MLB
The Tampa Bay Rays have put an end to the Houston Astros team record-tying 12-game winning streak.
Wilson Ramos singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning to give the Rays a 2-1 win at Houston. Matt Duffy opened the eighth with a double and scored the lead run to help Blake Snell earn his career-high fifth consecutive win. Snell scattered three hits over seven innings to move to 9-4.
C.J. Cron broke a career-worst 0-for-23 slump with a solo homer in the second inning.
Astros starter Justin Verlander received a no-decision after allowing a run and six hits over 6 2/3s.
The outcome keeps Houston's lead in the AL West at two games over Seattle.
Checking out Tuesday's other major league action:
Homers by Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Andujar, Aaron Hicks and Gleyber Torres powered the Yankees to their 15th victory in 19 games, 7-2 over the Mariners. Stanton launched his 17th home run of the season, but the game was tied 1-1 until Andujar and Hicks hit two-run shots in the fifth inning. Domingo German was terrific over seven innings, limiting the M's to one earned run and two hits while striking out nine. Game 2 is Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.
The Yanks have a one-game lead in the AL East following Boston's 6-2 loss at Minnesota. Eduardo Escobar had two go-ahead hits, including an RBI single that launched a four-run eighth inning. Escobar drove in three runs for the Twins, who dealt the Red Sox their third loss in four games. The series continues Wednesday at 8:10 p.m.
Francisco Lindor singled home a pair while the Indians scored four times in the second inning to beat the White Sox, 6-3. Mike Clevinger struck out 10 and limited Chicago to a run and five hits over 7 2/3 innings. The Indians stretched their lead in the AL Central to four games over Detroit.
The Tigers had won five in a row before Joey Votto crushed a grand slam and Sal Romano worked seven scoreless innings of the Reds' 9-5 thumping of Detroit. Billy Hamilton also went deep and Adam Duvall was 3-for-4 with a two-run double while the Reds were building a 9-0 lead. Romano scattered four hits and four walks to help Cincinnati improve to 12-23 at home.
The Brewers have regained sole possession of the NL Central lead by getting three RBIs from Jesus Aguilar in a 3-2 win at Pittsburgh. Aguilar belted a two-run homer and added an RBI double that put Milwaukee ahead, 3-0 in the third inning. Freddy Peralta struck out seven and gave up two hits over six shutout innings, hours after being recalled from the minors.
Arizona's 5-4 loss to the Angels leaves the Diamondbacks with a 1 ½-game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West. Ian Kinsler and Kole Calhoun hit solo shots for Los Angeles, which went ahead on Mike Trout's two-run single in the fifth. Paul Goldschmidt cracked a two-run homer in the DBacks' third loss in four games.
The Dodgers were down to their last out when pinch-hitter Kyle Farmer delivered a two-run double in the ninth inning to give Los Angeles a 4-3 win over the Cubs in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Joc Pederson led off the game with a home run, but the Cubs built a 3-1 lead before Yasiel Puig hit an RBI double in the sixth. Dodgers’ relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings after Kenta Maeda struggled.
The Cubs earned a split of the twinbill by beating Los Angeles, 2-1 on Albert Almora's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th. Rob Zastryzny got Yasmani Grandal to fly out with the bases loaded in the top of the 10th to earn the win. The split puts the Cubs a half-game behind the Brewers.
Ender Inciarte and Johan Camargo combined for seven hits and eight RBIs at the bottom of the Braves' order to lead an 11-4 rout of the Blue Jays in Toronto. Camargo was 4-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBIs, while Inciarte had three hits, three ribbies and three runs scored for the NL East leaders. Atlanta received 4 1/3 hitless innings of relief from its bullpen and won its third in a row.
Trea Turner was 4-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in the Nationals' 9-7 decision over the Orioles. Baltimore led 6-5 in the seventh until Anthony Rendon lined a two-run double. Rendon had three RBIs and Adam Eaton hit a two-run single as Washington won for only the third time in nine games to stay 3 ½ games off the NL East lead.
The Cardinals squandered a two-run lead before Matt Carpenter belted a solo shot in the ninth to give St. Louis a 7-6 victory at Philadelphia. Carpenter and Jose Martinez provided two-run doubles in the seventh to put the Redbirds ahead 6-4, but Rhys Hoskins knotted the score with a two-run double. Tommy Pham and Kolten Wong also homered for the Cards, who dropped the Phillies 4 ½ games behind the NL East-leading Braves.
The Giants earned a 6-3 win over the Marlins behind Gorkys Hernandez, who was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBIs. San Francisco took the lead for good on Buster Posey's solo blast in the bottom of the first. Dereck Rodriguez gave up three runs over five innings before the Giants' bullpen tossed one-hit ball the rest of the way.
Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and Ian Desmond hit consecutive homers off Jason Vargas while the Rockies erupted for six runs in the third inning of a 10-8 win against the Mets. Carlos Gonzalez also went deep and Arenado was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored in Colorado's first win in four games. Vargas was rocked for seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings as New York ended a three-game winning streak. Game three of the four game series is Wednesday at 8:40 p.m.
