Noah Syndergaard did it all for the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon, as the right-hander tossed a four-hitter and produced the game’s only run with a third-inning homer in a 1-0 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
Syndergaard’s second career shutout — and his second homer of the season and the sixth of his career — gave the Mets a split of the four-game series. He walked one and struck out 10.
The 1-0 win Thursday was the first in the Mets’ 58-year history in which the starting pitcher accounted for the run with a homer. Syndergaard (2-3) is the first pitcher to homer for the only run in his shutout since Bob Welch did it for the Dodgers on June 17, 1983, also against the Reds.
The opposite-field homer by Syndergaard off Tyler Mahle (0-4) was the fourth of the season for a Mets pitcher, tying the franchise record set previously in 2016.
Nationals 2, Cardinals 1
Stephen Strasburg reached a milestone while allowing just one run in 6 2/3 innings as Washington beat visiting St. Louis, preventing a four-game sweep.
Strasburg (3-1), who gave up six hits and two walks, fanned nine. He became the fastest pitcher ever to record 1,500 career strikeouts in terms of innings (1,272 1/3) when he fanned Dakota Hudson in the top of the fifth, passing Boston’s Chris Sale (1,290 innings).
Sean Doolittle got the final four outs for his fourth save. Hudson (2-2) took the hard-luck loss despite allowing just four hits and two runs (one earned) in six innings. The Cardinals had won five in row and 10 of 11, while the Nationals broke a three-game losing skid.
White Sox 6, Red Sox 4
Nicky Delmonico belted a walk-off, three-run home run against Boston’s Ryan Brasier with one out in the ninth inning to give host Chicago a comeback victory.
Delmonico helped the White Sox to their second walk-off win in as many nights while snapping Boston’s three-game winning streak. Brasier (1-1) notched a strikeout before blowing a save opportunity for the second time in eight tries this season.
With one out in the ninth, Jose Rondon reached on an error by Boston third baseman Rafael Devers. Yonder Alonso followed with a double to left before Delmonico belted his first homer of the season to center field. James McCann had two hits for the White Sox, including a two-run home run, and Leury Garcia added two hits.
Angels 6, Blue Jays 2
Los Angeles completed its first series sweep of Toronto in nearly six years with a win in Anaheim, Calif.
Brian Goodwin had three hits, Mike Trout had a solo home run and a single, Kole Calhoun hit a two-run homer, Albert Pujols doubled twice and Andrelton Simmons also had two hits for the Angels.
Los Angeles starter Tyler Skaggs (3-2) went six innings, yielding two runs and four hits, striking out five and walking three. Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez (3-2) allowed five runs (four earned) and nine hits in four innings.
Twins 8, Astros 2
Jason Castro homered, doubled and drove in a career-high-tying four runs, and Jose Berrios won his fourth consecutive start as Minnesota cruised to a victory over Houston in Minneapolis.
Jorge Polanco doubled and tripled for Minnesota, which won three of four games in the series against the Astros. Berrios (5-1) allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter while moving into a five-way tie for the major league lead in victories.
Alex Bregman homered, and Aledmys Diaz had two hits for Houston. Brad Peacock (2-2) gave up seven runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Rays 3, Royals 1
Brandon Lowe hit a two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning off Wily Peralta to lead Tampa Bay to a win at Kansas City.
The Rays earned a split of the four-game series after coming into the week having won 10 of 11 games against the Royals.
Peralta (2-2) took the loss. Adam Kolarek (2-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning to claim the win. Diego Castillo pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his fourth save in as many chances.
Rockies 11, Brewers 6
Mark Reynolds hit a three-run double in the first inning to help Colorado produce a big early lead en route to a win at Milwaukee.
Nolan Arenado, David Dahl and Raimel Tapia each homered and finished with three hits for the Rockies, who earned a split by winning the last two games of the four-game series.
Mike Moustakas and Ryan Braun each had two hits and two RBIs for the Brewers, who played without 2018 NL Most Valuable Player Christian Yelich for a fourth straight game because of lower back discomfort.
Padres 11, Braves 2
Ian Kinsler had three extra-base hits and sparked the first of two five-run rallies to support Matt Strahm and help visiting San Diego beat Atlanta.
Kinsler was 3-for-6 with two doubles, a home run, three runs and two RBIs, helping the Padres split the four-game series. Strahm (1-2) pitched six innings and gave up two runs on eight hits. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.
Eric Hosmer added three hits for the Padres, who set season highs in hits (17) and runs.
–Field Level Media
