MLB roundup: Acuna hit by opening pitch, Braves top Marlins
ATLANTA — Slugging rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. was hit by a pitch before he could take the Marlins deep again, but Dansby Swanson filled the power void for Atlanta, hitting a two-run homer that led the Braves to a 5-2 win over Miami on Wednesday night.
Acuna, who had hit leadoff homers in the last three games and homered in five straight overall, didn't get a chance to extend the streak. Jose Urena plunked him on the left elbow with a fastball on his first pitch of the day, triggering a melee. Benches and bullpens for both teams emptied onto the field twice after the pitch. No punches were thrown. Urena and Braves manager Brian Snitker were ejected.
Acuna instead became the 11th batter to be hit by a pitch from Urena this season, tied for the most in the National League. Trainer George Poulis hovered over Acuna, who sat on the ground near the batter's box while players swarmed near the mound. Acuna left the game in the second inning. He took his position in left field and then walked off the field. There was no immediate update on Acuna's apparent injury.
The NL East-leading Braves, who began the night two games ahead of Philadelphia, have won five straight. The last-place Marlins have lost five straight and eight of nine.
Kevin Gausman (7-9) allowed two runs in six innings. A.J. Minter pitched a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 12 opportunities. Jarlin Garcia (1-2) was the loser.
MARINERS 2, ATHLETICS 0, 12 INNINGS
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Light-hitting Dee Gordon homered off Yusmeiro Petit in the 12th inning to break a scoreless tie and Seattle beat Oakland to avoid a three-game sweep.
Jean Segura had four hits to help Seattle close within 2 1/2 games of the A's for the second AL wild card.
Seattle's Mike Leake pitched eight innings of two-hit ball with six strikeouts and one walk. Oakland's Brett Anderson went 7 2/3 without allowing a run in his longest outing since June 16, 2015.
Nick Martini had three hits for the A's and Matt Olson added two. Oakland entered the day one game behind first-place Houston.
Both teams squandered numerous scoring opportunities before Seattle scraped together two runs on one hit. After Petit (5-3) got leadoff man Denard Span to ground out, Mike Zunino walked. Gordon hit the next pitch over the right-field wall. Gordon's only other home run was a solo shot against Cleveland on April 1 in Seattle's third game of the season.
James Pazos (3-1) retired one batter for the victory. Edwin Diaz pitched the 12th for his major league-leading 47th save in 50 opportunities.
CUBS 8, BREWERS 4
CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo homered, drove in three runs and stole two bases in his return to the cleanup spot, and Chicago beat Milwaukee to restore a three-game lead in the NL Central.
Jason Heyward added three hits and two RBIs to help Chicago bounced back from a 7-0 loss in the opener of the two-game series. David Bote had two hits, scored twice and made barehanded play at third base in his first action since he hit a game-ending grand slam Sunday night against Washington.
Kyle Hendricks (9-9) struck out eight in six-plus innings on his bobblehead day.
Wild card-leading Milwaukee had a chance to inch closer to Chicago, but instead lost for the fourth time in six games. Junior Guerra (6-8) lasted just 3 2/3 innings, and first baseman Eric Thames committed an error that helped set up a run.
The Brewers also lost left fielder Ryan Braun and catcher Manny Pina to injuries. Braun departed with tightness on the right side of his rib cage, and Pina was pulled after he collided with Javier Baez while he was diving back to second in the seventh.
METS 16, ORIOLES 5
BALTIMORE (AP) — Kevin Plawecki hit his first career grand slam during a nine-run sixth inning, Brandon Nimmo went 5 for 5 with three RBIs and New York pounded Baltimore.
Todd Frazier homered and drove in four runs to help the Mets earn a split of the two-game interleague series. A home run by Wilmer Flores in the ninth enabled the Mets to reach a season high in runs.
Zack Wheeler (8-6) gave up one run and five hits over five innings to win his sixth straight start. The right-hander was removed from the game by manager Mickey Callaway after the Mets sent 12 batters to the plate in a lengthy sixth against Dylan Bundy (7-11) and three relievers.
In the eighth, Mets backup third baseman Jack Reinheimer got his first major league hit, a single up the middle off Cody Carroll.
RAYS 6, YANKEES 1
NEW YORK (AP) — Mallex Smith hit a two-run homer, rookie Brandon Lowe got his first two major league hits and Tampa Bay beat New York.
Kevin Kiermaier, who was mired in a 4-for-46 slump in August, had two hits, scored a run and drove in one for the Rays. They have won seven of their past nine games against New York.
Reliever Ryan Yarbrough (11-5) then entered and was credited with the win after shutting down the Yankees over four scoreless innings. He allowed only two hits and struck out three.
Tampa Bay took advantage of an ineffective Luis Cessa (1-3), who was recalled from Triple-A before the game to make a start in place of an injured CC Sabathia.
Miguel Andujar homored for New York.
WHITE SOX 6, TIGERS 5
DETROIT (AP) — Jose Abreu and Matt Davidson each hit two-run home runs to lift Chicago past Detroit.
The White Sox have won two in a row after losing six of seven. The Tigers have lost nine of 12.
Carlos Rodon (4-3) improved to 3-0 in his last seven starts, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk in eight innings. Luis Avilan got Victor Reyes to fly out to shallow center, earning his second save.
Jordan Zimmermann (5-5) took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits, including the two home runs.
INDIANS 4, REDS 3
CINCINNATI (AP) — Melky Cabrera lofted a go-ahead two-run homer into the left-field seats in the sixth inning, and Cleveland beat Cincinnati for its fifth straight victory.
The Indians held the Reds scoreless after a three-run first. In the sixth, Cody Reed (0-1) walked Yonder Alonso before allowing Cabrera's third homer of the season.
Dan Otero (2-1) got Phillip Ervin to fly out with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth to earn the win. Brad Hand worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his 28th save.
Nats' Hellickson exits after collision
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Washington Nationals right-hander Jeremy Hellickson was removed from Wednesday night's game in St. Louis in the fifth inning after colliding with Cardinals outfielder Harrison Bader at the plate.
Hellickson was covering home after a wild pitch. He stumbled over Bader as Bader slid home safely.
Flyers beat in-state rival Penguins in OT
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