Homers by Stephen Piscotty and Jed Lowrie allowed the Athletics to come away with a 4-2 triumph at San Diego. Lowrie belted a two-run shot in the 10th, one inning after Piscotty prolonged the game with a two-out blast.
The Rangers won their fourth in a row as Cole Hamels allowed four hits over seven innings of a 4-1 verdict over the Royals. Delino DeShields doubled home two runs and Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits to help Texas send Kansas City to its eighth consecutive loss.
In other major league news:
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday and could be back pitching in the majors soon. Manager Dave Roberts says the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner will be limited to four innings and 60 pitches as he recovers from a strained lower back. Kershaw threw a three-inning simulated game yesterday and said afterward that he felt really good.
Giants closer Hunter Strickland is expected to be out six to eight weeks after breaking the pinkie on his pitching hand. Strickland punched a door in frustration after blowing the save and taking the loss Monday against the Marlins. Sam Dyson and Tony Watson will be called upon for closing duties.
Lefty reliever Boone Logan has been designated for assignment by the Brewers after recording a 5.91 ERA in 16 games this season. The move allowed Milwaukee to make roster room for rookie starter Freddy Peralta, who made his third big league start on Tuesday.
The Orioles have designated infielder Pedro Alvarez for assignment after a 1-for-18 skid dropped his average to .181. Baltimore also selected the contract of infielder Steve Wilkerson from Triple-A Norfolk.
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts are running neck and neck as the top vote-getters for the AL All-Star team. Altuve has over 1.57 million votes, about 3,700 more than Betts. Angels’ outfielder Mike Trout is next at about 1.3 million votes, followed by Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez.
Former National League umpire Dutch Rennert has died at 88. Rennert's animated, booming strike calls were his trademark as he worked in the senior circuit from 1973-92. He would step back from the catcher, turn toward one dugout in a crouch or on one knee, extend his right arm and often yell loud enough to be heard on a television or radio broadcast. Rennert worked 2,693 regular-season games plus six NL Championship Series, three World Series and two All-Star Games.
NBA
Milwaukee Bucks guard Sterling Brown has sued the city of Milwaukee and its police department, saying officers' use of a stun gun during his arrest for a parking violation constitutes excessive force and that they targeted him because he is black.
The lawsuit alleges officers involved in his arrest used their incident report to try to reframe what happened to give the impression Brown was resistant and obstructed them.
Brown had been talking with officers while waiting for a citation for illegally parking in a disabled spot outside a Walgreens last January when officers took him down because he didn't immediately remove his hands from his pockets as ordered.
Police Chief Alfonso Morales apologized to Brown last month when body-camera video of the arrest was released. Brown wasn't charged and three officers were disciplined, with suspensions ranging from two to 15 days.
Eight other officers are undergoing remedial training in professional communications.
SOCCER
Japan made World Cup history on Tuesday, while Russia moved to the brink of advancing to the knockout stage.
The Japanese beat Colombia, 2-1 to become the first Asian team to beat a South American squad in the tournament. Colombia was reduced to 10 men early when midfielder Carlos Sanchez received a red card for handling a goal-bound shot in the third minute.
The Russians scored three times in 15 minutes early in the second half to earn a 3-1 victory over Egypt. The host country could celebrate a spot in the round of 16 as early as Wednesday if Uruguay wins or draws against Saudi Arabia.
In Tuesday's other World Cup match, Senegal took a first-half lead on an own goal and held off Poland, 2-1.
Wednesday Portugal faces off against Morocco at 8 a.m. EST, Uruguay takes on Saudi Arabia at 11 a.m. EST and Iran goes against Spain at 2 p.m. EST.
NHL
Mike Hoffman was traded twice on Tuesday, going from the Ottawa Senators to the San Jose Sharks before landing with the Florida Panthers.
Florida sent fourth- and fifth-round picks in this weekend's NHL draft and a 2019 second-round pick to San Jose for Hoffman and a 2018 seventh-round pick. The Senators received defensive prospect Cody Donaghey and a 2020 fifth-round pick from the Sharks for forward Mikkel Boedker, defensive prospect Julius Bergman and a 2020 sixth-round pick.
The Senators were eager to deal him amid a dispute between him and his fiancée and Senators captain Erik Karlsson and his wife. Melinda Karlsson filed an order of protection against Hoffman's fiancée alleging harassment and cyberbullying.
NFL
The Cleveland Browns are giving former No. 1 pick Greg Robinson a chance to prolong his NFL career after four mediocre seasons.
Robinson spent three years with the Rams after being taken second overall in the 2014 NFL draft. He failed to live up to expectations with Los Angeles and was traded to Detroit before last season for a sixth-round pick.
TENNIS
Top-100 tennis player Nicolas Kicker has been suspended for six years and fined $25,000 for fixing two matches.
Kicker was banished from the French Open last month after an anti-corruption hearing officer ruled that the 25-year-old from Argentina arranged the results of two Challenger tour matches in 2015.
The Tennis Integrity Unit says Kicker he can reduce his ban to three years if he "commits no further breaches."
GOLF
Five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson has died, two months shy of his 89th birthday.
The family has confirmed the death of Thomson, who had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for more than four years.
Thomson went on to secure the title five times between 1954 and 1965, a record equaled only by American Tom Watson. He was the first Australian to win the tournament.
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