Seattle
LeBlanc gave up just two hits and struck out nine over 7⅔ innings. After a single by Mookie Betts on the opening at-bat of the game, LeBlanc (3-0) retried the next 22 batters until Eduardo Nunez singled with two outs in the eighth.
Alex Colome got pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland to pop out to end the inning, and Edwin Diaz struck out the side in the ninth for his 27th save.
It was LeBlanc’s first start of more than seven innings pitched since his first outing of the 2011 season with the San Diego Padres. His nine strikeouts were also his most since striking out 10 against the Los Angeles Dodgers that same season.
He had a little help from Dee Gordon at second base with diving stops to rob Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts of base hits.
The Mariners needed LeBlanc’s stellar outing as they struggled to get a lot going against knuckleballer Steven Wright.
Wright (2-1) held Seattle to just one run and five hits with two walks and four strikeouts over seven innings.
Three singles — all to left field — off Wright in the third inning gave the Mariners their early advantage. Gordon reached with one out while Mitch Haniger and Cruz each singled with two down.
It snapped Wright’s string of 25 ⅓ scoreless innings, which topped the stretch of 25 scoreless innings by Oakland’s Daniel Mengden for the longest in the majors this season.
Red Sox LHP Drew Pomeranz played catch in the outfield on Friday and is expected to do so again today. Manager Alex Cora said Pomeranz still felt stiff from his left biceps tendinitis, but that they didn’t feel it was anything serious.
Astros 10, Royals 2
Kansas City, Mo.
Jose Altuve hit a two-run double in the first inning to send the World Series champions on their way. The Astros had an 11-game win streak last season that ended in Kansas City.
Yankees 4, Rays 1
New York
Giancarlo Stanton and Sanchez hit back-to-back home runs to help the Yankees send the Rays to their 18th loss in 22 games at Yankee Stadium.
Severino (10-2) simply overwhelmed a weak-hitting Rays lineup that has produced just one run over its last 21 innings.
Tigers 7, White Sox 5
Chicago
Castellanos hit a three-run drive in the third and a two-run shot in the fifth
Blue Jays 2, Nationals 0
Toronto
Scherzer (10-3) gave up four hits, including the two-run homer by Travis, in six innings.
Braves 1, Padres 0
Atlanta
The NL East-leading Braves improved to 25-7 when their starter pitches at least six innings, and Newcomb has been a big reason for the success.
Marlins 5, Orioles 4
Baltimore
Realmuto singled in a run in the first inning, hit a two-run shot in the third and led off the fifth with his ninth home run. It was his fourth career multihomer game, the second this season.
Athletics 6, Angels 4
Oakland, Calif.
Chad Pinder homered and tripled, Marcus Semien also went deep and Jonathan Lucroy drew a bases-loaded walk to help Oakland end its season-high four-game losing streak.
Pirates 6, Reds 2
Pittsburgh
Moran and Diaz both went deep off Luis Castillo (4-8) to give Pittsburgh the lead.
Rockies 5, Rangers 2
Arlington, Texas
The 39-year-old Beltre, who has been on the disabled list twice this season because of a strained left hamstring, got the triple on a fly ball that went over the head of right fielder Carlos Gonzalez and ricocheted off the bottom half of the outfield wall.
Twins 9, Indians 3
Cleveland
Carrasco grabbed his arm after being hit by Joe Mauer’s leadoff liner in the second inning and went to his knees on the infield grass.
Phillies 4, Brewers 1
Milwaukee
Zach Eflin (4-2) beat Milwaukee for the second time in a week. The Brewers began the day with the best record in the National League, and had scored 40 runs against the Phillies in four previous games.
