TEXAS: Ian Desmond hit his team-leading 10th home run of the season, a three-run blast that allowed the Washington Nationals to overcome a two-run deficit and cruise to a 9-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.
The Nationals, who trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, got singles from outfielder Jayson Werth and first baseman Adam LaRoche off Texas starter Colby Lewis (4-4) to set the stage for Desmond, the Nationals’ shortstop.
Washington entered the game hitting just .127 with runners in scoring position over its last seven contests, but Desmond crushed a Lewis fastball over the right-center wall to give the Nationals a 3-2 advantage en route to their second win in eight games.
Atlanta Braves right-hander Julio Teheran tossed 7 1/3 solid innings and catalyzed the offense in a 3-2 comeback victory over the Miami Marlins in front of 18,469 at Marlins Park.
Atlanta erased a 2-1 deficit with two runs in the seventh inning against right-hander Tom Koehler (4-5).
Teheran helped his own cause with a leadoff double down the first-base line. Right fielder Jason Heyward drove him in with an RBI triple to left center. Center fielder B.J. Upton followed with the go-ahead sacrifice fly to left.
Lorenzo Cain drove in four runs and left-hander Jason Vargas pitched six effective innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 for their second win in a row.
Cain, the Royals’ center fielder, had a two-run homer and two RBI singles, and left fielder Alex Gordon also hit a two-run homer as the Royals (26-28) handed the Blue Jays (32-24) their second loss in a row after they had won nine straight.
Vargas (5-2) allowed one run on seven hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Ricky Nolasco picked up his first win in over a month by pitching six innings and the Minnesota Twins hit a season-high three home runs in a 6-1 victory over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Right fielder Oswaldo Arcia and left fielder Josh Willingham supported Nolasco’s first victory since April 24 by hitting solo home runs. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe added a two-run homer for the Twins, who won for the second time in their last eight games.REUTERS
