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Major leagues: Sparked by 7-run first inning, Rays rout Orioles
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Tampa Bay emerged from the All-Star break by scoring seven runs in the first inning, and the Rays got homers from Tommy Pham and Nate Lowe in a 16-4 rout of the error-prone Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
Seeking to reach the postseason for the first time since 2013, second-place Tampa Bay resumed its pursuit of the Yankees in the AL East by reaching season highs in runs and hits (20).
Lowe led the charge with a career-high four hits and three RBI, and Kevin Kiermaier had three hits, scored three runs and drove in two.
Given all that offensive support, Yonny Chirinos (8-4) had an easy time earning his first victory in six starts since June 7. The right-hander gave up two runs and four hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts.
The Rays sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning against Dylan Bundy (4-11). After Pham homered, Tampa Bay added four doubles and three singles in an uprising that Bundy fueled with a wild pitch and a walk.
N.Y. Yankees 4, Toronto 0: Domingo Germán cruised through six innings of three-hit ball, Edwin Encarnación hit a three-run double and the New York Yankees kicked off the second half with a 4-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
New York has won 17 of 21 and boasts the American League’s best record at 58-31.
Germán (11-2) threw just 78 pitches, 54 for strikes, and retired 15 in a row following Eric Sogard’s leadoff hit. The team leader in wins, he limited Toronto to three singles and did not walk a batter.
Pitching on eight days’ rest, the slender right-hander featured a biting curveball that led to six of his seven strikeouts, all swinging.
National League
Washington 4, Philadelphia 0: Stephen Strasburg struck out six in six innings, Victor Robles hit a two-run single and the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-0.
Strasburg (11-4) allowed seven hits and walked one, continuing his dominance over the Phillies. He’s 13-2 against them, 6-0 in Philadelphia.
The second-place Nationals have won 16 of 20 and moved 1½ games ahead of the struggling Phillies, who are 14-22 since leading the NL East by 3½ games on May 29.
Phillies starter Nick Pivetta (4-4) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings and actually lowered his ERA to 5.81.