Beltway Rivalry Goes to the O’s in Win Over Nationals; Other MLB News

BALTIMORE (AP) — Trey Mancini capped a three-homer binge in the first inning against Gio Gonzalez, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Washington Nationals 6-4 for their season-high fifth straight victory.

Kevin Gausman (2-3) limited baseball's most potent offense to two runs over seven innings. He retired the first 10 batters and struck out eight in his longest outing of the year.

Joey Rickard hit a leadoff homer and Mark Trumbo added a solo shot before Mancini connected with a runner on to make it 4-0. That was enough offense for the Orioles, who now hold a 37-24 advantage over their neighboring rivals in the so-called "Beltway Series," which began in 2006.

Caleb Joseph had a career high-tying four hits for the Orioles. Baltimore (21-10) owns the second-best record in the majors behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.

Bryce Harper homered and drove in two runs for the Nationals.

In other games:

—Masahiro Tanaka won his fifth consecutive start and New York shook off a long game and a short night's sleep, beating the Cincinnati Reds night for its sixth victory in a row. The Yankees have the best record in the majors at 21-9 and are 12 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2015 season.

—Nate Karns struck out 10 while pitching into the seventh inning, Eric Hosmer had three hits and the Kansas City Royals busted out of an offensive slump to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3. Kansas City matched its best run output of the year and set a season high with 13 hits. Drew Butera homered and drove in his first two runs of the season, helping the Royals win for the fourth time in 17 games. Kansas City had scored three or fewer runs in four straight games.

— Cardinals ace Carlos Martinez drove in four runs, compensating for the two homers he gave up to Marcell Ozuna and leading St. Louis over the Miami Marlins 9-4 for their season-best fourth straight win. Martinez (2-3) came into the game hitless this year. He hit a two-out, three-run double off Adam Conley in the second inning and singled home a run in the fourth.

— Marcus Stroman pitched six shutout innings, Kevin Pillar made in sensational catch in center field and the Toronto Blue Jays topped the Cleveland Indians 4-2. Ryan Goins hit a two-run homer and Justin Smoak added a two-run single as the Blue Jays beat the team that eliminated them from last year's AL Championship Series.

— Plagued by injuries, obstinance and absenteeism, the New York Mets have managed to win seven of 10 following a six-game losing streak. Neil Walker's two-out single in the ninth inning lifted the Mets over the San Francisco Giants 4-3.

— Carlos Martinez pulled into second base and began gesturing to his dugout. He swung his clasped hands triumphantly from ear to ear, made a chest-high flapping motion with both hands and raised his arms to the sky, a pitcher celebrating his own slugging . The St. Louis ace hit a three-run double for his first hit of the year and later added an RBI single, more than compensating for the two homers he allowed to Marcell Ozuna and leading the Cardinals over the Miami Marlins 9-4 for their fourth consecutive win.

— Late-inning dramatics are becoming commonplace these days for the Oakland Athletics. Jed Lowrie hit his second home run of the game with two outs in the 11th inning and the A's beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 for their third straight walk-off win.

— Trevor Cahill allowed one hit in 5 1/3 scoreless innings and combined with three relievers to hold the Texas Rangers to two hits in a 5-1 San Diego Padres victory. Cahill (3-2), won his third straight decision over four starts.

— Chris Taylor hit a grand slam during a six-run first inning, Alex Wood and a pair of Los Angeles relievers combined for 17 strikeouts and the Dodgers rolled over the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-1. Yasiel Puig added a solo homer in the first as the Dodgers jumped all over Trevor Williams (1-2), who was filling in for Jameson Taillon after he had surgery Monday for suspected testicular cancer.

— The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies were postponed by inclement weather.i