Mariners rout Mets behind record-setting Paxton

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- James Paxton claims he didn't have his best stuff Sunday afternoon.

Just don't tell that to the New York Mets.

The left-hander pitched six scoreless innings and set a franchise record as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Mets 9-1 at Safeco Field.

Paxton (11-3) allowed six hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out eight as the Mariners, who are chasing an American League wild-card berth, returned to the .500 mark at 53-53.

The Mets (48-55) lost two of three in Seattle to drop to 3-4 on their season-high 10-game trip.

Paxton broke the team mark for most victories in a month by a pitcher. He finished July 6-0 with a 1.37 ERA, recording 46 strikeouts and six walks in 39 1/3 innings.

"That means things are going well," Paxton said of getting a win without his "A" game. "My location and breaking weren't the best, but I battled.

"Z (catcher Mike Zunino) did a great job calling the game, and there was some great defense behind me."

Center fielder Jarrod Dyson threw out the Mets' Jose Reyes, who was attempting to tag from first on a fly ball, to end the first inning, and right fielder Leonys Martin made a diving catch on a Curtis Granderson liner with two runners on base in the second.

"That's the stuff that helps you win games," Paxton said.

The Mariners provided Paxton plenty of early run support, scoring three times in the first and adding two in the second.

With one out in the first, Jean Segura and Robinson Cano singled before Nelson Cruz launched a three-run shot into the upper deck in left field off Mets starter Seth Lugo (5-3). The home run, Cruz's team-leading 21st of the season, was measured at 444 feet, reaching the fans sitting in the shadow of the Safeco Field sign that hangs above the seating area.

With one out in the second, No. 9 hitter Martin hit a solo shot down the right field line, striking the "Hit It Here Cafe."

"That was fairly exciting for me," said Martin, who opened the season as the Mariners' starting center fielder but was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on April 27 after batting just .111 in the first 15 games. "It's been a long time, playing in the minor leagues. I was just trying to keep calm and put a good swing on it."

Ben Gamel followed with a fly ball that left fielder Yoenis Cespedes lost in the sun. As Cespedes covered his head, the ball fell next to him and he then tumbled backward, the ball bouncing toward the wall as Gamel raced to third. With two outs, Cano lined a run-scoring double down the right field line to make it 5-0.

Lugo settled down after that, allowing one hit over his final three innings. In five innings, he allowed five runs on eight hits and no walks with five strikeouts.

"I'm sure he wishes he made a better pitch (to Cruz), but after getting off to a slow start ... you have to battle back and get in the game," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "Seth gave us that opportunity, shut them down for three innings. ... Paxton pitched really good."

The Mariners scored in each of their final three at-bats against the Mets bullpen.

They got an unearned run off right-hander Fernando Salas in the sixth, after an error by second baseman Neil Walker. Gamel drove in the run with a single down the left field line.

Seattle scored again in the seventh off left-hander Josh Smoker. Cruz walked with one out and moved to third on a double to left-center field by Kyle Seager. Danny Valencia brought home Cruz with a sacrifice fly to right field, increasing the lead to 7-0.

Right-hander AJ Ramos, acquired by the Mets on Friday night from Miami, didn't have the best of debuts, giving up two runs. A throwing error by Walker and two wild pitches by Ramos helped the Mariners, who got a run-scoring single by pinch hitter Danny Espinosa to make it 9-0.

The Mets avoided the shutout with a two-out rally off left-hander James Pazos in the ninth inning. Granderson, Travis d'Arnaud and Matt Reynolds hit consecutive singles to bring home the run.

"Paxton, what a month," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He's kind of leading us in our charge up the mountain (toward a wild-card berth)."

NOTES: Mariners LF Ben Gamel extended his hitting streak to a career-best 16 games. ... Mets SS Jose Reyes left the game after being hit in the left arm by a pitch in the fifth inning and was replaced by Asdrubal Cabrera. Mets manager Terry Collins said X-rays on Reyes' arm were negative. ... The Mets added RHP AJ Ramos to the roster and designated LHP Josh Edgin for assignment. ... The Mariners made a series of roster moves before the game: OF Mitch Haniger was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a facial laceration after getting hit with a 95 mph fastball from the Mets' Jacob deGrom on Saturday; RHP Erasmo Ramirez, acquired Friday in a trade with Tampa Bay, was added to the active roster; OF Leonys Martin was selected from Triple-A Tacoma; RHP Cody Martin was optioned to Tacoma; and Triple-A INF D.J. Peterson, a first-round draft pick in 2013, was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Leonys Martin. In addition, Triple-A INF Tyler Smith, who spent time with the Mariners earlier this season, was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers.

Rays halt Yankees' 6-game winning streak

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- Jacob Faria celebrated his 24th birthday with a nice family dinner on Saturday night.

On the actual birthday, there was not much to celebrate, at least until his bullpen picked him up, especially the new veteran arms for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Newcomers Sergio Romo, Dan Jennings and Steve Cishek were among five relievers who combined on five scoreless innings as the Rays salvaged the finale of a four-game series against the New York Yankees by holding on for a 5-3 victory Sunday.

"It was awesome," said Faria, who allowed three runs and three hits in four-plus innings. "Anytime the bullpen has to get 15 outs, whether it's the best bullpen in the league or just not a good bullpen, that's really hard to do and they went five shutout innings. So it was really, really awesome to see."

Trevor Plouffe, Corey Dickerson, Wilson Ramos and Steven Souza Jr. delivered two-out RBI hits for the Rays, who snapped New York's six-game winning streak.

However, it was a bullpen that had contributed to Tampa Bay losing a major league-worst 33 times when holding a lead that paved the way for the Rays' third win in 11 games.

"It probably wasn't the prettiest thing," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "I think all the credit probably has to go to the bullpen and what they came in and just a lot of high-leverage, high-pressure situations. They calmed the situation down and continued to make good pitches."

None of it was easy once Faria was pulled following consecutive walks to Brett Gardner and Clint Frazier to start the fifth in a 4-3 game.

Romo recorded the first two outs, including a strikeout of slugger Aaron Judge after entering the game with a 7.71 ERA in his first three appearances after being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 22.

Left-hander Dan Jennings finished the fifth before putting two on in the sixth. He did so a day after allowing Gardner's bases-loaded, game-winning single in his second appearance since Thursday's trade from the Chicago White Sox.

Cishek loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but kept the one-run lead. He struck out Judge for the first out of the seventh, finished the inning quickly and was awarded the win by official scorer in his second appearance after Friday's trade from the Seattle Mariners.

"That's why we got those guys, high leverage situations," Faria said. "This whole series was like a playoff atmosphere."

Tommy Hunter breezed through the eighth and protected a two-run lead. Alex Colome put two on in the ninth but retired Judge and Matt Holliday to secure his 30th save 35 chances and end the nearly four-hour game, which saw Tampa Bay use each position players and every reliever except for Brad Boxberger and Chase Whitley.

"Today, it's kind of what they brought us in for, the help the cause out," Romo said. "Today the cause kind of fell in our favor."

While Faria only threw 47 of 92 pitches and issued five walks, the relievers combined to throw 45 of 75 pitches for strikes and issued two walks while facing 20 hitters.

Ronald Torreyes drove in career-high three runs for the Yankees. He hit a two-run homer and added an RBI double off Faria in his first two at-bats.

The rest of the Yankees went a combined 2-for-28, including Judge, who was 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts. Judge hit his 33rd homer Friday but also is in a 3-for-19 slump, dropping his average to .302.

"I feel good," Judge said. "I'm hitting .303 in the big leagues with 33 homers. Every time I step to the plate, it's opening day."

Despite not capitalizing on seven walks, two Tampa Bay errors and going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, the Yankees remained ahead of the Boston Red Sox for the American League East lead for the third straight day.

"The thing we didn't take advantage of was free baserunners," Girardi said. "We had some golden opportunities in the fifth, sixth and did not score. That's the difference in the game."

Yankees rookie Jordan Montgomery (7-6) produced his shortest start of his rookie season, allowing four runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings.

