HOUSTON — After losing 13 decisions in a row with Toronto, Aaron Sanchez was looking for a fresh start and a way to turn things around in his move to the Houston Astros.
But even with their history of improving the performance of pitchers, it would have been hard to imagine his Houston debut would go this well Saturday night.
Sanchez looked like a reinvented pitcher, throwing six stellar innings to start the Astros on a combined no-hitter in their 9-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
“It’s hard to come to a team and feel like you can contribute right away when they’re already so good,” Sanchez said. “So for tonight to end the way it did, these guys coming in behind me and doing their part, too … I’m so happy.”
Sanchez was an All-Star in 2016 and led the American League in ERA, but he’d struggled badly this season and was leading the majors with 14 losses. However, three days after he was acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, the 27-year-old right-hander teamed with Will Harris, Joe Biagini and Chris Devenski to shut down Seattle.
“Just trying to have a good first impression,” said Sanchez, pulled by manager AJ Hinch after 92 pitches.
It was the second time in less than a month the last-place Mariners were no-hit by multiple pitchers. The Los Angeles Angels used two in a combined no-hitter July 12 against Seattle on a night when they honored late left-hander Tyler Skaggs by all wearing his No. 45 in their first home game since his death.
Sanchez (4-14) kept the Mariners off balance with a steady stream of fastballs in the low-to-mid 90s (mph) coupled with slow curves that often froze batters for strikes as he worked with veteran catcher Martin Maldonado, picked up by Houston in a trade with the Chicago Cubs earlier in the week.
“He certainly wasn’t dominating anybody coming into the game, so we expected to do a lot more against him and just weren’t able to get it done,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said.
Hinch was glad the baggage of Sanchez’s struggles in Toronto didn’t follow him to Houston.
“I don’t carry the burden of the early-season losses for him because he wasn’t with us,” Hinch said. “I am proud of him for containing his energy and containing his excitement. … I feel so good for him because he was able to channel that inner energy that he has and deliver a huge start. He really did step onto this team and provide a great first impression.”
After six sparkling innings, Sanchez was replaced by Harris to start the seventh in a move Hinch called a “no-brainer.”
“I get the dilemma and obviously it kind of hits you in the stomach a little bit, but my responsibility is to take care of him, take care of our team, take care of our pursuit to win the division,” Hinch explained.
Harris and Joe Biagini, also obtained from the Blue Jays in the same deal that netted Sanchez, each worked one inning before Devenski tossed a perfect ninth. He retired All-Star slugger Daniel Vogelbach on a routine fly for the final out, setting off an Astros celebration on the field after the club’s 12th no-hitter.
TWINS 11, ROYALS 3
MINNEAPOLIS —Nelson Cruz hit three home runs in a game for the second time in 10 days, powering AL Central-leading Minnesota to the victory.
A day after he homered, doubled twice and drove in five runs, Cruz again had five RBIs.
Cruz hit a two-run homer in the first inning, a solo drive in the second and a two-run homer in the sixth. He didn’t get a chance at a record-tying fourth home run — he was left on deck when Jorge Polanco grounded out to end the eighth.
Polanco and C.J. Cron and Jorge Polanco also homered for the Twins, who lead Cleveland by three games.
Jorge Soler homered for the Royals, who have dropped five consecutive games. Danny Duffy (5-6) got the loss.
Minnesota’s Kyle Gibson (11-4) allowed two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings.
YANKEES 9, RED SOX 2, GAME 1
YANKEES 6, RED SOX 4, GAME 2
NEW YORK —DJ LeMahieu hit a pair of home runs off Chris Sale in the opener of New York’s doubleheader sweep, and Mike Tauchman had a tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning of the nightcap.
The AL East-leading Yankees, however, saw two more players get hurt. Slugger Edwin Encarnación broke his right wrist when hit by a pitch from Josh Smith in the eighth inning of the opener, and outfielder Aaron Hicks hurt his elbow on a throw in the second game. There was no immediate word on how long they would be sidelined.
