Baseball Roundup: Tigers Edge Orioles

Detroit — Victor Martinez hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning, and the Detroit Tigers beat Baltimore 4-3 on Friday night, pulling even with the Orioles for the American League’s second wild card.

Michael Fulmer pitched seven solid innings, and the Tigers won despite blowing a 3-0 lead. The Orioles tied it in the eighth when Adam Jones hit an RBI single, but Martinez led off the bottom half with a drive to right-center field off reliever Brad Brach (8-3).

Alex Wilson (3-0) got the win even after allowing the tying run in the eighth. Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth for his 40th save in 44 chances. He is tied with Baltimore’s Zach Britton for the AL lead in saves.

J.D. Martinez hit a two-run single in the fifth to give Detroit a 3-0 lead, but Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run homer the following inning to start Baltimore’s comeback.

White Sox 7, Royals 2

Chicago— Carlos Rodon struck out a season-high nine over six innings, Adam Eaton doubled twice and scored two runs and Chicago beat Kansas City to prevent the Royals from gaining ground in the playoff race.

Rodon (7-8) fanned Paulo Orlando with the bases loaded on his 116th pitch to end the sixth inning and move to 5-0 in his last seven starts.

Indians 6, Twins 5

Minneapolis— Mike Napoli hit a mammoth home run on the first pitch of the fifth inning to give Cleveland the lead, and the Indians hung on to beat Minnesota and maintain their six-game lead in the AL Central.

The Indians won for the ninth time in their last 11 games, but a concern came up when starter Danny Salazar was removed after four innings due to tightness in his right forearm.

Cubs 2, Astros 0

Houston— Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer, Jon Lester threw seven scoreless innings and Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman completed the shutout to give Chicago a win over Houston.

It was Bryant’s first career game against the Astros, who passed on him with the first pick in the 2013 draft to take starter Mark Appel, who was traded to Philadelphia this offseason before ever playing in the majors.

Bryant, taken second in that draft, gave Houston an up-close look at what could have been when he smacked his 37th homer off Joe Musgrove (2-4) to the seats in left field to put the Cubs up 2-0 in the fifth inning.

Marlins 4, Dodgers 1

Miami — Jose Fernandez tied a career high with 14 strikeouts, overshadowing Clayton Kershaw’s return from injury and leading Miami over Los Angeles.

Fernandez (14-8) gave up three hits and three walks in seven shutout innings. It was the fifth time he’s struck out 14 in a game, and third this season.

Kershaw (11-3) had not started for the Dodgers since June 26 because of a mild disk herniation in his back. He threw 66 pitches, 46 for strikes, while allowing two runs and five hits over three innings.

Nationals 5, Phillies 4

Washington — Trea Turner hit his second home run of the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, a solo shot that gave Washington a victory over Philadelphia.

It was the first multihomer game for the rookie, whose two-run drive in the seventh put Washington up 4-1.

Cardinals 4, Brewers 3

St. Louis — Matt Carpenter and Stephen Piscotty hit two-run homers in the fourth, Carlos Martinez pitched seven solid innings and St. Louis beat Milwaukee.

St. Louis trailed 3-0 when Martinez started the winning rally with a two-out single that was followed by Carpenter’s 19th home run, a walk to Kolten Wong and Piscotty’s 21st homer.

Mets 6, Braves 4

Atlanta— Kelly Johnson’s pinch-hit double drove in the go-ahead run in New York’s four-run eighth inning, and the Mets rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Atlanta for their sixth straight win.

Curtis Granderson, who hit a two-run homer in the sixth, had a run-scoring single to tie the game. Johnson’s double down the right-field line off rookie right-hander Maurico Cabrera drove in Asdrubal Cabrera.

Reds 4, Pirates 3

Pittsburgh — Jose Peraza’s sacrifice fly snapped a ninth-inning tie and lifted Cincinnati over Pittsburgh, ending the Reds’ five-game losing streak.

Andrew McCutchen pulled the Pirates into a tie in the bottom of the eighth with a sacrifice fly off Raisel Iglesias (3-1).

Iglesias hit the first two batters in the ninth with pitches but escaped a bases-loaded jam by getting Josh Harrison to pop out and pinch-hitter Adam Frazier to fly out.