Hicks HR ties it, Judge wins it as Yankees rally past Astros

NEW YORK (AP) – Aaron Judge lined a game-winning single on the eve of his salary arbitration showdown, capping a four-run ninth inning that included Aaron Hicks’ tying three-run homer off closer Ryan Pressly in the New York Yankees’ 7-6 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night. Batting with two on against Ryne Stanek, Judge smoked a 3-0 splitter into the left-field corner to score Jose Trevino from second base. It was the Yankees’ ninth walk-off win in 70 games this season – their most since 1943 – and one that seemed mighty unlikely when they entered the last inning with only two hits. New York took the opener of a highly anticipated four-game series between the American League’s top two teams, winning for the 19th time in 22 games to improve to 52-18 – the third-best 70-game start in the majors since 1930. New York also extended its home winning streak to 15 games, the team’s longest since 1961. Alex Bregman and Giancarlo Stanton traded three-run homers in the first inning. Yordan Alvarez added a three-run shot in the third off Yankees starter Jameson Taillon. Miguel Castro (4-0) worked a hitless inning for the win. Pressly (1-2) took the loss. Up next, an unusual in-season arbitration hearing Friday – rulings are usually made in the offseason but were pushed past opening day due to the sport’s labor lockout. Judge is asking for a $21 million salary, while New York has offered $17 million in his final season before reaching free agency. BRAVES 7, GIANTS 6 ATLANTA (AP) – Dansby Swanson hit two home runs and Atlanta built a big lead early before holding off San Francisco for its 18th win in 21 games this month. Swanson had three hits and drove in three runs. He hit a leadoff home run in the first and connected again in the fourth, his 12th, for a 7-1 lead. It was his seventh career multihomer game. Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run single in a five-run second inning as the Braves tagged Alex Wood (5-6). Atlanta starter Kyle Wright (8-4) allowed 10 hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings. The defending World Series champion Braves moved 11 games over .500 for the first time this season. San Francisco, which grounded into four double plays in the first four innings, has dropped four of five. MARINERS 2, ATHLETICS 1 OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Frankie Montas took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, but reliever A.J. Puk threw a pair of run-scoring wild pitches with two outs in the ninth that gave Seattle a win over Oakland. The Mariners loaded the bases with three walks and rallied on Puk’s wayward tosses to complete a three-game sweep. Montas didn’t allow a hit until Adam Frazier lined a clean single to left field with two outs in the eighth. Montas gave up another hit and was pulled after the inning. Montas struck out eight in a season-high eight innings, and exited with a 1-0 lead – he has received either one or zero runs of support in 11 of his 15 starts. Zach Jackson (1-2) entered for the ninth and walked two before Puk entered with two outs and two on. Reliever Diego Castillo (4-1) got the win. Paul Sewald retired the A’s in order in the bottom of the ninth for his fifth save. DODGERS 10, REDS 5 CINCINNATI (AP) – Freddie Freeman homered and drove in three runs, leading Clayton Kershaw and Los Angeles past Cincinnati. Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Will Smith and Justin Turner also homered for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who outscored the Reds 52-18 in winning all seven meetings this year. The Dodgers now travel to Atlanta, where Freeman was the longtime face of the franchise and helped the Braves win the World Series last year. Kershaw (5-1) allowed one run and seven hits in six innings. He struck out seven, leaving after 80 pitches and lowering his ERA to 2.00.