Cortes, 3 relievers shut down Astros in Yankees' 4-0 win

HOUSTON (AP) – Nestor Cortes and three relievers combined for a three-hitter and Brett Gardner and DJ LeMahieu each drove in two runs to lead the New York Yankees over the Houston Astros 4-0 on Friday night. Making a spot start, Cortes permitted two hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking two and lowering his ERA to 1.05. Lucas Luetge (3-1) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings for the win. Chad Green gave up one hit in two innings and Jonathan Loaisiga threw a perfect ninth. It was New York’s first visit to Houston since Game 6 of the 2019 AL Championship Series. The Astros advanced to the World Series with a 6-4 win in that game on a two-run homer by Jose Altuve with two outs in the ninth. The Astros are commemorating the event by giving away replica 2019 AL champions trophies on Friday night, 2019 AL champions replica rings on Saturday and Altuve jerseys for the finale on Sunday. GIANTS 5, NATIONALS 3 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Curt Casali hit a two-run homer while filling in for injured All-Star catcher Buster Posey, late lineup addition Darin Ruf added a go-ahead drive and San Francisco beat Washington. Ruf added an RBI single in the first inning against Paolo Espino before connecting for his ninth homer off loser Sam Clay (0-3) in the fifth. Wilmer Flores homered in the seventh. Washington’s Tres Barrera hit a two-run triple in the fourth for his first career extra-base hit and RBIs. San Francisco saved the potential go-ahead run the fourth inning when center fielder Steven Duggar fielded Espino’s single and fired home to Casali. He tagged Gerardo Parra, who hit a tying double. Jarlin García (1-0) pitched the fifth for the win. Jake McGee – the seventh Giants reliever of the night – escaped trouble in the ninth to finish for his 18th save. Starlin Castro had two hits and extended his hitting streak to 12 games for Washington, which has lost seven of nine. PADRES 4, ROCKIES 2 SAN DIEGO (AP) — Reliever Miguel Diaz rejoined the Padres for the fourth time this season and was part of a dominant performance by the San Diego bullpen. Trent Grisham drove in two runs, a day after his game-ending single beat Washington 9-8 when the Padres rallied from an eight-run deficit, matching the biggest comeback in team history. Four San Diego relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven. The Padres have won nine straight against Colorado at Petco Park, their longest active home winning streak against any opponent. The Padres called up Reiss Knehr, who owned a 3.90 ERA in 11 starts with Double-A San Antonio. Making his major league debut, Knehr lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and three hits. Diaz took over and permitted one hit in 2 2/3 innings. Relievers Tim Hill and Austin Adams combined to get the next five outs and closer Mark Melancon earned his 27th save by retiring the side in the ninth inning. MARINERS 7, ANGELS 3 SEATTLE (AP) – Shohei Ohtani became the sixth player to reach the upper deck of T-Mobile Park with a majestic blast for his 33rd homer, but Mitch Haniger’s two-out grand slam in the eighth inning lifted Seattle past Los Angeles. Ohtani had the most memorable shot of the night. Haniger hit the most important. Haniger drove a 2-0 pitch from Jose Quintana (0-4) into the left-field bullpen to cap Seattle’s rally from a 3-0 deficit. Seattle kept the inning alive thanks to Jake Bauers hit and J.P. Crawford’s nine-pitch walk. The Angels had a 3-0 lead thanks to Ohtani’s homer off starter Marco Gonzales that soared into the top deck of right field. MLB’s Statcast projected the homer at 463 feet. Ohtani leads the majors in homers, and this drive came three days before he’s set to appear in Monday’s All-Star Home Run Derby at Coors Field.