MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen capitalized on two Minnesota errors to score during a five-run sixth inning that lifted the Pirates to a 10-4 win at the Twins on Wednesday, further closing on the National League Central Division lead.
The Pirates moved within 4-1/2 games of faltering St. Louis, which was shut out at home for the second straight night by Cincinnati.
In the American League, Houston defeated the Los Angeles Angels to reclaim the lead of the West division, while Central leader Kansas City was routed by Cleveland.
Pittsburgh trailed until McCutchen hit a two-run homer with two outs in the fifth inning to tie the game 3-3, and the visitors went ahead in the next inning when the Twins unraveled.
One run scored on a wild pitch, and the two batters were walked. Starling Marte hit a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3, and McCutchen followed with a hit that that bounced past the right-fielder, allowing what should have been a single to turn into much more.
Two runners scored and the slow-rolling relay throw to third base, where McCutchen was arriving, went under the fielder’s glove. As he turned to retrieve the ball, he collided heavily with McCutchen, knocking both to the ground, before the Pirates star picked himself up and trotted to home plate to make it 8-3.
Pittsburgh starter Francisco Liriano (7-6) improved to 3-0 in his past six starts.
Cincinnati’s Anthony DeSclafani (6-7) pitched seven scoreless innings to guide the Reds to their second straight shutout win at St. Louis, taking the game 1-0.
Jay Bruce’s homer in the second inning was enough for victory, and moved him ahead of Barry Larkin to ninth in franchise history with 199 homers.
The Reds ended a nine-series losing streak in St. Louis and have won consecutive games in a series at Busch Stadium for the first time in nine years.
Houston rookie Lance McCullers pitched seven solid innings to steer the Astros past the Angels 6-3.
McCullers (5-3) allowed one run with five strikeouts to lower his ERA to 2.48.
Preston Tucker and Jon Singleton both homered to turn a fragile 2-1 lead into a 4-1 advantage.
Cleveland’s Corey Kluber held Kansas City scoreless over the first eight innings as the Indians powered to a 12-1 victor.
Kluber (6-11) retired the first 12 batters and was on track for a shutout before giving up an RBI groundout in the ninth.
Rookie Francisco Lindor hit a three-run homer and had a career-high four RBIs for the Indians, who had a season-high 18 hits.
Texas’ Colby Lewis (11-4) went six innings, yielding two runs, to lead the Rangers past the New York Yankees 5-2.
Adrian Beltre had two hits and scored twice for the Rangers, who won for only the second time in their last 14 home games.
The Yankees scored no runs after the second inning, a day after racking up 21 runs against the Rangers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers came from three runs down to beat Oakland 10-7.
Pinch-hitter Kike Hernandez delivered the go-ahead, two-run double during a five-run seventh inning that turned the contest after the A’s had scored four runs in the top of the frame.
Los Angeles avoided falling out of first place in the NL West for the first time in two months, while the A’s fell to a fifth loss in six games.
San Diego’s Justin Upton homered and drove in three runs to help the Padres beat the New York Mets 7-3.
Yonder Alonso also connected for the Padres.
Lucas Duda hit three homers to account for all the Mets’ score, with this first ending a 100-innings streak by San Diego pitcher Tyson Ross without giving up a home run.
Detroit’s Justin Verlander notched his first win of the season as he guided the Tigers to a 2-1 win against Tampa Bay.
Verlander (1-3), who retired his first 14 batters, gave up one run and had 10 strikeouts.
Rays starter Chris Archer (9-8) lost a perfect game bid and the lead in the seventh inning. He was an unlucky loser, giving up two earned runs and striking out 11 over seven innings.
San Francisco’s Hunter Pence doubled in Matt Duffy to break a scoreless tie in the seventh inning and lead the Giants past Milwaukee 5-0.
Baltimore’s Chris Tillman held Atlanta scoreless into the ninth inning to lead the Orioles past Atlanta 2-0.
Chicago’s Jon Lester struck out 14, one shy of his career high and the most for a Cubs pitcher in more than a decade, leading the Cubs over Colorado 3-2.
Arizona extended its winning streak to five by beating Seattle 8-2, with Welington Castillo hitting two homers off Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.
Washington’s Bryce Harper blasted two home runs into the upper deck and drove in four to power the Nationals to a 7-2 victory over Miami.
The Chicago White Sox notched their seven consecutive win with a 9-2 victory at Boston, started by Adam Eaton’s leadoff homer to open the game.
Toronto’s Troy Tulowitzki homered and had three hits in his Blue Jays debut, contributing to an 8-2 win against Philadelphia.
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