Josh Donaldson homers as Yankees beat Red Sox again

BOSTON (AP) – Josh Donaldson hit a three-run homer during New York’s four-run first inning, Matt Carpenter homered among three hits in his first start in left field in a decade, and the Yankees beat Boston 12-5 Friday night for their 10th win in their last 11 games against the Red Sox. Joey Gallo hit a two-run triple on a fly that Boston right fielder Christian Arroyo lost in the twilight. Gallo was thrown out at the plate trying for an inside-the-park home run. New York opened a 15 1/2-game lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the AL East, the earliest in games and by calendar date the Yankees have taken a 15-game lead. The Red Sox are 16 games back. Boston right-hander Connor Seabold (0-2) gave up seven runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings, raising his ERA to 11.91. He left with what the Red Sox said was right forearm extensor tightness. Miguel Castro (5-0) got four outs for the win. Lucas Luetge pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings for his first save this season. BRAVES 12, NATIONALS 2 ATLANTA (AP) – Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and William Contreras homered against Erick Fedde, leading surging Atlanta to the victory. Rookie Michael Harris II went 4 for 4 as the Braves improved to an NL-best 27-8 since June 1. Second-place Atlanta also moved within 2½ games of the NL East-leading New York Mets. Charlie Morton (5-3) won his fourth straight decision, but his first since June 5 at Colorado. The 38-year-old right-hander allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings. Harris hit a two-run homer in the eighth against Erasmo Ramírez. Juan Soto hit a two-run shot for last-place Washington. Fedde (5-6) gave up eight runs in three-plus innings. REDS 2, RAYS 1, 10 INNINGS CINCINNATI (AP) – Mark Kolozsvary scored on a game-ending balk by Matt Wisler in the 10th inning, sending Cincinnati to the victory. Kolozsvary opened the 10th on second as a pinch-runner for Mike Moustakas. He advanced on Nick Senzel’s sacrifice bunt against Wisler (2-3). Albert Almora Jr. walked before Wisler’s balk with pinch-hitter Tyler Naquin at the plate. Tampa Bay had a chance to score in the top half of the inning, but Kyle Farmer cut down Francisco Mejia at the plate on Yandy Diaz’s grounder to shortstop against Josh Kuhnel (1-1). The play was upheld by a video review. Farmer then snared Wander Franco’s liner and stepped on second for an inning-ending double play. It was the majors’ first game-ending balk since Dylan Floro for the Dodgers in a 5-4 loss at Seattle on Aug. 18, 2018. It was the first such loss for the Rays in franchise history. Brandon Drury homered for last-place Cincinnati. ORIOLES 5, ANGELS 4 BALTIMORE (AP) – Trey Mancini hit a game-winning single in Baltimore’s three-run ninth inning, and the Orioles extended their season-high win streak to six games. Angels stars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani both homered on the night they earned All-Star selections. Ohtani’s 19th of the season off Dylan Tate (1-3) made it 4-2 in the ninth. But Raisel Iglesias (2-5) allowed a two-out RBI double to Adley Rutschman that cut the lead to 4-3. Cedric Mullins then tied the game with a run-scoring single and took second on the throw home. Mancini then set off a raucous celebration with the sharp hit to left. PHILLIES 2, CARDINALS 0 ST. LOUIS (AP) – Alec Bohm homered twice against Adam Wainwright, powering Zack Wheeler and Philadelphia to the win. Bohm opened the sixth with a 419-foot drive to center for his fifth homer. He also connected with two outs in the eighth for his first career multihomer game. The first of a four-game series began with a 56-minute rain delay. ‘The Phillies won for the sixth time in eight games, and the Cardinals have lost seven of their last eight.