NOTES: LHP Jamie Garcia was acquired from the Minnesota Twins, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi said their new acquisition would likely make his debut Thursday in Cleveland. ... Rays 1B Logan Morrison (bruised left heel) was not in the starting lineup for a third straight game, though manager Kevin Cash said Morrison was feeling better. Morrison struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh on a close pitch he emphatically disagreed with. ... Rays OF Kevin Kiermaier, who is recovering from a fractured right hip, was scratched from a rehab game on Saturday due to back tightness. ... New York C Austin Romine exited after the sixth inning with a bruised left hand and X-rays were negative. Romine was injured when he was hit on the left hand by RHP Steve Cishek.

Gallardo pitches Mariners past Mets

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais often talks about the importance of his team winning each series it plays.

After blowing a late lead Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the New York Mets, and with Jacob deGrom on the mound Saturday afternoon, the Mariners' chances weren't looking very good.

But veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo came through, allowing just one run in 5 2/3 innings as Seattle defeated deGrom and the Mets 3-2 at Safeco Field.

"Going in, we knew it was going to be a low-scoring game," Servais said. "We outpitched them today."

Gallardo (5-7) posted his first victory as a starter since June 12. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out two. He was sent to the bullpen after a June 17 loss in Texas and didn't return to the rotation until last weekend against the New York Yankees. He received a no-decision in that game despite leaving with a lead after five innings.

"I felt good against the Yankees but just had a couple of mistakes," Gallardo said, referring to three solo home runs he allowed. "Today I stayed away from that.

"It's a big win for us to get after a game like (Friday). We've got a chance to win the series (Sunday)."

DeGrom (12-4) had won eight straight starts, tied for the longest season streak in franchise history with Tom Seaver (1969), David Cone (1988) and Bobby Jones (1997).

DeGrom allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in six innings. He struck out 10 and walked one. It was deGrom's eighth game with double-digit strikeouts in 21 starts this year.

Seattle's Tony Zych, Marc Rzepczynski and Nick Vincent combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief before turning it over to closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth.

Wilmer Flores doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a groundout. Michael Conforto, the Seattle native who hit two home runs the previous night, singled to right field with two outs to drive in Flores. Diaz struck out Asdrubal Cabrera to end the game and post his 19th save of the season.

There was damage done in the bottom of the second inning -- to both teams.

Nelson Cruz led off by lining a pitch off deGrom's left shin. The ball struck the right-hander so hard it caromed into shallow right field. Manager Terry Collins and the Mets' training staff checked on de Grom, but he was able to continue.

Kyle Seager followed with a double to right-center field, putting runners at second and third. DeGrom struck out Danny Valencia, but then came the second scary moment of the inning.

DeGrom threw a 95 mph fastball that rode up and in on Mitch Haniger, hitting him in the mouth.

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud immediately tended to Haniger as Servais and trainer Rick Griffin raced from the dugout. Cruz could be seen standing on third base with his head in his hands as a hush came over the crowd.

Haniger was able to get up and walk off the field with help from Griffin and was replaced by pinch-runner Guillermo Heredia, loading the bases. The Mariners later announced Haniger sustained a mouth contusion and had been taken from the ballpark for further examination.

"Obviously, any time that happens it's pretty scary. It was a severe laceration of the upper lip," said Servais, who indicated Haniger will need some time to recover and likely is headed for the disabled list. "It could have been much worse. He was never unconscious. When I went out there, he was talking."

Jarrod Dyson followed with a two-run single to right field, snapping the scoreless tie.

"You don't want to see that happen to anybody, especially Mitch," Dyson said. "I hope he gets well, we'll need him in the stretch."

Dyson stole second to put runners at second and third, but deGrom got out of the inning by striking out Mike Zunino and Jean Segura.

The Mariners added another run in the third as Ben Gamel led off with a single, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. Robinson Cano then hit a grounder to second baseman Neil Walker, who tried to get a force on Gamel, but his throw was errant, allowing Gamel to take third. Cruz followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 3-0.

DeGrom retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced, allowing only a one-out walk to Seager in the sixth. Seager was caught stealing to end the inning.

"I mean, you look back and really the worst pitch he threw was the hanging slider to Dyson," Collins said of deGrom. "So he comes off and gets himself right and doesn't do it again. He doesn't get too down about it. He's got to go about his job, and he kept us in the game. We had lots of opportunities. We just didn't score him any runs."

The Mariners nearly had another run in the third, but Conforto made a lunging, over-the-shoulder catch of a ball hit to left by Seager. Conforto also threw out Seager attempting to score to end the eighth inning.

The Mets finally scored in the sixth.

With two outs, Yoenis Cespedes and Walker singled, knocking Gallardo from the game.

Zych struggled to find the strike zone, walking Curtis Granderson to load the bases and then Flores to drive in a run. Jose Reyes flied out to center field to end the threat.

After Zych allowed a leadoff single to d'Arnaud in the seventh, Rzepczynski entered and walked Conforto. But the left-hander got Cabrera to ground into a double play and struck out Jay Bruce to end the inning.

Vincent pitched a perfect eighth for the Mariners before handing the ball to Diaz in the ninth.

"This was a bounce-back (win) for us," said Seager, who had two doubles. "Yovani was awesome. That's a good lineup (for the Mets) and he went right through it."

NOTES: Mariners DH Nelson Cruz snapped an 0-for-16 slump with a single in the second inning. His sacrifice fly in the third gave him an American League-leading 76 RBIs. ... Former Miami closer A.J. Ramos, acquired by the Mets late Friday night for two minor leaguers, is expected to be available out of the bullpen Sunday. ... Mets fans took up a couple of sections in the right-field corner of the first deck, wearing orange T-shirts that read "Queen's Court," in response to the Mariners' "King's Court" in the opposite corner when longtime ace "King" Felix Hernandez pitches. ... Mets RHP Seth Lugo (5-2, 4.10 ERA) is scheduled to face Mariners LHP James Paxton (10-3, 2.84) on Sunday afternoon in the finale of the three-game interleague series.

Yankees win 6th straight on Gardner's walk-off single

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- The group celebration was not waiting for Brett Gardner at the plate.

Bases loaded in a tie game with nobody out in the ninth inning, it seemed likely the celebration would occur near first base for the New York Yankees

Gardner created another celebration with a single that gave New York a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon.

Gardner recorded his second walk-off hit of the series and the eighth of his career. His latest occurred after the Yankees loaded the bases on a walk, a hit batsman and a bunt single by the bottom three hitters in the order against Brad Boxberger (2-3).

"When we needed the huge hit, he got it for us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's playing extremely well."

Left-hander Dan Jennings came on and two pitches into his at-bat, Gardner won it by lining a 1-and-0 pitch up the middle through a drawn-in infield.

"Today, there's no reason not to be comfortable in that spot," Gardner said. "That's the reason to play the game, to come up in a spot like that. Bases loaded, no outs, he's going to throw strikes."

As Gardner rounded first base, his teammates met him to celebrate New York's sixth straight win and eighth in nine games. Leading the celebration were Chase Headley and Gary Sanchez, who doused the veteran leadoff hitter with water.

Then Aaron Judge continued the celebration by dousing him with Gatorade while Gardner conducted his on-field interview. Judge did it after chipping a tooth celebrating Gardner's walk-off home run in the 11th in Thursday's 6-5 win.

The inning started when Headley drew a walk from Brad Boxberger (2-3). After pinch runner Jacoby Ellsbury stole second on a 1-and-0 pitch, Todd Frazier was hit by a pitch.

"It (stunk), no other way to put it," Boxberger said.

The Rays moved the corners in but Boxberger couldn't throw a strike as Ronald Torreyes attempted to bunt on the first three pitches. Torreyes was successful on the fourth pitch with a bunt single between the mound and third base, setting it up for Gardner.

"He's been spectacular," Yankees first baseman Chase Headley said of Gardner.

Not everything was spectacular for the Yankees, who blew a 4-3 lead when Lucas Duda hit a 2-and-0 curveball from David Robertson into the second deck in right field in the eighth. Duda's second homer forced the Yankees to create their breaks and rely on Gardner in the ninth.

Before Gardner won it, Headley slugged a pinch, two-run homer with one out in the sixth off Sergio Romo to give New York a 4-3 lead. After Robertson faltered, Aroldis Chapman (4-1) worked around two errors and stranded a runner at third in the ninth by retiring Evan Longoria.

