BOSTON-David Ortiz hit a three-run homer and Rick Porcello remained unbeaten at home as the Boston Red Sox beat the struggling San Francisco Giants 4-0 on Tuesday night.
Brock Holt also homered for the Red Sox, who won for the seventh time in eight games despite a strong start by former teammate Jake Peavy.
San Francisco remained winless since the All-Star break with its fourth straight loss. The Giants had just five hits and only three runners advanced beyond first base.
METS 2, CUBS 1
CHICAGO - Catcher Rene Rivera usually leaves enough of an imprint on games with his defensive prowess, but his bat let the Mets steal a 2-1 win Tuesday night.
Rivera had the go-ahead RBI single in the ninth and also made a nice play at the plate to help New York to a 2-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Rivera went 3-for-4 and laced his winning hit with two outs well after Noah Syndergaard labored through 52/3 innings.
Jeurys Familia loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth, but escaped to record his 33rd consecutive save this season and 49th straight in the regular season.
Yankees 7, Orioles 1
NEW YORK-Starlin Castro hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, Nathan Eovaldi won for the first time since May and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-1 Tuesday night to move back above .500.
Castro homered in the second off Vance Worley (2-1) and hit a two-run double in the sixth against Odrisamer Despaigne. Chase Headley added a two-run homer off Mychal Givens in the eighth.
Trying to keep management from jettisoning veterans for prospects before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the Yankees won their third straight and ensured they would be no more than five games back for the second AL wild card. At 47-46, New York is above .500 for just the third time since mid-April.
Dodgers 8, Nationals 4
WASHINGTON-Chase Utley drove in three runs with three hits, including a leadoff homer that quickly spoiled the major league debut of Reynaldo Lopez and sent the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Washington Nationals 8-4 Tuesday night.
Los Angeles swept three games from Washington at home in June and has won six straight in the series.
Scott Kazmir (8-3) gave up one run and four hits in seven innings, striking out eight. He extended his unbeaten streak to 12 starts, going 6-0 in that span.
Lopez (0-1), considered one of Washington's top prospects, allowed six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out nine, featuring a fastball in the upper 90s mph.
Pirates 3, Brewers 2
PITTSBURGH-Josh Harrison tripled leading off the bottom of the ninth and scored when the throw from the outfield skipped past Milwaukee third baseman Hernan Perez and out of play to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.
Perez's RBI single off Pittsburgh All-Star closer Mark Melancon with two outs in the ninth tied the game, but the tie was short-lived. Harrison's drive off Tyler Thornburg was just out of the reach of Milwaukee center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Harrison chugged to third then popped up and strolled home when the relay throw from second baseman Scooter Gennett went by Perez.
The victory gave the Pirates a spirited start to a favorable 20-game stretch in their schedule they hope will give them some momentum as they try to stay in the NL wild-card race.
Twins 6, Tigers 2
DETROIT-Tommy Milone held Detroit scoreless until the ninth inning, and the Minnesota Twins broke through with five runs in the seventh in a 6-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
Brian Dozier hit a two-run homer, Eduardo Nunez had three RBIs and Milone (3-2) breezed through the Detroit lineup until the ninth, when the Tigers finally chased him from the game. Down 6-0 at the start of the inning, Detroit scored twice and actually had the tying run at the plate with one out when James McCann came up with the bases loaded against Brandon Kintzler.
McCann and Jose Iglesias both struck out to end it.
Marlins 2, Phillies 1, 10 innings
PHILADELPHIA-Christian Yelich homered and drove in the game-winning run with a single in the 10th inning to lead the Miami Marlins to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.
J.T. Realmuto added two hits for the Marlins, who won their third straight to remain one game ahead of the New York Mets for the second wild-card spot in the National League.
Tommy Joseph homered for Philadelphia, which lost its third straight.