Boston’s losing streak reached seven, its longest since 2015. Boston is 59-54, with as many losses as its World Series champions last year (108-54).
Domingo Germán (14-2) and Tommy Kahnle (3-0) got the wins for New York. Aroldis Chapman earned his 29th save in 34 chances in the second game.
Boston’s Rafael Devers hit his career-high 22nd homer in the nightcap. Sale (5-11) tied his career high by allowing eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in the opener, and Matt Barnes (3-4) surrendered Tauchman’s hit in the night game.
DODGERS 4, PADRES 1
LOS ANGELES —Walker Buehler struck out 15 in his second career complete game, leading the Dodgers to the victory.
Buehler (10-2) reached double digits in strikeouts for the fourth time this season, all since June 3. The 15 strikeouts were his most since he had 16 in a complete-game victory over Colorado on June 21.
Justin Turner hit his 17th homer as Los Angeles finished off San Diego in a tidy 2 hours, 18 minutes. Turner finished with two hits and two RBIs.
San Diego’s Manuel Margot connected for his first career pinch-hit homer with two outs in the eighth inning. Cal Quantrill (4-3) gave up four runs and six hits over five innings.
BRAVES 5, REDS 4, 10 INNINGS
ATLANTA —Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. hit an RBI single off Robert Stephenson with two outs in the 10th inning.
The Braves thought they had the game just about won in the eighth when Acuña drew a tiebreaking bases-loaded walk from Michael Lorenzen. But then Shane Greene, the new closer making his Braves debut after being acquired in a trade with Detroit, blew a save opportunity in the ninth.
Greene gave up consecutive singles to begin the inning before Tucker Barnhart’s flair single to left field scored the tying run.
Luke Jackson (6-2), who lost the closer’s job to Greene after the trade, earned the win after striking out the side in the 10th.
Trevor Bauer allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first start with Cincinnati after he was acquired in a trade with Cleveland. Jared Hughes (3-4) got the loss.
METS 7, PIRATES 5
PITTSBURGH —Wilson Ramos hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, sending New York to the win after Marcus Stroman had a shaky debut with the Mets.
Stroman, acquired in a trade with Toronto last Sunday, allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings, but received a no-decision after the Mets pounced on Pittsburgh’s bullpen.
New York trailed 3-1 in the seventh when Jeff McNeil connected for a pinch-hit homer to get the Mets within a run. Robinson Canó doubled off Kyle Crick (3-6) leading off the eighth and Ramos followed with a shot to the seats in right-center field.
Ramos finished with a career-high six RBIs for New York, which won for the ninth time in 11 games. Justin Wilson (3-1) earned the victory.
Bryan Reynolds had four hits for Pittsburgh.
CUBS 4, BREWERS 1
CHICAGO —Cole Hamels pitched five shutout innings for the Cubs after spending five weeks on the injured list, and Albert Almora Jr. connected for a tiebreaking homer.
Chicago lost All-Star catcher Willson Contreras to a right hamstring injury in the seventh. He’ll undergo an MRI on Monday.
Out since June 28 because of a strained left oblique, Hamels allowed four singles, struck out six and walked none.
Almora hit a solo drive in the seventh off Junior Guerra (3-3). Rowan Wick (1-0) got his first major league victory, and Craig Kimbrel earned his ninth save.
Ryan Braun singled in the lone run for the Brewers, who have dropped five of six.
RAYS 8, MARLINS 6
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —Eric Sogard homered twice and finished with a career-high five RBIs, powering Tampa Bay to the victory.
Willy Adames and Austin Meadows also connected as Tampa Bay won for the seventh time in eight games. Nick Anderson (3-4), who was acquired in a trade with Miami on Wednesday, pitched a perfect eighth for the win, and Emilio Pagan finished for his ninth save.
The Rays went ahead to stay on Adames’ leadoff drive against Jarlin Garcia (2-1) in the eighth.
Sogard, picked up in a trade with Toronto on Sunday, hit a two-run shot in the second and a three-run drive off Elieser Hernandez in the third.
Starlin Castro homered for Miami, which has dropped three of four.