Peter Bourjos and Steven Souza Jr. homered for the Rays, who used every position player and even starting pitcher Austin Pruitt as a pinch runner.

The Rays are 0-6 at Yankee Stadium this season, 2-7 in their last nine games and dropped their major league-leading 33rd game when holding a lead at some point.

"That team's on fire right now and it seems like a lot of things are going their way," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "Stuff's not going our way right now but we got to find a way to overcome it.

The Rays opened a 1-0 lead when Bourjos hit Caleb Smith's second pitch over the left-center field fence. The teams traded sacrifice flies as Didi Gregorius tied the game at 1-1 in the second and Duda put Tampa Bay ahead 2-1 in the third.

Sanchez tied the game with his 16th homer in the in the fourth and Souza gave Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead with his 22nd homer of the season in the fifth.

NOTES: Tampa Bay 1B Logan Morrison was not in the starting lineup for the second straight game (bruised left heel) but singled as a pinch hitter in the seventh. Manager Kevin Cash said Morrison was going for further testing after he struggled to run to first base on his hit. ... New York OF Aaron Hicks (strained right oblique) said he thinks he can start a rehab assignment by Wednesday. Hicks took swings and did some baserunning activity. Manager Joe Girardi said it's possible Hicks might return when New York returns from its next trip on Aug. 11. ... Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner took part in some of the ceremonies for "Military Appreciation Day" before the game. ... Plate umpire Dan Iassogna had a ball go off his mask in the fourth inning but stayed in the game after Yankees trainer Steve Donahue checked on him.

Mariners, Mets to meet after adding new pieces

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(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- It's not too often that two teams battling for the same playoff berth make a trade.

But Seattle Mariners executive vice president and general manager Jerry Dipoto did Friday, acquiring right-hander Erasmo Ramirez from the Tampa Bay Rays for right-hander reliever Steve Cishek before the opener of a weekend series against the New York Mets.

"Erasmo brings us a good combination of experience, versatility and control as we look to both be better in 2017, and in future seasons," Dipoto said in a news release. "We've added depth to our pitching staff in a variety of ways and maintained flexibility as we move forward with a player that is under club control for 2017, 2018 and 2019."

Seattle manager Scott Servais said Ramirez is scheduled to start Tuesday in Texas after the Mariners sent down rookie right-hander Andrew Moore, one of their top prospects, after he went 1-3 with a 5.65 ERA in six starts.

"We need to get Moore back on track," said Servais, citing Moore's command. "His first couple of outings were really good. He came up against Detroit and threw 18 of 18 first-pitch strikes or something like that. When he's trying to come back from down 2-0, 2-1 (in the count) he struggled."

And with the Mariners still chasing an American League wild-card playoff spot (they're 4 1/2 games out, two behind Tampa Bay), they opted for a veteran arm.

Servais was asked what he liked about Ramirez (4-3, 4.80 ERA), who began his career with the Mariners before being traded away at the end of spring training in 2015 by the previous regime.

"His versatility. He can start or pitch multiple innings in the bullpen," Servais said. "He should fit in very well."

In addition to sending down Moore on Friday, the Mariners recalled right-handers Casey Lawrence and Cody Martin to bolster the bullpen.

With the Mariners' acquisition of David Phelps from Miami last week, Cishek became expendable. He was 1-1 with one save and a 3.15 ERA.

"Steve did a great job for us," Servais said. "We really didn't have a closer when we signed him for that job, then he got the hip injury and Eddie Diaz emerged."

The Mariners aren't the only team the Rays have dealt with recently. They acquired first baseman Lucas Duda from the Mets on Thursday for minor league right-hander Drew Smith.

The Mets made another trade during Friday night's game, acquiring right-hander A.J. Ramos, who has 20 saves this season for Miami, for minor leaguers Merandy Gonzalez and outfielder Ricardo Cespedes.

On Saturday, the Mets are scheduled to start right-hander Jacob deGrom (12-3, 3.30), who has pitched at least eight innings in five of his past eight starts, allowing one earned run or fewer in six of those. DeGrom has faced the Mariners once before, on July 22, 2014, when he allowed one run in seven innings in a 3-1 victory.

DeGrom has been the only member of the Mets' season-opening rotation to stay healthy.

"He's not only been steady, he's been outstanding," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "When times are tough, he's stepped up.

"With all the things that have happened to our rotation, he's been our mainstay. He's probably throwing the ball as well right now than at any time in his career."

The Mariners are set to counter with veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo (4-7, 5.58). He returned to the rotation last weekend against the New York Yankees, allowing three runs -- all solo homers -- and five hits in five innings without getting a decision. In 10 career starts against the Mets, Gallardo is 4-3 with a 3.19 ERA.

Yankees go for sixth win in a row against Rays

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(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- When things were not going well with the New York Yankees for about a month, the most frequent question was when would the season get turned around?

It seems apparent that the Yankees are turning things around from a month filled with close losses and injuries.

The Yankees can tie a season high with their sixth straight win Saturday afternoon when they continue a four-game series agaisnt the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Yankees were 38-23 on June 12 when they last won six straight. During the next four weeks, they were 7-18 in a span of 25 games. But since the break, things are going reasonably well and of late it's going really well for New York.

After Masahiro Tanaka struck out a career-high 14, Aaron Judge, Clint Frazier and Brett Gardner homered in Friday's 6-1 win. The Yankees are 10-5 since the All-Star break and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They lead the American League East by a half-game.

"It's in front of us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of getting to first place. We're right there. We have a ton of games in our division. For me, it's there for us to go get and, we have to play well. That's the bottom line."

The Rays will add a new player for the third straight game and fourth time in the last week. After acquiring Sergio Romo last Saturday night along with Dan Jennings and Lucas Duda on Thursday, Tampa Bay acquired Steve Cishek from the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

So far, the moves have yet to cure the Rays of their recent slump. By dropping the first two games of the series, Tampa Bay is 2-7 in its last nine games and 2 1/2 games behind the Kansas City Royals for the second wild-card spot.

Duda made his debut Friday and homered. He became the 48th player used by the Rays this year, and when Cishek gets into a game after being activated Saturday, he will become the 49th, surpassing last season's total.

"I've been following them," Duda said. "I know where they are in the standings. It seems like they have a good shot to maybe take the division. So it's going to a fun next couple of months and I'm excited to be here and I'm looking forward to playing baseball."

Blake Snell would like to end a dubious streak Saturday when he starts for the Rays. At 0-6, he is the first Tampa Bay pitcher to lose at least his first six decisions since Edwin Jackson dropped his first eight decisions in 2007.

Snell last pitched Monday in a 5-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles when he lasted into the eighth inning for the first time. He went two batted into the eighth and allowed three runs and six hits while throwing 109 pitches, the second most of his career.

"I was really challenging hitters and I was proud about that," Snell said. "It's what I've been trying to do for some time now. ... I can see that what everyone's telling me works, and it's true, so just keep battling and keep it going."

Snell made his major league debut in New York on April 23, 2016, in a game decided on Brett Gardner's game-winning homer off Erasmo Ramirez. In five career starts against the Yankees, he is 2-1 with 2.38 ERA.

Snell took a no-decision in his last appearance against the Yankees when he allowed two unearned runs in 4 2/3 innings of an 8-4 loss on April 12 at Yankee Stadium.

Last season, he joined Jake Odorizzi (2014), Chris Archer (2013) and Wade Davis (2010) as the fourth rookie starter to beat the Yankees twice in a season.

For the time being, Caleb Smith is New York's fifth starter and he makes his second career start Saturday, a day after turning 26. If he makes another is likely contingent on how this start goes and if the Yankees acquire a starting pitcher before Monday's non-waiver trade deadline.

Smith made his first career start in Sunday's 6-4 win at Seattle and did not get a decision when he allowed four runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings. In two appearances since joining the Yankees on July 16, Smith has allowed six earned runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Conforto homers twice in Mets' win over Mariners

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- Standing at his locker in the corner of the visitor's clubhouse at Safeco Field, wearing the blue-jeweled crown and the blue silk robe with orange trimming that goes to the New York Mets' player of the game, Michael Conforto looked every bit the homecoming king.

