Chris Coghlan hit a three-run homer, Sonny Gray pitched seven innings and Oakland extended its winning streak to six games with an 8-5 win over Toronto Blue Jays Friday. Gray allowed six hits, three walks and three runs while striking out seven as Oakland improved to 7-0 in road games this season. Right-hander Ryan Madson pitched the ninth to earn his seventh save of the season. Cubs 8, Reds 1: Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez homered, and Jon Lester allowed one run over seven innings as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-1 at Great American Ball Park. Chicago (13-4) is off to its best start since 1970. Nationals 8, Twins 4: Jose Lobaton had two hits and three RBIs and Danny Espinosa had two hits and two RBIs as the first-place Washington beat last-place Minnesota. Lobaton, a backup catcher, had two hits in his first two at-bats against Twins starter Kyle Gibson — a two-run single in the first and an RBI triple in the third. Lobaton raised his average 157 points to .300. Gio Gonzalez earned the victory, allowing three runs (two earned) with eight strikeouts in six innings. Yankees 6, Rays 3: Jacoby Ellsbury stole home to score the tying run in the fifth inning and added a two-run double in the eighth as New York defeated Tampa Bay. It was the second career steal of home by Ellsbury and the first straight steal of home by a Yankee since Derek Jeter in May 2001 at Baltimore. It also was the first time Tampa Bay allowed a straight steal of home in team history. Ellsbury entered the game after center fielder Aaron Hicks injured his shoulder attempting to make a diving catch in the fourth. Indians 2, Tigers 1: Marlon Byrd's tie-breaking leadoff home run in the seventh inning backed the combined four-hit pitching of Josh Tomlin and three relievers as Cleveland defeated Detroit. Byrd's second home run of the season came on the first pitch of the inning by Justin Verlander, who also served up a home run ball to Carlos Santana to open the game. Verlander fanned 10 Indians, marking the 30th time in his career he has reached double digits in strikeouts. Royals 4, Orioles 2: Mike Moustakas went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and three RBIs as the Kansas City Royals bested the Baltimore Orioles 4-2. Moustakas hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a run-producing double in the second. Royals right-hander Chris Young (1-3) worked six impressive innings, striking out 10 and walking one. Young collected his first double-figure strikeout game since April 24, 2008, throwing 66 of his 95 pitches for strikes. White Sox 5, Rangers 0: Left-hander Jose Quintana pitched seven scoreless innings, and the White Sox turned the first triple play of the season in a 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers. Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 and scored twice to lead the White Sox at the plate. Chicago (11-6) earned its third win in the past four games. In other games it was: Phillies 5, Brewers 2; Red Sox 6, Astros 2; Mets 6, Braves 3; Rockies 7, Dodgers 5; Pirates 8, Diamondbacks 7; Padres 4, Cardinals 1; Mariners 5, Angels 2 (10 innings); Giants 8, Marlins 1.
