Cowser and Bautista star as the Orioles beat Tampa Bay Rays 4-3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.

(AP) — Colton Cowser hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the AL Eastleading Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 last night in the opener of a four-game series between the American League’s top teams.

Baltimore started the day in first place for the first time after the AllStar break since August 15, 2016. The Orioles, who started July 6½ games back, now have a one-game lead.

BRAVES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 5

ATLANTA (AP) —

Austin Riley hit a three-run homer off Miguel Castro in the eighth inning, and the major league-leading Braves stopped a four-game skid.

Matt Olson hit two more homers for Atlanta, raising his NL-best total to 32. Orlando Arcia also connected.

Riley followed Michael Harris II’s double and fourth homer of the threegame series and 20th of the season, putting Atlanta (6233) ahead 6-5.

BREWERS 4, PHILLIES 0

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

— Corbin Burnes struck out 10 in eight innings, leading Milwaukee to the victory.

Christian Yelich hit a three-run homer as Milwaukee closed out a 5-1 trip through Cincinnati and Philadelphia. Andruw Monasterio had two hits and scored two runs for the NL Central leaders.

MARINERS 5, TWINS 0

SEATTLE (AP) — George Kirby matched his career high with 10 strikeouts over seven innings, helping the Mariners to the victory

Mike Ford homered as Seattle earned a split of the four-game set after it learned starting outfielder Jarred Kelenic will be out for an extended period after breaking a bone in his left foot.

REDS 5, GIANTS 1

CINCINNATI (AP) — Andrew Abbott pitched a career-high eight innings and Luke Maile homered, sending Cincinnati to its second straight win.

Abbott (5-2) allowed one hit, struck out six and walked two in his ninth big league start.

Derek Law finished the two-hitter, surrendering Wilmer Flores’ 12th homer in the ninth. The Reds salvaged a split of the four-game set. They posted consecutive victories for the first time since a five-game winning streak from July 2-6.

BLUE JAYS 4, PADRES 0

TORONTO (AP) — Chris Bassitt combined with three relievers on a six-hitter, and the Blue

BALTIMORE Orioles’ Colton Cowser watches his RBI sacrifice fly against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 20, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Jays avoided a three-game sweep. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk homered for Toronto, which managed just one run in the first two games of the series. Kirk went 3 for 3, and Whit Merrifield and Jordan Luplow each had two hits.

CARDINALS 7,

CUBS 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Jordan Walker and Paul DeJong each hit a two-run homer, and St. Louis earned its sixth straight victory.

Nolan Arenado drove in two runs and Steven innings as St. Louis won for the the ninth time in 11 games overall. Paul Goldschmidt had two hits and scored two runs.

Marcus Stroman (10-7) pitched just 3 2/3 innings in possibly his final home start for the Cubs. The righthander was charged with five runs — four earned — and seven hits.

WHITE SOX 6, METS 2

NEW YORK (AP) —

Yasmani Grandal started a four-run sixth inning with a two-run double that followed Pete Alonso’s error, and the White Sox spoiled José Quintana’s Mets debut. Grandal doubled to the warning track in right after the White Sox loaded the bases against Drew Smith. The inning started when Alonso backed up on a grounder by Luis Robert Jr. that bounced off his glove. The first baseman expressed his frustration by putting his head in his hands.