Conforto, who was born in Seattle and went to high school in nearby Redmond, Wash., hit two home runs as the Mets defeated the Seattle Mariners 7-5 on Friday night.

"Playing at home is just a great experience," said Conforto, who left about 30 tickets for friends and family members. "I saw some familiar faces around the dugout and near home plate, people who helped me along, my (high school) coaches and teachers. That's the coolest part, that they came to support me."

Conforto said the last time he was on the field at Safeco was as a 16-year-old, participating the Mariners Cup, a showcase for young players.

"It was a little surreal, the last time I couldn't even come close to hitting a ball out," Conforto said.

Conforto led off the third and eighth innings with solo homers, his 20th and 21st of the season. His eighth-inning liner to right field off Marc Rzepczynski tied the score at 5.

"He's got a great fan base here, a lot of people here and it was an exciting night for him," Mets manager Terry Collins said.

David Phelps (0-1) relieved Rzepczynski and allowed a single to Asdrubal Cabrera before getting Yoenis Cespedes looked at a called third strike. Jay Bruce, who hit a two-run homer in the first inning, singled to right but was then forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Wilmer Flores.

Neil Walker, playing in his first game since June 15 when he went on the disabled list with a partial tear of his left hamstring, singled down the left-field line to bring home the go-ahead run.

"He looks like he's ready to play and got a big hit," Collins said of Walker. "It's nice to have him back."

Curtis Granderson followed with a single off first baseman Danny Valencia's glove to make it 7-5.

Mets reliever Jerry Blevins (5-0) got the victory, with Addison Reed pitching the ninth for his 19th save of the season.

Mike Zunino homered for Seattle (51-53), which failed to get back to .500.

The Mariners threatened in the eighth against Mets reliever Paul Sewald. Valencia led off with a single and Mitch Haniger was hit by a pitch. Jarrod Dyson's sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out. But Sewald rebounded to strike out Zunino and got Jean Segura to ground out to short to end the inning.

Ben Gamel led off the ninth with an infield single against Reed, extending his hitting streak to 14 games. But Reed got Robinson Cano to ground into a double play and Nelson Cruz to fly out to left field to close out the victory.

Mariners left-hander Ariel Miranda overcame a shaky start to pitch six solid innings.

He was in line for a victory until Conforto's second homer of the night tied the score.

"You've got to give Conforto credit, that's the first home run Rzepczynski has give up to a left-handed hitter all year," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "That kind of turned the momentum back in their favor."

Miranda allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits in six innings, with one walk and a career-high 10 strikeouts.

"I thought Miranda was as sharp as he's been in awhile," Servais said. "Unfortunately, he made a couple of mistakes on the homers."

Mets right-hander Rafael Montero allowed just one hit through the first four innings, a solo homer by Zunino, but couldn't make it through the fifth.

Haniger led off the fifth with a double off the right-field wall, snapping an 0-for-19 slump. Dyson then grounded a single up the middle, with Haniger stopping at third. Zunino walked to load the bases. Haniger scored and the other runners advanced on a wild pitch, reducing the Mets' lead to 4-2.

Segura then walked to reload the bases. Cano's sacrifice fly to right field pulled Seattle within a run, then Cruz walked to load the bases again, signaling the end of Montero's night.

Collins called on left-hander Josh Edgin to face the left-handed-hitting Kyle Seager. The move backfired as Seager grounded a two-run single into left field, giving the Mariners a 5-4 lead. Hansel Robles relieved Edgin and struck out Valencia to end the inning.

Montero went 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs and three hits, with five walks and five strikeouts.

The Mets wasted little time against Miranda.

With one out in the top of the first inning, Cabrera singled to left field. An out later, Bruce cranked his 27th homer of the season, a two-run shot to right-center field.

The Mets doubled their lead in the third. Conforto led off with a home run to right field.

Cabrera singled and went from first to third on a wild pitch and a throwing error by catcher Zunino. After Bruce walked, Wilmer Flores hit a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right to make it 4-0.

Zunino got one run back in the bottom of the inning, hitting a 416-foot homer, his 16th, into the Mariners bullpen in left-center field.

NOTES: The Mets pulled off a trade during the game, acquiring RHP A.J. Ramos from Miami for two minor leaguers. ... In addition to 2B Neil Walker, New York activated OF Brandon Nimmo, who had been on the disabled list since July 5 with a partially collapsed lung, and optioned RHP Tyler Pill to Triple-A Las Vegas. ... Mariners RHP Nick Vincent pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, breaking the season franchise record with his 25th consecutive scoreless relief appearance at home. Vincent, who hasn't allowed a run at Safeco Field this year, eclipsed the mark of 24 set by George Sherrill in 2007. ... The Mariners traded RHP Steve Cishek to Tampa Bay for RHP Erasmo Ramirez. Seattle also optioned RHP Andrew Moore to Triple-A Tacoma and called up RHPs Casey Lawrence and Cody Martin. INF Tyler Smith was designated for assignment. ... Mets RHP Jacob deGrom (12-3, 3.30 ERA) is scheduled to face Mariners RHP Yovani Gallardo (4-7, 5.58) on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of the three-game series.

Yankees roll as Tanaka overpowers Rays

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- When it was over, Masahiro Tanaka was glad he kept fans entertained with his dazzling array of pitches.

In an inconsistent season for the Tanaka, the New York Yankees are hoping for more entertainment from the pitcher projected to be their ace.

Tanaka retired the first 17 hitters and set a career high with 14 strikeouts in eight dominant innings as the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Friday night for their fifth straight win.

Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge and Clint Frazier homered off Austin Pruitt but it was all about Tanaka. Didi Gregorius added an RBI single for New York's final run.

Tanaka lowered his ERA from 5.37 to 5.09 by working quickly and racking up strikeouts early. He had nine by the time Adeiny Hechavarria hit his 69th pitch just past Gregorius' diving attempt at shortstop and into center field but rebounded quickly and struck out Mallex Smith for a third time.

Tanaka (8-9) allowed a run and two hits and did not walk a batter, while hardly resembling the pitcher who has confounded the Yankees to the point where general manager Brian Cashman referred to solving the mystery of Tanaka's struggles as "CSI: The Bronx."

"Just to see him dealing like that is encouraging," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "You want to see him get on a roll."

Tanaka helped continue the Yankees' current roll -- a 10-5 record since the All-Star break and eight wins in the last 10 games to move them back into first place in the American League East for the first time since June 28.

Tanaka reached five three-ball counts all night, including to Tim Beckham, whom he struck out with a full-count sinker on the ninth pitch of the at-bat for the final out of the eighth.

Finishing off Beckham earned Tanaka a loud ovation from the crowd as he walked off the mound.

"Hopefully I was able to entertain everybody," Tanaka said through an interpreter.

Well not everybody, especially the Rays, who beat him twice earlier this year but tied a season low for hits, fell to 0-5 in New York and lost for the seventh time in nine games.

"Tanaka was pretty much the story," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "He really came out early with his approach. Right out of the gate, he went his split, his cutter, his slider. Kept of us off-balance, racked up a ton of strikeouts. From the side there didn't appear to be many pitches that guys could handle. It wasn't like we were missing pitches. ... (A) bunch of quality to perfect pitches. That's the way it goes sometimes."

The right-hander produced his 10th career double-digit strikeout game and surpassed his previous career high of 13 set in a 4-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics on May 26.

"It means I had a lot of swings and misses," Tanaka said.

Tanaka struck out the side in the first and eighth, recorded at least one strikeout in every inning and had multiple strikeouts of Smith, Evan Longoria, Steven Souza Jr., Wilson Ramos and Beckham. The only player who did not strike out against Tanaka was Hechavarria.

Tanaka snapped a three-start winless skid against the Rays after posting a 20.25 ERA in two previous starts this season.

"He established that he was kind of going to be able to live at the bottom of the zone," Cash said. "He was painting at the bottom of the zone."

Pruitt (5-2) made his second career start and allowed five runs and four hits in five innings.

Lucas Duda made his debut for Tampa Bay after being acquired from the New York Mets on Thursday and broke up Tanaka's shutout with a homer in the seventh.

