MLB scores: Mets beat Royals in rematch of World Series

Kansas City Royals Paulo Orlando scores, sliding in past New York Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud on Brett Eibner's, fifth-inning, RBI single in a baseball game in New York on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. (AP / Kathy Willens)

NEW YORK - Bartolo Colon's early injury put the New York Mets in a major bind, but they won a battle of bullpens against the best relief corps in baseball and defeated the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Tuesday night in a World Series rematch.

Yoenis Cespedes hit his 18th home run and Asdrubal Cabrera also connected for New York, which had lost three straight and six of eight.

Held to one hit and no other baserunners Sunday as lowly Atlanta capped a sweep at Citi Field, the Mets again had trouble generating offence. This time, however, a gritty Hansel Robles (1-3) and four other relievers bailed them out by combining for 8 2/3 stellar innings in the opener of a two-game set.

Robles relieved after Colon bruised his thumb after being hit by a line drive on his fourth pitch.

Ian Kennedy (5-6) allowed two runs over four innings.

DODGERS 3, NATIONALS 2

LOS ANGELES - Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning off starter Tanner Roark, lifting Los Angeles to a come-from-behind victory.

The Dodgers rallied for their season-high fifth straight victory and seventh in their last eight, and will go for the series sweep on Wednesday.

The Nationals lost their fourth straight despite solo homers from Bryce Harper and Espinosa. Roark (6-5) had limited the Dodgers to four hits while equaling his longest outing of the season before serving up Grandal's blast.

Louis Coleman (1-1) got the win with one inning of relief.

DODGERS 3, NATIONALS 2

LOS ANGELES - Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning off Washington starter Tanner Roark, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Nationals on Tuesday night.

The Dodgers rallied for their season-high fifth straight victory and seventh in their last eight, and will go for the series sweep on Wednesday.

Grandal gave the Dodgers at least one homer in 12 consecutive games for the first time since May 23-June 4, 2002.

Los Angeles trailed 2-0 when Grandal sent a 1-2 pitch into centre field, scoring Joc Pederson, who drew a leadoff walk, and Yasiel Puig, whose base hit went off the glove of leaping shortstop Danny Espinosa.

The Nationals lost their fourth straight despite solo homers from Bryce Harper and Espinosa. Roark (6-5) had limited the Dodgers to four hits while equaling his longest outing of the season before serving up Grandal's blast.

WHITE SOX 3, RED SOX 1

BOSTON - Chris Sale became the majors' first 12-game winner while tying his season high with nine strikeouts and Tim Anderson led off the game with his first career homer.

Todd Frazier hit his 20th homer and David Robertson got his 18th save for the White Sox, who won consecutive games for just the second time in June.

Sale (12-2) went seven innings, allowed four hits and walked one. Chicago led the whole way after Anderson homered to left on the first pitch from Clay Buchholz (3-7) in the right-hander's return to Boston's rotation after spending about a month in the bullpen.

INDIANS 6, RAYS 0

CLEVELAND - Corey Kluber threw a three-hitter, and Cleveland got its fifth straight win.

Kluber (7-7) took a one-hitter into the ninth before Brad Miller and Evan Longoria singled with one out. Kluber retired the final two hitters for his third career shutout.

Kluber bounced back from allowing a career-high eight runs and nine hits in five innings against Kansas City in his last start. The right-hander, who won the AL Cy Young Award in 2014, struck out nine and walked two.

Juan Uribe homered for the fourth straight game, a solo shot in the eighth. Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer, also in the eighth.

Rookie left-hander Blake Snell (0-2), making third major league start, allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings.

CARDINALS 4, CUBS 3

CHICAGO - Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday homered to back Adam Wainwright, and St. Louis won its second straight game after going 0-5 on its first winless homestand of at least two series since 1983.

Carpenter and Holliday connected against Jason Hammel (7-3) in a three-run third inning that made it 4-1. Wainwright (6-4) pitched into the seventh and improved to 10-1 in 21 games - 16 starts - at Wrigley Field.

The Cardinals put themselves in position to sweep their first trip to Chicago since last year's NL Division Series, though it won't be easy with the major league-leading Cubs sending reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta to the mound.

Wainwright allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

GIANTS 15, PIRATES 4

PITTSBURGH - Angel Pagan hit a grand slam during a seven-run fourth inning and Johnny Cueto shut down Pittsburgh into the seventh.

