Major League Baseball News

Friday will rank as one of the best days in the career of New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game on Friday, July 25, 2014, in St. .

Puig tied a franchise record with three triples and added a double and two RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers moved within a half-game of NL West-leading San Francisco by beating the Giants 8-1 on Friday night.

It was that kind of night for Atlanta's left-hander: A lot of ground balls. A lot of hits.

Denard Span matched Cincinnati's hit total with his four singles, and Tanner Roark allowed only three singles over seven innings Friday night, leading the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 victory that extended their surge and the Reds' slump.

Ichiro Suzuki homered for the first time since last August, prolonging extended slumps against the New York Yankees for Mark Buehrle and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Luis Valbuena hit a decisive two-run homer in the seventh inning Friday, and the Chicago Cubs overcame a three-run deficit to hand the St. Louis Cardinals the fourth straight loss, 7-6.

Ortiz was set to bat third Friday night at Tampa Bay. David Price is scheduled to start for the Rays.

The Seattle Mariners acquired first baseman/designated hitter Kendrys Morales from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Stephen Pryor.

Kansas City's Nori Aoki was congratulated by Jarrod Dyson, top left, Aaron Crow, top, and Danny Duffy, right, after driving in the game-winning run in the 14th inning to beat Cleveland on Thursday.

Nick Castellanos drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a double in the sixth inning and Max Scherzer won his fourth straight decision, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.

A critical first-inning play went against them after a lengthy replay review halted their momentum.

Hector Noesi allowed three hits over 7 2-3 innings and Adam Eaton had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.

Matt Garza allowed two hits over eight innings to rebound from a horrendous outing and Ryan Braun hit one of three homers for the Milwaukee Brewers in a 9-1 victory Thursday night.

Saltalamacchia drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, Henderson Alvarez won for the first time in three starts and the Miami Marlins beat the Braves 3-2 on Thursday night.

Moss hit a grand slam and the Oakland Athletics gave Samardzija more run support than he has had all season in a 13-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday.

Hamels pitched eight strong innings and Chase Utley had a tiebreaking RBI single in the fifth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.

Of course, the baseball gods tend to help those who help themselves, which the Milwaukee Brewers did Wednesday afternoon at Miller Park by taking a 5-1 victory over the reeling Cincinnati Reds to complete a much-needed three-game sweep.

The 41-year-old Colon retired the first 20 batters he faced before Cano lined a 2-2 pitch into left field.

On a cool, unseasonably summer night in Chicago, Kennedy won his third straight decision.