"He probably had the best at-bats of anybody," Cash said of Duda.

Tanaka recorded nine of his first 15 outs via strikeout, getting Smith and Souza Jr. two times apiece. He also struck out Duda on the 10th pitch of his at-bat with a sinker to start the second.

The Yankees took a 1-0 lead when Gardner hit his fourth leadoff homer of the season and went up 2-0 with one out in the fourth when Judge hit a 1-2 fastball over the left field wall.

New York upped the lead to 5-0 when Frazier hit an 0-1 pitch over the visiting bullpen and into the left-center field bleachers with two outs in the fifth.

NOTES: Tampa Bay made a trade for a third straight day, acquiring RHP Steve Cishek from the Seattle Mariners for RHP Erasmo Ramirez. Cishek is expected to be activated for Saturday's game and he will become the 49th player used by the Rays this season. ... RF Aaron Judge said his upper front left tooth was chipped by a batting helmet hitting his mouth during the celebration at the plate following CF Brett Gardner's game-winning homer in the 11th inning Thursday. Said manager Joe Girardi: "I'm sure the ribbing will continue for a number of days. This will not stop after today." ... New York DH Matt Holliday batted sixth in the starting lineup for the first time since July 19, 2005, at Washington when he was with the Colorado Rockies.

Coleman hits first homer as Padres beat Mets

(TSX / STATS) -- SAN DIEGO -- Baseball hasn't always been kind to Dusty Coleman.

Until Monday, the 30-year-old infielder had only five major league at-bats to show for nine seasons in professional ball.

"I've thought about what I should be doing at times," Coleman admitted Thursday night. "But as long as I could put a jersey on and provide for my family, I wanted to play. ... Everyone dreams of hitting a homer in the major leagues."

That dream came true for Coleman on Thursday night at Petco Park.

He hit a three-run homer off New York Mets reliever Tyler Pill in the fifth inning, and it turned out to be a key blow in the Padres' 7-5 win that earned San Diego a split of the four-game series at Petco Park.

It was the first major league homer for Coleman, who was hitting only .209 -- although he had 14 homers -- for Triple-A El Paso when the Padres promoted him Monday. He got the call when regular shortstop Eric Aybar was ruled out for the rest of the season with a fractured bone in his left foot.

Since joining the Padres and sharing time at short with Rule 5 rookie Allen Cordoba, Coleman is 3-for-8 with a double, a home run and four RBIs.

"That was awesome," Coleman said of his blast that carried 417-feet to right center. "I'm not trying to think about the past right now. I want to stay in the moment."

"I love seeing moments like that," said Padres manager Andy Green, who was also a borderline performer as a player. "It's a lifetime dream come true in one moment."

Coleman wasn't the Padres only hero Thursday.

Rookie center fielder Manuel Margot opened the game with a homer and hit a bases-loaded double an inning later. Right-handed starter Luis Perdomo allowed one run through the first six innings before faltering. Right-handed reliever Phil Maton got the final out in the seventh to cut off the Mets' four-run inning, then struck out the side in the eighth.

And left-hander Brad Hand, who became the Padres' closer when Brandon Maurer was traded to the Kansas City Royals on Monday, got his second save in as many nights and his fifth on the season.

"We honestly played a very sloppy, ugly baseball game," Green said. "But we won."

While Coleman has been savoring his return to the major leagues, things didn't work out quite so well for Mets 23-year-old right-hander Chris Flexen, who last only three innings in his major league debut.

The first batter he faced, Margot, homered. Flexen allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, four walks and a hit batter with two strikeouts.

"I told myself at that moment, 'Hey, welcome to the big leagues," Flexen said of Margot's homer. "It was a tough one to swallow there, a tough outing to swallow. But I'm still living the dream here. It was a dream come true. Obviously, it didn't go how I wanted it to, but it was still fun."

Mets manager Terry Collins said of Flexen, "Well, he's got a good arm. I told him when I took him out, he's gonna pitch a long time in this league. He's just got to command the strike zone a little better."

It is unlikely that Flexen will forget the first inning of his career.

After New York's Michael Conforto doubled to open the game and come around to score on two groundouts, Flexen gave up a homer to the first hitter he faced in the majors, then watched two Padres get thrown out at the plate.

Margot opened the bottom of the first with a 358-foot homer into the left-field-corner seats. It was Margot's fourth game-opening homer of the season, one shy of the franchise's single-season record set by Will Venable in 2011.

Flexen then walked Carlos Asuaje and gave up a single to Wil Myers, and both runners advanced on an infield out.

Then matters got weird.

Cory Spangenberg topped a ball between the mound and the plate. Asuaje tried to score and was initially ruled safe by plate umpire Vic Carapazza. However, Collins challenged the call, and Asuaje was ruled out after an 80-second review.

Myers then tried to score from third on a fake double steal, only to be thrown out at the plate by second baseman Wilmer Flores. This time the Padres challenged the call ... and lost.

Flexen's debut didn't improve in the second.

Jabari Blash singled, Flexen hit Coleman with a pitch, and Luis Torrens walked to load the bases. After Perdomo struck out, Margot drove a two-run double to center with Torrens scoring on an error to make it 4-1. Margot had a career-high three RBIs after two innings.

Coleman then homered in the fifth off Pill, who retired the first two Padres in the inning before issuing back-to-back walks in front of Coleman.

The Mets climbed back into the game with a four-run seventh that was extended when the Padres were unable to convert consecutive double-play opportunities.

With a runner on first and two out, Asdrubal Cabrera singled and Yoenis Cespedes followed with a RBI double. Left-hander Hector Torres replaced Perdomo and balked home Cabrera before giving up a two-run, 368-foot homer to Jay Bruce, who was playing first in place of the traded Lucas Duda.

NOTES: The Mets traded 1B Lucas Duda to Tampa Bay for RHP Drew Smith. RHP Chris Flexen, who was called up from Double-A Binghamton to start Thursday's series finale against the Padres, took Duda's immediate spot on the 25-man roster, although Dominic Smith is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas to play first. Drew Smith was optioned to Binghamton. ... The Padres promoted LHP Kyle McGrath from Double-A San Antonio to strengthen their bullpen and optioned RHP Kyle Lloyd back to Triple-A El Paso. ... San Diego INF Yangervis Solarte (oblique) began what is expected to be a short rehab assignment with El Paso on Thursday. ... Padres C Austin Hedges will catch five to seven innings in the rookie-level Arizona League on Friday as a final step before being activated from the concussion disabled list.

Gardner's blast in 11th gives Yanks win over Rays

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- To hear his teammates and manager say it, Brett Gardner is "the heart and soul" of the New York Yankees.

On Thursday, Gardner was responsible for giving the Yankees a pulsating victory.

Gardner scored the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning and led off the 11th with the winning homer as the Yankees outlasted the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 in the opener of a four-game series.

Gardner gave the Yankees a fourth straight win when he slugged a 1-1 pitch from Andrew Kittredge (0-1) over the right-field fence as the game approached the four-hour mark.

"Excited. I'm just happy I was able to come through in a big spot like that," Gardner said.

It was his career-high 18th homer and his third career walk-off homer. Gardner's previous game-ending blast came on April 23, 2016, off Tampa Bay's Erasmo Ramirez.

"He's the heart and soul," Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia said. "He gets everybody going. It's great to see him have a great year."

"He is an energetic guy that stirs the pot, that keeps the guys loose," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's a leader. He plays hard every day. There's just so many different things."

The homer touched off a wild celebration at the plate that ended with Aaron Judge getting hit in the face by a helmet and chipping a tooth.

"He's too big to get hurt by something like that," Gardner said. "He'll be all right."

The late heroics were made possible when Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez hit the tying single with two outs in the ninth. The Rays botched a ground ball on a shift play. Sanchez's ground ball got in between second baseman Tim Beckham and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria after Beckham hesitated for a second, and Gardner scored after opening the inning with a triple.

Beckham was shifted to the third-base side of the bag, but the infielders just looked at each other and neither player made the play as the ball trickled into center field.

"We were in the right position," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Fair to say there was some miscommunication. Both guys appeared to give up on the ball."