Cueto (11-1) moved into a tie for the National League lead in wins by extending his career-best winning streak to eight and improving to 19-4 against the Pirates.

Recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Indianapolis, Wilfredo Boscan (1-1) allowed one baserunner over the first three innings of his first major league start, but did not retire any of the seven batters he faced in the fourth.

ASTROS 3, ANGELS 2

HOUSTON - Carlos Correa hit a two-run single to right-centre field with no outs in the ninth inning to cap the Astros' rally.

After Huston Street (2-1) loaded the bases with two walks and an infield single, Correa laced a 3-2 pitch into the gap, scoring George Springer and Marwin Gonzalez.

Correa hit his second home run in two games to cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth.

Luke Gregerson (1-1) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.

TIGERS 4, MARINERS 2

DETROIT - Mike Aviles drove in the tiebreaking run with an infield single in the eighth inning for Detroit.

Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer off Justin Verlander in the sixth to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead, but Detroit scored a run in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie it.

Bruce Rondon (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win.

James Paxton (1-3) allowed four runs and 11 hits in 7 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five.

DIAMONDBACKS 4, BLUE JAYS 2

TORONTO - Yasmany Tomas and Peter O'Brien homered, and Patrick Corbin threw 6 1/3 solid innings to help Arizona get its fifth straight win.

The Blue Jays stranded seven runners and wasted a strong outing from Marco Estrada (5-3). The 32-year-old right-hander became the first pitcher since at least 1893 to allow five or fewer hits over six or more innings in 11 consecutive starts.

Corbin (4-6) improved to 4-1 on the road, surrendering two hits and scattering eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Daniel Hudson earned his first save of the season.

PADRES 10, ORIOLES 7

BALTIMORE - Matt Kemp doubled to spark a four-run seventh inning against the bullpen, and San Diego overcame two home runs and five RBIs by Pedro Alvarez.

San Diego trailed 6-3 before batting around in the seventh. Kemp got things started with a double off Mychal Givens (5-1), who failed to retire any of the five batters he faced.

Kevin Quackenbush (5-3) earned the win with one inning of scoreless relief and Fernando Rodney got four outs for his 15th save.

REDS 8, RANGERS 2

ARLINGTON, Texas - Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer, Zack Cozart homered along with a two-run triple and Cincinnati ended Texas' season-best winning streak at seven games.

Texas starter Colby Lewis (6-1) had the best season-opening winning streak of his career snapped, leaving after five innings with cramping in his right arm.

Anthony DeSclafani (1-0) gave up five hits and two runs with a walk and six strikeouts in seven innings.

ROCKIES 8, YANKEES 4

Charlie Blackmon led off the game with a home run and later connected for another solo drive, and Nolan Arenado hit his major league-leading 21st homer for Colorado

Chad Bettis (6-5) beat Ivan Nova (5-5) for the second time in a week.

Bettis gave up two earned runs, tied a career best with eight strikeouts and left with an 8-4 lead.

ATHLETICS 5, BREWERS 3

OAKLAND, Calif. - Yonder Alonso hit a two-out, tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and Marcus Semien followed with a two-run triple for Oakland.

Vogt tripled leading off the seventh against reliever Will Smith (1-2). Semien, who had three hits and three RBIs, later tripled to left-centre on a 1-2 pitch to put the A's up 5-2.

Sean Doolittle (2-2) retired three batters for the win. Ryan Madson pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

TWINS 14, PHILLIES 10

MINNEAPOLIS - Kurt Suzuki went 4 for 5 with a career-high six RBIs, including a two-run homer, and Minnesota gave Philadelphia its eighth straight defeat.

Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run triple in a four-run first inning against starter Aaron Nola (5-7).

Buddy Boshers (2-0) relieved Tyler Duffey and pitched two innings for the win.

BRAVES 3, MARLINS 2

MIAMI - Jace Peterson hit a tying two-run home run in the eighth inning and a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th to lift Atlanta.

Chris Withrow (2-0) got five outs to earn the win and Arodys Vizcaino picked up his eighth save in 10 chances for the Braves, who have won six straight.

Kyle Barraclough (3-2) took the loss for the Marlins, who spoiled an impressive start by Jose Fernandez.

Ichiro Suzuki had two hits for the Marlins to give him 2,982 in his career.