UNDATED (AP) — Christian Arroyo hit a two-run single in Boston’s three-run fourth inning, and the Red Sox took advantage of Miami’s shoddy play to hold off the Marlins 5-3 for their fifth straight victory.
Alex Verdugo added an RBI double and two hits for the Red Sox, who were coming off their first three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium since June 2011. Starling Marte hit a solo homer and two singles for Miami, which stranded 14 baserunners in its ninth loss in its last 10 games. The Red Sox are a season-high 14 games over .500 at 37-23.
In other MLB action:
— Max Stassi homered and drove in three runs, and the Angels turned Jackson Kowar’s major league debut into a nightmare as Los Angeles defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-3. Stassi had an RBI single off Kowar during a four-run first inning and hit a two-run shot in the fifth. Kowar, the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft, faced seven batters before being lifted after two-thirds of an inning. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed four runs on three hits and two walks. Dylan Bundy snapped a 10-game winless streak for the Angels. He allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.
— Manny Machado and Brian O’Grady each homered and had three RBIs to lead the San Diego Padres over the Chicago Cubs 9-4 in the opener of a three-game series between National League contenders. Machado hit a solo home run and two sacrifice flies. O’Grady, just recalled from the minors, had a two-run homer and an RBI single. Ryan Weathers lasted five innings for the win, giving up three runs and five hits. Chicago starter Adbert Alzolay left in the fourth with a blister on his right middle finger after walking leadoff batter Tommy Pham, who reached base four times.
