BOSTON (AP) — Trevor Story hit a three-run homer, Tanner Houck pitched six effective innings and Boston beat the New York Yankees 5-0 in the first game of a doubleheader after the Red Sox fired Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom after nearly four seasons in charge.
Rookie Ceddanne Rafaela added a solo shot and Wilyer Abreu had a first-inning RBI single for Boston.
Houck (5-9) allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked three. Garrett Whitlock retired all six batters he faced, and Chris Martin finished a six-hitter.
Gleyber Torres had two doubles for the Yankees.
New York right-hander Michael King (4-6) gave up a run and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked one.
The Red Sox were 267-262 in Bloom’s tenure, with a trip to the AL Championship Series in 2021, but are stumbling toward a third last-place finish in four seasons.
BREWERS 4, MARLINS 2
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Tyrone Taylor hit two RBI doubles and put Milwaukee ahead for good with an impressive slide home in the NL Central-leading Brewers’ victory over Miami.
The Brewers won three of four from the Marlins and extended their division lead to 4 1/2 games over the Chicago Cubs.
Milwaukee trailed 2-1 in the fifth inning when Andruw Monasterio hit a leadoff single off Marlins starter Eury Pérez (5-5). Monasterio moved to second on Brice Turang’s bunt and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Taylor’s double to left.
The Brewers extended their lead to 4-2 in the seventh when Turang hit a leadoff single, stole second and came home on Taylor’s double.
Brewers starter Adrian Houser (6-4), in his first appearance since Aug. 27, struck out five and allowed five hits and two runs in five innings. Devin Williams retired the side in order in the ninth for his 34th save in 38 opportunities.
TIGERS 8, REDS 2
DETROIT (AP) — Matt Vierling hit a grand slam, Reese Olson allowed two hits in six sharp innings and Detroit beat Cincinnati.
Akil Baddoo also went deep for Detroit, which salvaged the finale of the three-game series. Kerry Carpenter and Spencer Torkelson each drove in a run.
Olson (4-7) permitted one run, struck out seven and walked four.
Spencer Steer and TJ Friedl homered for the Reds, who had won three straight. Cincinnati finished with five hits, hurting its pursuit of an NL wild card. Derek Law (4-6) took the loss.
PIRATES 2, NATIONALS 0
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mitch Keller pitched eight innings of two-hit ball, and Pittsburgh beat Washington.
Keller (12-9) struck out seven and walked one. The 27-year-old right-hander improved to 3-1 with a 3.07 ERA in his last seven starts.
David Bednar pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 35th save.
Pittsburgh won the final three games of the four-game set against last-place Washington.
The Nationals wasted a solid performance by Josiah Gray (7-12), who struck out 10 in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander was charged with two runs and five hits.
Pittsburgh jumped in front when Jack Suwinski led off the second with his team-high 25th homer on a drive to right. Alfonso Rivas connected with two out in the fifth, hitting a 411-foot shot to center.
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