O's slug 4 HRs, top Yanks 7-1 in game slowed by loose cat

NEW YORK (AP) – In a game delayed for several minutes while a bevy of groundskeepers tried to corral a scaredy cat in the outfield, the Baltimore Orioles hit four solo homers off New York newcomer Andrew Heaney and beat the Yankees 7-1 Monday night. The Orioles held a six-run lead in the eighth when the tabby emerged from the third base side as Yankees star Aaron Judge batted against Paul Fry. The cat got on the warning track and dashed back and forth. The feline climbed up on the low padding along the wall and tried to scale the bullpen fence, but kept falling back down. Only after 3 1/2 minutes did the cat leave the field, darting into an open gate near the seating area along the third base line. Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays hit back-to-back homers in the third off Heaney (6-8). Ryan Mountcastle and Ramón Urías also went deep to spoil the debut of Heaney, who gave up four runs on six hits in six innings with the homers coming in a span of six batters in the third and fourth. Jorge López (3-12) took a no-hitter into the sixth and allowed one run and one hit in six innings. Joey Gallo started in left field and ended López’s no-hit bid with a clean double to open the sixth. MARINERS 8, RAYS 2 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Jake Fraley had a two-run single during a five-run third, Chris Flexen went 6 2/3 solid innings, and Seattle beat AL East-leading Tampa Bay. Fraley, who was activated before the game after being on the COVID-19 injured list since July 18, also made a diving catch in left field on Brandon Lowe’s liner in the third. He went 2 for 4 with a walk and stole a base. Flexen (10-5) gave up two runs and seven hits, helping the Mariners move within three games of Oakland, which currently holds the second AL wild card. The right-hander struck out six and walked two. Seattle’s Ty France had three hits with three RBIs, and came within a triple of hitting for the cycle. Randy Arozarena homered as Tampa Bay saw its divisional lead over Boston drop to one game. Michael Wacha (2-3) took the loss. He allowed six runs and eight hits in four innings. BREWERS 6, PIRATES 2 MILWAUKEE (AP) – Eduardo Escobar hit a three-run homer and an RBI triple to back up Eric Lauer’s five shutout innings in Milwaukee’s victory over Pittsburgh. Escobar’s two-out triple off Kyle Keller in the sixth extended the Brewers’ lead to 2-0. He followed that up by sending a 421-foot drive to right against Nick Mears in the seventh. He also walked twice to reach base on each of his four plate appearances. Brad Boxberger earned his fourth save in six opportunities. Bryse Wilson (2-4) worked five innings and allowed just one run in his Pirates debut, but the Brewers feasted on Pittsburgh’s bullpen after his departure. Lauer (4-4) allowed just three hits, struck out three and walked nobody. He also hit a batter. GIANTS 11, DIAMONDBACKS 8, 10 INNINGS PHOENIX (AP) – Buster Posey doubled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and San Francisco beat Arizona. The Giants extended their NL West lead to 3 1/2 games over the idle Los Angeles Dodgers. Posey’s double scored Brandon Crawford, who was the runner at second to start the 10th. Posey then scored on Steven Duggar’s single against Miguel Aguilar (0-1) and Donovan Solano’s squeeze bunt brought in Austin Slater, who had been intentionally walked. Jarlin Garcia (3-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory. Alex Dickerson hit a grand slam to highlight San Francisco’s five-run fifth. Mike Yastrzemski and Wilmer Flores also homered for San Francisco (67-39), which has the majors’ best record and leads all teams with 161 homers. The Diamondbacks got two-run homers from pinch hitter Josh Reddick and Asdrubal Cabrera. PHILLIES 7, NATIONALS 5