Lance McCullers Jr. pitched six scoreless innings and the Houston Astros continued the best start in team history with a 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees Friday. McCullers (3-1) followed Dallas Keuchel's six scoreless innings from Thursday's series opener by scattering four hits. He struck out seven without a walk. Brian McCann belted a three-run homer, and Carlos Correa and Josh Reddick each had an RBI single for the Astros (25-11), who surpassed the best 36-game start in team history set in 1972. The Yankees tied a season high with their third straight loss. Dodgers 6, Rockies 2: Clayton Kershaw improved to 20-6 in 35 career starts against Colorado in Los Angeles' win. Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood had control problems in the second inning and the Dodgers batted around and strafed him for five runs. Kershaw (6-2) is 9-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his last 11 starts against the Rockies. Cubs 3, Cardinals 2: Eddie Butler fired six shutout innings and won his first big league start of the year, lifting Chicago over St Louis at Busch Stadium. Butler, who was 6-16 in parts of the last three seasons for Colorado, gave up two hits while walking three and striking out five. Willson Contreras led the Cubs, cracking two of their three solo homers. Tommy La Stella belted the third. Royals 3, Orioles 2: Lorenzo Cain scored on Eric Hosmer's eighth-inning double as Kansas City topped Baltimore. Brewers 7, Mets 4: Matt Garza worked six strong innings and Milwaukee hit four home runs against New York at Miller Park. Three of the homers came at the expense of Mets starter Matt Harvey (2-3), who allowed five runs, seven hits and five walks while striking out seven in five-plus innings in his first action since a three-game suspension for violating team rules. Rangers 5, A's 2: For the second time in as many nights, Texas entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing by one run and emerged victorious against Oakland, this time on a three-run walk-off homer by Joey Gallo. Twins 1, Indians 0: Ervin Santana pitched seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball and Miguel Sano's first-inning homer produced the only run for Minnesota in a win over Cleveland at Progressive Field. Blue Jays 8, Mariners 4: Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer, Devon Travis had two RBIs, Joe Biagini pitched into the sixth inning and Toronto defeated Seattle for its first three-game winning streak of the season. Braves 8, Marlins 4: Tyler Flowers slugged a two-run homer and tied his career high with four RBIs to lead Atlanta over Miami at Marlins Park. Rays 5, Red Sox 4: Alex Cobb opened with six one-hit innings, Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer, Tim Beckham drove in two runs and Tampa Bay beat Boston at Fenway Park. Padres 6, White Sox 3: Austin Hedges drove in three runs with homer and a double, Matt Szczur celebrated his return to Chicago with a solo shot on the first pitch of the game and San Diego beat Chicago. Angels 7, Tigers 0: Matt Shoemaker threw six scoreless innings, Luis Valbuena and Mike Trout homered and Los Angeles cruised past Detroit at Angel Stadium. Diamondbacks 11, Pirates 4: Brandon Drury continued his torrid hitting at home with a three-hit game that included a three-run homer and Arizona cruised past Pittsburgh. Drury has reached base in 17 of 18 home games this year and leads the National League with a .454 home batting average. Giants 3, Reds 2 (17 innings): Buster Posey hit a one-out home run in the bottom of the 17th inning, delivering the San Francisco Giants a walk-off, 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals was rained out. — Reuters
