Springer hits grand slam as Blue Jays beat Cardinals 10-3

TORONTO (AP) – George Springer hit his seventh career grand slam, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a two-run drive and the Toronto Blue Jays extended their winning streak to seven by beating the short-handed St. Louis Cardinals 10-3 Tuesday night. Alejandro Kirk added his 12th homer and Matt Chapman had two hits, including the tiebreaking single in a five-run sixth as Toronto improved to 8-1 under manager John Schneider. Dylan Carlson hit a solo home run as St. Louis played the first of two games in Canada without unvaccinated sluggers Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. The two biggest bats in the Cardinals lineup were placed on the restricted list before the game, along with catcher Austin Romine. Foreign nationals who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19 are not allowed to enter Canada, save for limited exceptions that require a 14-day quarantine. Unvaccinated baseball players are placed on the restricted list, where they are not paid and do not accrue major league service time. Tim Mayza (5-0) got one out for the win. Jordan Hicks (2-5) was charged with the loss. METS 6, YANKEES 3 NEW YORK (AP) – Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run homer that capped a four-run first inning, and the Mets beat the Yankees in a rare Subway Series matchup of first-place teams. Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo quieted many of the 42,364 fans at Citi Field with opposite-field home runs on consecutive pitches by Taijuan Walker (8-2) in the first. But the Mets stormed right back in the bottom half when Starling Marte homered with one out against Jordan Montgomery (3-3). Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso followed with back-to-back doubles, and Escobar’s two-out homer put the Mets ahead. Adam Ottavino got five outs for the Mets, and Edwin Díaz struck out four for his 22nd save in 25 chances. GUARDIANS 8, RED SOX 3 BOSTON (AP) – Nolan Jones hit a three-run homer, fellow rookie Steven Kwan had three hits and Cleveland dampened Boston’s celebration for newly minted Hall of Famer David Ortiz. Minutes after the Cooperstown inductee proclaimed himself a good luck charm for his slumping former team, the Red Sox fell behind 5-0 on their way to a sixth loss in seven games. They have lost 14 of their last 18 to fall into last place in the AL East. Austin Hedges also homered for Cleveland, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Kirk McCarty (1-2) earned his first career victory, pitching four scoreless innings. Xander Bogaerts had three hits for Boston. Josh Winckowski (3-5) allowed five runs in three innings. BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 3 PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Michael Harris II and Matt Olson homered, leading Atlanta to the victory. Dansby Swanson added three hits and Spencer Strider was sharp over six innings as Atlanta remained the only team in baseball without a three-game losing streak this season. Austin Riley stretched his hitting streak to 18 games. Strider (5-3) allowed three hits and a run as Atlanta improved to 36-13 since June 1. Manager Brian Snitker earned his 500th victory, all with the Braves. Kyle Schwarber’s NL-leading 31st homer in the sixth got the Phillies on the board, and J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer off Will Smith in the ninth. Kenley Jansen came on and got two outs for his 23rd save. Alec Bohm had two hits for the Phillies. Aaron Nola (6-8) allowed five runs in six innings. ORIOLES 5, RAYS 3 BALTIMORE (AP) – Baltimore’s Ramón Urías hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning off Colin Poche to undo a marvelous start by Tampa Bay All-Star Shane McClanahan. McClanahan pitched seven innings of two-hit ball and was lifted with a 3-2 lead after throwing 81 pitches on a humid night. Poche (2-1) promptly gave up a leadoff single to Adley Rutschman and Urías followed by driving an 0-2 pitch over the left-field wall.