Sep 7, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Craig Breslow (40) celebrates with shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) after defeating the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Corey Kluber struck out 13, and Erik Gonzalez hit two of Cleveland’s five homers as the Cleveland Indians won a franchise-record 15th straight game, beating the Chicago White Sox 11-2 on Thursday night.
Edwin Encarnacion, Francisco Lindor and Greg Allen also went deep for Cleveland. Kluber (15-4), who struck out at least 10 for the 14th time this season, allowed three hits and two runs while walking one over seven innings.
Gonzalez, who homered in the third and ninth innings, drove in four runs. Allen hit his first career home run as part of a three-run seventh inning. Lindor went 3-for-6 with three runs and finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle.
Chicago’s Mike Pelfrey (3-11), who started after Carlos Rodon was forced to miss his scheduled start with shoulder stiffness, gave up seven runs and eight hits over four innings. Pelfrey struck out four and walked three.
Twins 4, Royals 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jorge Polanco’s two-run, two-out single in a three-run ninth inning lifted Minnesota over Kansas City.
The loss dropped the Royals 3 1/2 games behind the Twins in the race for the second American League wild card. Minnesota was limited to one run and six hits for the first eight innings before rallying in the ninth off Kelvin Herrera (3-3).
Max Kepler led off the inning with a single. With one out, Jason Castro hit a fly ball down the left field line that shortstop Alcides Escobar nearly caught, but it fell for a single. After Robbie Grossman walked, Brian Dozier’s sacrifice fly tied it before Polanco’s hit.
Cubs 8, Pirates 2
PITTSBURGH — Albert Almora Jr. hit a two-run homer, and Ian Happ had three hits as Chicago walloped Pittsburgh.
The Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBIs and two walks. Chicago’s Jon Lester (10-7), in his second start after coming off the disabled list, gave up one run and five hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out five.
The Pirates’ Jameson Taillon (7-6) gave up six runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. Taillon hasn’t won since Aug. 11 but was coming off a no-decision against Cincinnati in which he pitched six scoreless innings.
Nationals 4, Phillies 3
WASHINGTON — Trea Turner keyed a sixth-inning rally with a two-run single, and Tanner Roark won for the third time in four starts as Washington stormed back to beat Philadelphia.
Matt Wieters hit an RBI double to chase Phillies starter Aaron Nola in the sixth and cut the Nationals’ deficit to 3-2. Three batters later, Turner hit a two-run single up the middle off reliever Adam Morgan (3-2) with the bases loaded to give Washington the lead.
Roark (12-9) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings with six strikeouts and one walk. Brandon Kintzler and Ryan Madson each pitched a scoreless inning before Sean Doolittle worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save with the Nationals.
Yankees 9, Orioles 1
BALTIMORE — Aaron Judge and Chase Headley each hit two-run homers as New York belted four en route to victory over Baltimore.
Starlin Castro and Todd Frazier added solo homers as the Yankees took two of three in this series, It was the first time they won a set at Camden Yards since 2014 — a span of 11 series.
Sonny Gray (3-4 with New York, 9-9 overall) turned in his second solid effort in three starts. He gave up one unearned run and scattered five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Braves 6, Marlins 5
ATLANTA — Kurt Suzuki’s two-out single in the ninth capped a two-run rally and helped Atlanta defeat Miami.
The Braves began the comeback when pinch-hitter Matt Adams doubled off closer Brad Ziegler (1-4). Pinch-runner Nick Markakis scored the tying run when Ozzie Albies slapped a one-out double to right field.
After intentionally walking Freddie Freeman and retiring Lane Adams on a fielder’s choice, Suzuki singled to left to score Freeman and give the Braves their seventh walk-off victory of the season.
Mets 7, Reds 2
NEW YORK — Brandon Nimmo hit two home runs in a game for the first time as a major leaguer to lead New York over Cincinnati.
Nimmo, batting cleanup for the second time in 38 big league starts, finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Nimmo entered Thursday with one home run and five extra-base hits in 95 at-bats this season.
Matt Harvey (5-4) earned his first win since May 28 after allowing two runs on five hits over five innings. It was the second start since coming off the disabled list for Harvey, who missed more than two months with a right shoulder injury.