Before taking a major-league-worst 32nd loss after holding a lead at some point, Tampa Bay grabbed a lead on pinch hitter Brad Miller's two-run double in the fifth and went up 5-3 on Corey Dickerson's solo homer in the sixth.

"It's a tough loss," Beckham said. "Tough pill to swallow. Our pitching came out, they did their job and we've got to get them the win right there. It was our game to win."

Those hits occurred off Chad Green, but four more New York relievers followed with four scoreless innings, and Aroldis Chapman (3-1) pitched two perfect innings.

New York, which blew an early 3-0 lead, made it a one-run game in the eighth on pinch hitter Matt Holliday's RBI groundout against Brad Boxberger.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Todd Frazier collected RBIs in the second inning off Chris Archer, and Sanchez homered off the right-hander in the third.

Evan Longoria started Tampa Bay's comeback with his eighth career homer off Sabathia, in the fourth. Peter Bourjos hit an RBI double off Sabathia in the fifth before the Rays took the lead.

Archer allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out 10, including Frazier and Tyler Wade with the bases loaded to finish his 25th career double-digit strikeout game.

Sabathia allowed four runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

NOTES: Tampa Bay made a pair of trades, acquiring LHP Dan Jennings from the Chicago White Sox and 1B Lucas Duda from the New York Mets. Duda is expected to join the Rays in time for the Friday game. The Rays designated RHP Diego Moreno and OF Shane Peterson for assignment to make room for their new players. ... Yankees manager Joe Girardi said OF Aaron Hicks (strained right oblique) and 1B/OF Tyler Austin (strained right hamstring) would begin rehab assignments when New York starts its next road trip Aug. 4 in Cleveland. ... Girardi was ejected for arguing balls and strikes by plate umpire Stu Scheurwater after objecting to a called Strike 1 by RHP Sergio Romo to RF Aaron Judge. It was Girardi's third ejection of the season and 33rd since becoming New York's manager in 2008. Afterward, Girardi said: "I just thought it was really inconsistent tonight."

Rays, Yankees begin pivotal series

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(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- A week ago, the Tampa Bay Rays began play with a 1 1/2-game lead over the New York Yankees for the top wild-card spot in the American League.

As the teams get set to begin a four-game series Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, it is the Yankees who are holding the lead and the Rays are no longer occupying the second wild-card spot.

Tampa Bay (53-49) held its lead by owning a 51-45 record after winning four of its first five games after the break and seven of 10. A five-game skid that featured three one-run losses combined with Kansas City's hot streak pushed the Rays out of the second spot.

The Rays head into their second trip to Yankee Stadium following two straight wins over Baltimore. After getting blanked in the opener, the Rays scored 10 runs in the final two games and notched a 5-1 victory Wednesday.

"It's great," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "We want to have smiles on the flight. We'll have them today. Obviously we got an exciting four days coming up here in New York but good to see these guys back. It was a rough homestand. The finish to it was good."

Among those good things was Evan Longoria hitting his 15th homer and getting three hits. He heads into New York hitting .400 (18-for-45) since the break.

"Longo, he's going to do his part, no doubt about it," Cash said.

The Yankees (53-46) swept the Rays in their first home series of the season and are on a three-game winning streak. They are 8-5 since the All-Star break after Luis Severino pitched seven outstanding innings in a 9-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

"It's an important series, really important," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We still have 63 games to go, I think, but these are all important games, especially when they're within your division and you're all close and you're trying to continue to gain on the Red Sox, they're really important."

Aaron Judge was given Wednesday off but is expected back Thursday after not starting for the fifth time. Judge is hitting .310 with 32 homers and 73 RBIs but since the break, the right fielder is 7-for-41 (.171).

"He's been going hard," Girardi said. "He's a little physically beat up but nothing serious. We just felt with a quick turnaround a day off would be good before we continue with this homestand."

Chris Archer will start the series opener for the Rays and looks to get back on track against the Yankees. He is 6-6 with a 2.73 ERA in 16 starts against the Yankees, who struggled against him early in his career but have turned it around.

Archer began his career by going 5-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his first eight starts against the Yankees. Since Sept 6, 2015, he is 1-6 with a 3.86 ERA in his last eight starts

Archer last faced the Yankees May 21 and took a 3-2 loss in Tampa Bay when he allowed three runs and six hits and struck out 12. He also faced the Yankees in the season-opening 7-3 win when he allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Archer is 7-6 with a 3.77 ERA in 21 starts overall this season after allowing four runs (one earned) and four hits and striking out 11 in seven innings of a 4-3 loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

Despite the loss, it was his 24th career double-digit strikeout game, the most in team history and his sixth this season. Archer pitched at least six innings for the 12th straight time, which is the longest streak of his career.

The current active roster of the Yankees is hitting a combined .285 (45-for-158) against Archer. That includes Jacoby Ellsbury, who is a .500 hitter (20-for-40) against the right-hander, and Gary Sanchez, who is 1-for-9 against him.

CC Sabathia starts for the Yankees and is six strikeouts shy of tying Hall of Famer Cy Young for 20th on the all-time strikeouts list. He recorded five more Friday on his 37th birthday, when Sabathia allowed one run and four hits in five innings in a 5-1 win at Seattle.

Sabathia is 9-3 with a 3.44 ERA this season and is looking to get double-digit wins for the 14th time in his career.

The left-hander is 16-14 with a 3.73 ERA in 43 career starts against Tampa Bay, which is the team he has faced the most. Since joining the Yankees in 2009, Sabathia is 9-13 with a 4.23 ERA in 32 starts against the Rays and 4-6 with a 4.69 ERA in 16 starts at Yankee Stadium.

"I think anytime you play a team in your division, it's going to be a tough series," Sabathia said. "It's going to be big games."

Sabathia is 2-0 against the Rays this season. He opposed Archer May 21 and allowed one run and four hits in five innings, and he also pitched five innings in a 5-0 win at St. Petersburg, Fla., on April 4.

The current Rays own a .335 average (54-for-161) against the Sabathia and most of the damage against him has been done by Longoria and Steven Souza. Longoria is a .405 hitter (30-for-74) with seven homers and 16 RBIs in those matchups while Souza is 6-for-16 (.375).

Severino, Frazier fuel Yankees past reeling Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- A year ago, Luis Severino was just up from the minor leagues and not pitching well enough to be in the rotation for the New York Yankees.

Now, Severino might be the ace for the Yankees, even if he expresses reluctance to use the term.

Severino delivered an ace-like performance Wednesday afternoon when he allowed two unearned runs and three hits in seven outstanding innings as the Yankees pulled away late for a 9-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

"That's thrown around loosely these days, but for our team he is," said CC Sabathia, who added he was not surprised and referred to Severino's stuff as "electric."

Todd Frazier hit his first homer since becoming a Yankee in last week's trade, Didi Gregorius homered for the third straight game and rookie Clint Frazier hit a pair of RBI singles as the Yankees improved to 8-5 since the All-Star break.

While the offense was satisfying, the story of New York's third straight win was Severino (7-4), who was 0-8 as a starting pitcher last season. He dealt with a triceps injury before pitching effectively as a reliever. Severino turned in a third straight outstanding showing, taking a shutout into the seventh and not allowing a runner to second until the seventh inning.

"Really good again," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I thought he threw an outstanding game and I thought he had command of everything today. Maybe some of the best stuff he's had all year long."

Severino worked quickly as he completed the top of the fifth only 65 minutes after throwing his first pitch. The only Red with whom he had significant trouble was Joey Votto, who singled twice and drew a nine-pitch walk.

Severino allowed an RBI double to Eugenio Suarez and a run-scoring groundout to Tucker Barnhart, which occurred after a fielding error by Gregorius at shortstop. Those runs ended a 17-inning scoreless streak for Severino, who also did it earlier this season.

"He's nasty, man," Barnhart said.

Still, Severino has allowed one earned run in his last 27 innings since allowing a first-inning three-run homer to Milwaukee's Domingo Santana on July 8. He is filling the role projected to be held by Masahiro Tanaka, who is 7-9 with a 5.37 ERA.

"There's a lot of guys who are way better," Severino said. "You got CC, who got a lot of years, Tanaka had a good year last year. I have to keep doing this for five or six years and then see what happens."

