UNDATED (AP) — The Mets were able to split a twinbill with the Braves, keeping Atlanta five games behind first-place New York in the National League East.
Jeff McNeil supplied a game-winning hit for the second straight day, lacing an RBI double in the fifth inning of the Mets’ 1-0 win over the Braves in Game 2. Brandon Nimmo led off with an infield single and scored one out later on a hit by McNeil, who was making his first start since Wednesday.
Six relievers combined on a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the seven-inning second game.
The Braves took the opener of a doubleheader in New York as Kyle Muller combined with two relievers on a five-hitter in a 2-0 shutout of the division-leading Mets. Muller limited the Mets to four hits and two walks over five innings for his second major league win. He also helped Atlanta score the first run with a single off losing pitcher Marcus Stroman in the third inning for his first major league hit. Joc Pederson followed with an RBI double.
In other major league action:
— The Phillies pulled out a 6-5 win over the Nationals on Andrew McCutchen’s three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. Rhys Hoskins also had a three-run homer for the second-place Phillies, who are 3 1/2 games behind the Mets in the NL East.
— Pinch-hitter Javier Báez slapped a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth to send the Cubs past the Reds, 6-5. Joey Votto homered for the third time in three games and drove in three runs for Cincinnati, which lost for the seventh time in 10 games.
— The Red Sox rallied in the eighth for the second straight day as Alex Verdugo hit a two-run homer in the inning to push the AL East leaders to a 5-4 victory over the Blue Jays. Boston star Rafael Devers also homered before the deciding hit, one day after Verdugo broke up a no-hitter to spark a five-run eighth against the Yankees.
— Jorge Soler homered twice for the second straight game and the Royals extended their winning streak to six games with a 4-3 win over the AL Central-leading White Sox. Mike Minor gave the Royals their fifth quality start in the last six games, limiting Chicago to two runs on three hits over six innings.
— The Mariners came away with an 11-8 comeback win over the AL West-leading Astros on Dylan Moore’s grand slam in the eighth inning. The Astros scored six runs in the first and led 7-0 in the fourth before Seattle started to rally.
— Max Kepler’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning was the difference in the Twins’ 6-5 decision over the Tigers. Robbie Grossman’s pinch-hit, two-run homer tied the game for the Tigers with one out in the ninth after All-Star Twins closer Taylor Rogers left with a sprained left middle finger.
— Shohei Ohtani delivered an RBI single and allowed a run and five hits over seven innings of the Angels’ 6-2 downing or the Rockies. Jack Mayfield added a two-run homer for the Angels, his fourth of the season and third in his last five games.
