning bounced off the bag at second and dribbled into the outfield for a double. After that, only two balls even reached the outfield off the Yankees right-hander, who hit 100 mph on the Chase Field radar gun while improving to 4-0 in his last five starts.

Eovaldi (4-2) gave up one run and struck out five with no walks.

Brett Gardner hit a two-run homer and Jacoby Ellsbury went 3 for 3 with an RBI single for New York. Aroldis Chapman threw a perfect ninth for his fourth save since being reinstated on May 9.

Shelby Miller (1-5) scattered 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs.

BRAVES 3, PIRATES 1

PITTSBURGH — Julio Teheran allowed five hits in 7 2/3 crisp innings and Atlanta gave Brian Snitker his first victory as interim manager.

Teheran (1-4) struck out three without a walk to end six weeks of frustration. Tyler Flowers hit a home run to the bushes in center field and finished with three hits for the Braves, who won for just the third time in their last 13 games.

Arodys Vizcaino gave up a ninth-inning home run to Jung Ho Kang but got the final four outs for his fourth save.

Francisco Liriano (3-3) pitched seven strong innings but the Pirates lost for the first time in Liriano’s last 14 starts at PNC Park.

ORIOLES 5, MARINERS 2

BALTIMORE — Chris Tillman won his fifth straight start with another solid performance against his former team and Baltimore beat Seattle.

Mark Trumbo and Matt Wieters hit back-to-back homers for the Orioles, whose 17-7 record at Camden Yards is the best home mark in the major leagues.

Tillman (6-1) allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Closer Zach Britton relieved Brach Brach and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth. Britton got his 11th save by recording five outs.

Taijuan Walker (2-3) allowed four runs on five hits over five innings.

RAYS 6, BLUE JAYS 3

TORONTO — Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer, Logan Morrison and Desmond Jennings each had solo shots and Tampa Bay beat slumping Toronto to complete a three-game sweep.

Morrison had three hits and scored twice for the Rays, who outscored the Blue Jays 31-7 over the series.

Edwin Encarnacion, Jimmy Paredes and Michael Saunders hit solo homers, but Toronto lost its season-high fifth straight.

Jake Odorizzi (1-2) allowed two runs and two hits in five innings to win for the first time in nine starts this season. Alex Colome got the final four outs for his 10th save.

All three Tampa Bay homers came off R.A. Dickey (2-5), who allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings.

ATHLETICS 8, RANGERS 1

OAKLAND, Calif. — Khris Davis hit his fourth home run in two games, Danny Valencia drove in two and Oakland completed a three-game sweep of Texas.

Rich Hill (6-3) won for the first time at home, and his third straight, after giving up a run on three hits over his six innings. He walked one and struck out six.

Davis hit a solo home run in the sixth, a day after hitting three homers, including a walk-off grand slam. He leads the majors with nine home runs and 20 RBIs in May.

Martin Perez (1-4) gave up four runs on eight hits over seven innings.

PHILLIES 4, MARLINS 2

PHILADELPHIA — Tyler Goeddel hit his first career homer, Jeremy Hellickson pitched six sharp innings and Philadelphia beat Miami.

Hellickson (4-2) allowed two runs and five hits, striking out four. He retired 11 in a row at one point and pitched well after a shaky start. Jeanmar Gomez tossed a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 17 tries.

The Phillies won two of three for their seventh series win in the past eight, improving to 24-13 since an 0-4 start.

Marlins starter Tom Koehler (2-4) gave up three runs — two earned — and seven hits in seven innings.