Severino threw at least 100 pitches for the 13th time this season and his 112 were two shy of his career high. After opposing Boston ace Chris Sale and Seattle star Felix Hernandez, Severino struck out nine and issued two walks while also making a few nice defensive plays.

"Sevy, man, unbelievable," Todd Frazier said after hitting 17th homer of the season.

The Yankees held a 4-2 lead on Clint Frazier's singles, Chase Headley's single and Ronald Torreyes groundout when Severino completed his latest outing. They added four in the seventh on Gary Sanchez's double, Matt Holliday's single before Gregorius and Todd Frazier homered.

Being unable to hit Severino sent the Reds to their 11th loss in 13 games.

"He's good," Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. "If there's a guy, that I haven't seen before, that looks like an ace, it's that kid."

Adam Duvall hit a three-run homer in the eighth but the Reds were held to seven hits in the series and are batting .225 since the All-Star break.

Homer Bailey (2-5) allowed seven runs (five earned) and 10 hits in six-plus innings and lost his third straight start.

Suarez hit an RBI double and Barnhart had a run-scoring groundout. Adam Duvall hit a three-run homer in the eighth.

The Yankees took a 3-0 lead on Frazier's two singles in the third and fifth along with Headley's base hit in the sixth. Torreyes made it 4-0 with his groundout in the sixth and the Yankees scored five times in the seventh after the Reds scored twice.

New York took a 5-2 lead with nobody out in the seventh when Sanchez's groundball got past Suarez at third and went down the left field line. The Yankees chased Bailey after Holliday's single made it 6-2.

Gregorius made it 8-2 by lifting the first pitch from Tony Cingrani over the right field wall and Todd Frazier capped the scoring by hitting a 1-1 pitch into the left field seats.

NOTES: Yankees RF Aaron Judge was not in the starting lineup for the fifth time this season and second time at home. ... Reds SS Zack Cozart (right quad) was held out of the starting lineup after feeling soreness running from first to third on CF Billy Hamilton's double in the eighth inning Tuesday. Manager Bryan Price said the training staff is optimistic Cozart is merely sore but will know more when the Reds begin a four-game series Thursday in Miami. ... Cincinnati INF Dilson Herrera will undergo season-ending surgery to remove bone chips on Tuesday. Price said Herrera should be ready for next season.

Margot, Torrens lift Padres past Mets

(TSX / STATS) -- SAN DIEGO -- The Padres kids beat the New York Mets Wednesday night.

Rookies Manuel Margot and Luis Torrens drove in five runs with two swings of the bat and Margot and fellow rookies Allen Cordoba and Hunter Renfroe made outstanding plays in the field as the Padres scored a 6-3 victory over the Mets at Petco Park.

"They've got some talented young players over there," said Mets manager Terry Collins. "They make three diving catches in the outfield and the shortstop (Cordoba) makes a great play. Certainly defense was a huge part of what made them syuccessful tonight.

"And the big swings."

Center fielder Margot, 22, hit a two-run homer in the first, ran out a triple in the third and made one diving catch and another catch after a long run into left-center.

Rule 5 catcher Torrens, 21, hit a bases-loaded triple in the third to up the Padres lead to 6-1 and was singled out by Padres manager Andy Green. for his work behind the plate.

And corner outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Jabari Blash each made a diving catch.

But the defensive play of the night belonged to Rule 5 shortstop Cordoba. With the bases-loaded and two-out in the sixth, Cordoba made a diving stop to his left to field a one-hop smash off the bat of Rene Rivera then bounced to his feet to throw out the Mets catch and save two runs.

"I'd have to put that play first in my career," said Cordoba through a translator. "I was anticipating something to that side because Rivera is a pull hitter."

"The Cordoba play was as big a play as we've made all year," said Green. "That play changed the complexion of that game. It could have gone from 6-2 to 6-4 in a heartbeat. Overall, that's as good as we've played defense. It was great to see the outfielders come up with those catches."

Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin ran his record to 10-7, although he wasn't as sharp as he has been at Petco Park. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Chacin, who entered the game with the lowest home earned run average in the National League, is now 6-2 in 11 starts at Petco Park with a 2.18 ERA.

Left-hander Brad Hand, who became the Padres leading closer option following Monday's trade of Brandon Maurer to Kansas City, picked up his third save.

The Padres had a 2-0 lead before Mets' left-handed starter and loser Steven Matz (2-4) recorded an out.

Jose Pirela opened the game with a single and Margot followed with his sixth homer of the season, a 419-foot drive to center on a 2-and-0 pitch.

The Mets got one of the runs back in the second. Jay Bruce drew a lead-off walk and came around on back-to-back singles by Lucas Duda and Jose Reyes.

The Padres broke the game open in the third, scoring four runs with Torrens' two-out, bases-loaded triple high off the wall in right-center being the big blow.

Margot followed his first-inning homer with a lead-off triple and immediately scored on Wil Myers' double. Matz then hit Hunter Renfroe with a pitch.

With one out, Cory Spangenberg bounced a grounder off Reyes' glove at short that was ruled a hit, loading the bases. But Matz had a chance to get out of the jam because the next two hitters were both Rule 5 rookies.

Matz struck out Cordoba.

But Torrens, who entered the game with a .187 average and three RBIs, hit a drive that fell a foot shy of being a grand slam for the catcher's first career homer. Still, it doubled his career RBI total.

Matz gave up six runs on nine hits in three innings.

"Balls down the middle," said Collins. "Look at the replays of the hits. They're center cup. You've got to get the ball off the middle of the plate."

The Padres led 6-1 after three. Then the Mets threatened to turn the game around in the sixth -- only to be turned away by Cordoba's stop.

Back-to-back singles by Asdrubal and Yoenis Cespedes and a one-out walk drawn by Wilmer Flores loaded the bases and forced Chacin out of the game after 5 1/3 innings. Buddy Bauman came on to retire Lucas Duda on a fly to right before issuing a bases-loaded walk to Reyes to make it 6-2.

Rivera then hit a drive to the left of rookie shortstop Cordoba, who made a diving stop and throwing out Rivera to save two runs.

Flores homered off Padres right-handed reliever Craig Stammen to cut the Padres' lead to 6-3 in the eighth.

The Padres win Wednesday night followed Mets wins in the first two games of the four-game series.

NOTES: Mets manager Terry Collins said INF Neil Walker, who has been on the disabled list since Jyune 15 with a partial tear of his left hamstring, could return as soon as this weekend, possibly playing some third base . . . LF Yoenis Cespedes was back in the Mets lineup Wednesday after leaving Tuesday night's game with tightness in both quad muscles. But Collins said Cespedes' quads remain an issue moving forward . . . Padres C Austin Hedges remains on the concussion disabled list 12 days after taking a foul tip off the mask in San Francisco. Padres manager Andy Green said he hopes to have Hedges back as soon as this weekend, but not before he can catch a bullpen session . . . Padres INF Yangervis Solarte, who has been out since June 20 with a left oblique strain, will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso Thursday night.

Yankees survive triple play, top Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- At this point, Todd Frazier can laugh about his first home game for the New York Yankees on the drive home down the New Jersey shore.

It was not necessarily amusing at the time, but Frazier's triple play accounted for the first run in the bottom of the second inning and the Yankees held on for a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

After getting a warm ovation from a crowd that included several hundred people from his native Toms River N.J., roughly 90 miles south of Yankee Stadium, Frazier came up with the bases loaded following three straight singles.

"That has to be a record -- first home at-bat with the Yankees hitting into a triple play. It's funny to laugh now but I was upset at the time," Frazier said. "But it was a great experience from start to finish, and we got the W."

It was the big moment some have experienced in their home debuts for the Yankees but this was notable for another reason and it ended with center fielder Brett Gardner teasing him and another teammate jokingly asking him for the ball.

"You can't make that up," Frazier said. "Gardy was laughing at me and someone asked for the ball I think, but it's unbelievable; you get into a hitter's count, and that's the way it goes. We got a run in, but at the same time, hopefully that doesn't ever happen again."

Frazier hit a 3-1 pitch to shortstop Jose Peraza, who stepped on second for the force play for the first out before throwing the ball to first baseman Joey Votto for the second out.

