Bryant, Ruf help Giants sweep plummeting Mets

NEW YORK (AP) – Kris Bryant launched an early two-run homer, pinch-hitter Darin Ruf broke an eighth-inning tie with an RBI single and the San Francisco Giants beat the plummeting New York Mets 3-2 on Thursday night for a three-game sweep. Bryant connected in the first inning off Carlos Carrasco for his 24th home run of the season and sixth with the major league-leading Giants since they acquired him from the Chicago Cubs at the July 30 trade deadline. Pete Alonso tied it with a massive two-run homer in the sixth that chased starter Alex Wood. Mike Yastrzemski singled against Seth Lugo (3-2) to begin the eighth, and Curt Casali was grazed by a pitch. Ruf grounded a single through the right side to give the Giants a 3-2 lead. Jarlin García (5-3) worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. Tyler Rogers got three quick outs in the ninth for his 12th save. DODGERS 4, PADRES 0 SAN DIEGO (AP) – Max Scherzer pitched 7 2/3 dominant innings to win his eighth straight decision, Austin Barnes hit a two-run home run off Yu Darvish and surging Los Angeles beat plunging San Diego for a three-game sweep. Scherzer (12-4) allowed only two hits, struck out 10 and walked one for the Dodgers, who handled the listless Padres less than 24 hours after winning 5-3 in a 16-inning game that took 5 hours, 49 minutes, and ended at 12:59 a.m. It was the longest big league game since pandemic rules were implemented last year. The Dodgers won for the 12th time in 13 games and for the 16th time in 18. San Diego has lost four straight and 12 of 14. Darvish (7-8), activated from the 10-day injured list before the game, allowed four hits and five runs in six innings, struck out six and walked one. WHITE SOX 10, BLUE JAYS 7 TORONTO (AP) – Luis Robert hit a two-run home run, Carlos Rodón won in his return from the injured list and Chicago beat Toronto. José Abreu, César Hernández and Eloy Jiménez each hit solo shots as the White Sox earned a split in the four-game series. Rodón (10-5) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. Activated off the injured list before the game, Rodón hadn’t pitched since Aug. 7 because of a sore shoulder. Craig Kimbrel finished for his first save with the White Sox, his 24th in 27 chances this season. Marcus Semien hit two home runs for the Blue Jays. Chicago’s first three home runs came off starter Hyun Jin Ryu (12-7). ORIOLES 13, ANGELS 1 BALTIMORE (AP) – A day after ending a 19-game losing streak, major league-worst Baltimore got a grand slam and six RBIs from Pedro Severino to rout Shohei Ohtani and Los Angeles. Ohtani led off the game with a homer, his MLB-leading 41st, but that was the only highlight for the Angels, who have lost five of six. Baltimore won two games in a row for the first time since July 30-31. Keegan Akin (1-8) picked up his second career win, allowing one run and three hits in a season-high seven innings. Elvis Peguero (0-1) was charged with five of the six runs the Angels allowed in the fifth inning. RED SOX 12, TWINS 2 BOSTON (AP) – Chris Sale joined Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax as the only pitchers on record with three immaculate innings, Bobby Dalbec homered twice and Boston beat Minnesota. Dalbec drove in seven runs and Rafael Devers hit his 30th homer, a two-run shot during a five-run sixth that helped seal Sale’s third victory in as many starts since his return from Tommy John surgery. Sale (3-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight and allowing two runs on two hits. Willians Astudillo hit a two-run homer in the fifth for Minnesota. Dalbec hit a three-run homer in the second off John Gant (4-8). REDS 5, BREWERS 1