INDIANS 7, ANGELS 2
CLEVELAND —Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis homered during Cleveland’s five-run fifth inning.
Carlos Santana added a solo shot in the eighth, helping Cleveland to its third win in four games. Adam Plutko (4-2) allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings.
Kipnis hit a two-run homer off Trevor Cahill (3-7), who replaced injured starter Félix Peña in the second. Lindor’s three-run drive was off Justin Anderson.
Peña sprained his right knee as he stepped on first base to record an out on a ground ball hit by José Ramírez.
Los Angeles has dropped seven of nine to fall to .500 at 56-56.
DIAMONDBACKS 18, NATIONALS 7
PHOENIX —Eduardo Escobar hit two of Arizona’s five homers and drove in a career-high seven runs.
Nick Ahmed, Jake Lamb and Alex Avila also went deep as Arizona knocked Stephen Strasburg around for the second time this season.
Strasburg (14-5) entered with a seven-game winning streak, but gave up three homers and nine runs before leaving with two outs in the fifth inning.
Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer for the Nationals, who had won the previous seven at Chase Field.
Robbie Ray (10-7) gave up four runs and six hits in five innings for his first career victory over the Nationals.
ATHLETICS 8, CARDINALS 3
OAKLAND, Calif. —Oakland’s Mike Fiers took a shutout into the sixth inning for his eighth consecutive win.
Pinch-hitter Chad Pinder delivered a three-run homer to keep the A’s unbeaten in three games against the Cardinals this season. Stephen Piscotty added two hits against his former team and made a leaping catch at the outfield wall to take away a hit from Matt Wieters in the fifth.
Paul Goldschmidt singled and doubled to extend his hitting streak to 11 games for St. Louis. Dakota Hudson (10-6) got the loss.
Fiers (10-3) allowed one run and six hits over 5 2/3 innings in his first start against St. Louis since 2015.
RANGERS 5, TIGERS 4, 10 INNINGS
ARLINGTON, Texas —Rougned Odor homered with two outs in the 10th inning, lifting Texas to the victory.
Odor’s opposite-field drive into the Detroit bullpen in left-center came against Nick Ramirez (5-4). That was a pitch after third base umpire Dave Rackley ruled Odor was able to check his swing on 2-2 pitch.
Jose Leclerc (2-3) pitched a perfect 10th inning for the win.
Miguel Cabrera homered for Detroit. Matthew Boyd struck out nine while pitching 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball.
ORIOLES 6, BLUE JAYS 4
BALTIMORE —Trey Mancini homered and drove in four runs, and Baltimore stopped Toronto’s five-game win streak.
After Toronto pulled even with two runs in the top of the seventh, Baltimore restored its lead in the bottom half. The first two batters reached against Buddy Boshers (0-1) before Hanser Alberto hit an RBI single off Justin Shafer and Mancini added a run-scoring groundout.
Mychal Givens (2-5) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Paul Fry got three outs for his third save.
Freddy Galvis and Reese McGuire homered for the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits and an RBI.
PHILLIES 3, WHITE SOX 2
PHILADELPHIA —Aaron Nola pitched seven strong innings for Philadelphia, and Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins homered.
Nola (10-2) allowed one run and three hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks. He lowered his ERA to 1.91 over his last nine starts
Nick Pivetta got the final six outs for his first career save.
Jon Jay had an RBI double for Chicago, which has dropped nine of 11. The White Sox are batting .194 while averaging two runs per game over that stretch.
White Sox left-hander Ross Detwiler (1-2) allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
GIANTS 6, ROCKIES 5
DENVER —Pinch-hitter Buster Posey came through with a two-run double in the eighth inning to rally San Francisco to the road win.
Scooter Gennett homered for the Giants, and Pablo Sandoval had three hits.
Posey batted with two on against Carlos Estevez (1-2) and lined a ball to right field to score pinch-runner Kevin Pillar and Austin Slater. Will Smith got three outs for his 27th save.
Sam Coonrod (2-0) worked the seventh for the win.
Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon homered for the Rockies.