Didi Gregorius, who began the play as the baserunner at second, initially held up and was late to advance to third. He was caught in a rundown when Votto threw the ball to third baseman Eugenio Suarez.

Suarez continued the rundown, and Peraza was credited with the third out when Gregorius was ruled out for running out of the base line. By the time the outs were recorded, Matt Holliday scored from third after opening the inning with a single.

Frazier was not credited with an RBI on the play that gave New York a 1-0 lead and prevented a big inning.

"I will never forget that," Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo said through an interpreter. "Triple play, bases loaded, that's amazing. If double plays are the best friend of a pitcher, what about a triple play?"

It was the first triple play hit into by the Yankees since Sept. 27, 2011, at Tampa Bay. New York hit into a triple play at home for the first time since Randy Velarde did so May 29, 2000.

Cincinnati turned a triple play for the first time since Sept. 12, 1995, against the Florida Marlins.

It also was the first triple play where a run scored since Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima hit into one at Minnesota on May 27, 2006.

The Yankees scored their next three runs in more conventional ways. Aaron Judge singled and scored on Gregorius' sacrifice fly to right in the fourth, and Austin Romine lined an RBI double to right in the fifth. Gregorius' 15th homer of the season accounted for the final margin.

The Reds scored on Arismendy Alcantra's groundout in the sixth and Billy Hamilton's double in the eighth.

For a while, Frazier's triple play was not the only memorable event for the Yankees as Jordan Montgomery (7-5) faced the minimum and took a no-hitter into the sixth.

The rookie left-hander lost his no-hit bid two pitches into the inning when Scott Schebler lined a double to center field. Before facing Schebler, Montgomery held the Reds hitless on 54 pitches, getting a double play to end the second and a sliding stop by shortstop Gregorius on Devin Mesoraco's grounder to end the fifth.

Montgomery allowed one run and two hits in 6 2/3 innings. Montgomery was lifted after a single by Adam Duvall, and he exited to a standing ovation from the fans.

Tommy Kahnle recorded the final out of the seventh, and Dellin Betances heard boos after allowing Hamilton's double off right fielder Judge's glove in the eighth. Adam Warren recorded the final out of the eighth, and Aroldis Chapman notched his 12th save with a scoreless ninth.

Castillo (1-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings as the Reds lost for the 10th time in 12 games on a night when they turned the 30th triple play in team history.

"As unusual as the play was, if we would have won that game we could have gone back to that play and say that was a game saver because that was a huge inning waiting to happen, bases-loaded nobody out and they end up scoring one on that triple play," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "So it could have been a spectacular, an even bigger event today than it was."

NOTES: Reds SS Zack Cozart did not start as the team tries to rest his quadriceps but entered a pinch hitter in the eighth. He reached third on Billy Hamilton's double but was removed for precautionary reasons. ... A fan in the seats down the first base line was bloodied and received medical attention after getting hit in the head by a foul ball off Yankee RF Aaron Judge's bat in the eighth inning. ... Reds RHP Scott Feldman (right knee) is making progress with his throwing program. Manager Bryan Price said Feldman would join the team this weekend in Miami to continue his rehab. ... Yankees manager Joe Girardi said OF Aaron Hicks (strained right oblique) and 1B Tyler Austin (strained right hamstring) began hitting off a tee and are progressing well, but there is no timetable for either player's return.

'Little League homer' keys Mets' win over Padres

(TSX / STATS) -- SAN DIEGO -- Yoenis Cespedes didn't want to swing.

"I really wanted to hold the swing back and I couldn't," the Mets left fielder said Tuesday night after his check-swing, opposite-field triple led to two runs and a "Little League homer" that gave the New York Mets a second straight victory over the San Diego Padres, 6-5, at Petco Park.

"That swing was one of the flukier things I've seen," Padres manager Andy Green said of the tiebreaking sequence.

Curtis Granderson was on first with two outs in the seventh and the score tied 4-4.

Padres right-handed reliever Phil Maton threw the right-handed Cespedes a high, outside fastball on a 1-0 count. Cespedes stopped his swing, but the pitch hit the bat, the ball looping over the head of first baseman Wil Myers and landing just inside the right field foul line, then rolling into the right field corner.

Granderson, who hesitated for a second, scored from first with the go-ahead run. As Cespedes headed to third, Myers took the relay from right fielder Hunter Renfroe and threw wildly in an attempt to get Cespedes. When the ball got away, Cespedes headed home and scored when Padres catcher Hector Sanchez couldn't corral the throw from left fielder Jose Pirela.

"Up and out of the strike zone, it hits the bat and lands fair by inches," Green said.

"First of all, when the ball landed, Grandy wasn't sure if it was fair or foul," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We send Granderson, and I think they had a play on Cespedes, which they did. Then the overthrow."

While Granderson's run gave the Mets the lead, New York ultimately needed Cespedes' run.

For the second straight night, the Padres mounted a rally against Mets closer Addison Reed only to fall short.

Cory Spangenberg singled to open the ninth and scored on shortstop Dusty Coleman's first major league hit, a two-out double. Reed then retired Pirela on a grounder to third for the final out, which also ended Pirela's 11-game hitting streak.

Cespedes finished the night with a homer, a double and a triple in four at-bats. He had three RBIs and two runs. Although he needed a single for the cycle, Cespedes left the game after scoring the Mets' final run because of tightness in his quads.

"It was more fatigue," Cespedes said. "I felt it after I touched second. I'm not too worried."

Granderson started the winning rally with a one-out single off left-handed reliever Jose Torres (5-3), who was replaced by Maton after retiring Asdrubal Cabrera on a fly to center.

Mets starter Seth Lugo (5-2) got the win after allowing four runs (three earned) in six innings. Reed, a product of San Diego State, got his 18th save of the season.

The lead changed hands three times before the Padres tied it at 4 on Myers' sacrifice fly to deep center in the fifth.

Right-hander Kyle Lloyd made his major league debut as the Padres' starter some five hours after landing in San Diego from Triple-A El Paso.

Lloyd retired the first two hitters he faced before Cespedes gave the Mets a 1-0 lead on a 375-foot homer to left, his 10th of the season.

The Padres responded with two homers in the third against Lugo to take a 3-1 lead.

Renfroe opened the inning with his third 400-foot-plus homer in as many at-bats, a 405-foot drive that landed at the far end of the lower balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. building. The home run was the 20th of the season for Renfroe, who on Monday hit a blast that landed on the roof.

Manuel Margot singled with one out and scored on Rule 5 rookie Allen Cordoba's fourth homer, a 384-foot drive to left center.

The Mets began getting to the 26-year-old Lloyd in the fourth. Jay Bruce and T.J. Rivera (a swinging bunt) opened the inning with back-to-back singles. After Lucas Duda and Jose Reyes lined out, Travis d'Arnaud, the No. 8 hitter, singled home Bruce to make it 3-2.

The Mets tied the score when Granderson and Cabrera opened the fifth with back-to-back doubles. Kirby Yates replaced Lloyd and gave up a go-ahead double to Cespedes. But with Cespedes running, Bruce lined into a double play.

Lloyd, who relies on a cut fastball with a top velocity under 90 mph, allowed four runs, six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in four-plus innings.

"It's pretty surreal," said Lloyd, who arrived at Petco Park less than four hours before the first pitch because of flight delays from El Paso. "The first inning was weird. It's been a long road. To get here means a lot."

Lugo yielded eight hits, including two homers, and no walks while striking out one.

NOTES: The Mets are promoting RHP Chris Flexen, 23, from Double-A Binghamton to make his major league debut Thursday night in the series finale at San Diego. ... The Padres pushed the scheduled start of RHP Jhoulys Chacin back a day to Wednesday after he reported back discomfort on Monday. Chacin said he was good to go Tuesday, but the Padres had already told RHP Kyle Lloyd that he would be making his major league debut as the starter against the Mets. Lloyd was the eighth Padre to make his big league debut this season. ... Mets RHP Jacob deGrom missed by a foul tip of becoming the 82nd player in major league history (and third Met) to throw an immaculate inning (striking out the side on nine pitches) Monday night. In the first inning, deGrom struck out San Diego LF Jose Pirela, 2B Carlos Asuaje and 1B Wil Myers.