Shohei Ohtani stars as Angels beat Tigers 3-1

DETROIT (AP) – Shohei Ohtani hit his 40th homer and pitched eight sharp innings, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Wednesday night. The crowd of 27,282 was hoping to see Cabrera hit his 500th career homer, but the slugger went 1 for 4 with a first-inning single. Instead, Ohtani (8-1) put on a show. The Japanese right-hander allowed six hits, struck out eight and walked none. He also became the first major leaguer to hit 40 homers in a season in which he pitched at least 15 games. The previous record was 29 by Babe Ruth in 1919. Rasiel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for his 27th save, retiring Cabrera on a fly ball to the warning track in right. Willi Castro homered for Detroit, and Tarik Skubal (8-11) allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings. BRAVES 11, MARLINS 9 MIAMI (AP) – Freddie Freeman hit for the cycle for the second time, powering Atlanta to its sixth consecutive win. The reigning NL MVP doubled in the first and tripled in the fourth. He singled in the fifth and hit a two-run drive in the sixth for his 27th homer. Freeman became the first Braves player to hit for the cycle twice after also accomplishing the feat against Cincinnati on June 15, 2016, according to Atlanta. Charlie Morton (12-4) pitched six innings of two-run ball for the NL East-leading Braves. Miami walked 12 batters, tying a franchise record for a nine-inning game. Five of the walks were with the bases loaded. Miami starter Jesús Luzardo (4-6) was charged with four runs in three-plus innings. He struck out four and walked five. YANKEES 5, RED SOX 2 NEW YORK (AP) – Andrew Heaney pitched seven smooth innings, Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run single in his return from COVID-19, and the Yankees matched a season best with their sixth straight victory. Substitute shortstop Andrew Velazquez, born nearby in the Bronx, delivered a pair of RBI singles from the No. 9 spot in the batting order and combined with Rizzo on a terrific defensive play for the dramatic final out. Heaney (8-8) permitted two hits – including Xander Bogaerts’ opposite-field solo homer on an 0-2 pitch in the first. Lucas Luetge got one out for his third major league save. Hunter Renfroe also homered for Boston, which has dropped 14 of 20. Nick Pivetta (9-6) was chased in a four-run second inning. METS 6, GIANTS 2, 12 INNINGS SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Kevin Pillar hit a three-run homer in the 12th inning, lifting the Mets over the Giants hours after owner Steve Cohen called out New York’s hitters for a lack of production. Six Giants pitchers combined to blank the Mets until the ninth inning, when J.D. Davis provided a tying sacrifice fly. The teams traded runs in the 11th before the Mets scored four runs against Tyler Chatwood (1-3) in the 12th. The Giants used eight relievers, who combined for 10 2/3 innings after Anthony DeSclafani exited with right ankle discomfort in the top of the second. Jeurys Familia (7-3) surrendered an unearned run in the 11th but still got the win. RAYS 8, ORIOLES 4 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Ryan Yarbrough came off the COVID-19 injured list and worked five scoreless innings as the AL East-leading Rays handed the Orioles their 14th consecutive loss. Baltimore, which also had a 14-game skid from May 18-31, joined the Boston Braves as the only teams to have a pair of 14-game or longer losing streaks in the same season since 1901. The Braves did it twice, in 1911 and 1935. Yarbrough (7-4) followed opener Louis Head to start the second inning and gave up one hit in his first appearance since Aug. 6. Cedric Mullins and rookie Ryan Mountcastle homered for Baltimore. Spenser Watkins (2-5) allowed four runs and eight hits in four innings.