Ohtani ties it, Simmons wins it in 9th as Angels beat Jays

Toronto Blue Jays' Curtis Granderson (18) is tagged out at home by Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin Maldonado during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Wednesday, May 23, 2018. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

TORONTO — Shohei Ohtani hit a tying two-run single in the ninth inning, Andrelton Simmons added another two-run hit and the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Wednesday night.

Toronto turned to Tyler Clippard (4-2) in the ninth to protect a 3-1 lead, but he loaded the bases with consecutive walks to Mike Trout, Justin Upton and Albert Pujols.

Ohtani broke his bat but lined a single to center for his first hit of the series, and Simmons chased Clippard with a single through the drawn-in infield.

Pinch-hitter Kendrys Morales hit an RBI double off Angels reliever Blake Parker in the ninth, but right fielder Kole Calhoun kept the Angels in front by throwing out Curtis Granderson as he tried to score from third on a fly ball. Calhoun entered the day tied for the major league lead with six outfield assists.

Trout went 1 for 2 with three walks, raising his major league-leading total to 45, as the Angels scored more than three runs for just the second time in 11 games.

The Angels came in 0-18 when trailing after eight innings.

Justin Anderson (1-1) pitched one inning for the win and Parker survived a shaky ninth to record his third save. Parker struck out Justin Smoak to end it, stranding runners at first and second.

ASTROS 4, GIANTS 1

HOUSTON — Justin Verlander got some run support for the first time in nearly a month and led the Houston Astros over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

Verlander (6-2) struck out nine and walked one in six innings, allowing one run and three hits as his major league-leading ERA rose slightly to 1.08. He had given up just three runs over 29 innings during his previous four starts, but the Astros had scored just three runs in that span, getting shut out twice.

Ken Giles pitched the ninth to remain perfect in nine save chances.

INDIANS 1, CUBS 0

CHICAGO — Adam Plutko carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Andrew Miller provided stellar relief work, helping Cleveland beat Chicago.

Plutko (2-0) struck out four and walked four in his second major league start. The right-hander was promoted from Triple-A Columbus to replace the struggling Josh Tomlin in Cleveland’s rotation.

Michael Brantley, Francisco Lindor and Rajai Davis had two hits apiece as the AL Central leaders won for the third time in four games. The Indians completed a sweep of their two-game set versus the Cubs in their first appearance at Wrigley Field since they lost the 2016 World Series.

RANGERS 12,

YANKEES 10

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jurickson Profar had a bases-clearing double to put Texas ahead to stay in a wild, series-clinching win over New York, which matched a major league record with four more homers.

Gleyber Torres became the youngest Yankee ever to homer in three consecutive games and Aaron Judge hit a 471-foot blast as New York became only the third team in major league history with 21 homers in a five-game stretch — 12 of those in Texas. Didi Gregorius and Neil Walker also went deep for the Yankees.