Esmerlyn Valdez delivered a go-ahead grand slam and drove in six runs, powering the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-6 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. The Pirates then completed a sweep, securing a 3-2 win in the second contest. Valdez's second home run of the first game in the seventh inning put Pittsburgh back in front. His initial homer had given the Pirates a 3-2 lead in the third. Braxton Ashcraft allowed five runs on five hits and struck out six across five innings for Pittsburgh. Gregory Soto escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth, earning his 12th save. Brewers starter Brandon Sproat gave up three runs on two hits and struck out three before exiting after the third inning. Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick each homered for Milwaukee.
Game Two Highlights
In the second game, Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-3 and drove in Pittsburgh's go-ahead run. Bubba Chandler struck out six, limiting the Brewers to two runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. Valdez continued his power surge, adding another homer in the second game, marking his third straight game with a home run. Shane Drohan (4-3) allowed three runs on five hits and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings for Milwaukee. The Brewers have now lost three of their past four games, following an 8-2 run in their previous 10.
Other League Action
Elsewhere, Chase Meidroth's sixth-inning RBI double lifted the White Sox over the visiting Athletics 1-0. Meidroth finished 2-for-3, while Luisangel Acuna also had two hits. Five Chicago pitchers combined for a four-hit shutout. Erick Fedde (5-6) earned the win, allowing two hits and no runs, walking one and striking out three over four innings. Athletics starter Gage Jump (3-4) allowed one run on five hits, walked two, and struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer went 2-for-4 with a double, and Jacob Wilson was 2-for-4 with a triple.
Andruw Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida each hit two-run homers as the Red Sox beat the Mets 4-0, extending Boston's winning streak to eight games. Five pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout. Jovani Moran (2-2) got the win with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Fill-in starter Eduardo Rivera threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in just his second major league appearance, allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out three. Freddy Peralta (5-8) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings. The Mets went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine.
Victor Caratini's double down the left field line scored Royce Lewis for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh, as the Twins beat the Angels 5-3 in Minneapolis. Lewis had earlier hit a two-run homer. Minnesota scored two runs in the seventh on Lewis' double, Caratini's double, and Alan Roden's run-scoring single. Joe Ryan allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks in six innings for Minnesota. Ryan Johnson gave up three runs and three hits over five innings for the Angels, walking three and striking one out.
Steven Kwan lined a two-out, two-strike, two-run double and made a run-saving defensive play, as the Guardians beat the Marlins 4-1. Patrick Bailey added a two-out, two-strike, two-run double in the eighth for insurance. Tanner Bibee (3-9) earned the win with a quality start, allowing five hits, four walks, and one run in 6 2/3 innings. Eury Perez (5-7) took the loss after allowing eight hits, two walks, and two runs in six innings.
Casey Schmitt's three-run homer in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie, sending the Giants past the Rockies 4-2. Heliot Ramos and Luis Arraez opened the inning with singles before Schmitt hit his 19th homer, tying him for the team lead. Arraez was 2-for-4. Tyler Mahle (2-8) allowed one run on five hits over seven innings. J.T. Brubaker pitched the final two innings for his first career save. Kyle Karros homered and Mickey Moniak was 2-for-4 for Colorado. Starter Kyle Freeland (2-8) gave up four runs and six hits in six innings.
The Yankees beat the Nationals 4-2 after Ryan McMahon, Trent Grisham, and Paul Goldschmidt hit eighth-inning homers. New York had rallied from three runs down in the ninth inning Friday night and struck earlier Saturday. Trailing 2-0, McMahon homered off Orlando Ribalta. Grisham followed with a two-run shot after Ben Rice walked. Goldschmidt hit his 15th homer of the season. Brent Headrick (5-1) got the win, and David Bednar earned his 18th save. James Wood had three hits, including a homer. Curtis Mead also homered and singled for Washington, which recorded its 27th blown save of the season.
Jonathan Aranda had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run as the Rays beat the Mariners 6-1 in St. Petersburg, Fla., claiming their final home series before the All-Star break. Aranda went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run, including a third-inning double that scored Yandy Diaz to break a 1-1 tie. Pinch hitter Ryan Vilade hit a three-run homer in the seventh. Ben Williamson went 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run, and a stolen base, as Tampa Bay improved its majors-best home record to 35-14. Griffin Jax (5-6) allowed one run on four hits in five innings for the Rays. Logan Gilbert (7-6) gave up four runs on nine hits with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings for Seattle, which lost its fifth straight.
J.T. Realmuto had a two-run double, and All-Star Cristopher Sanchez pitched seven-plus strong innings, as the Phillies ended the Tigers' six-game winning streak with a 4-2 win in Detroit. Sanchez (11-4) allowed two runs and 10 hits while striking out seven, bouncing back from his worst outing of the season when he gave up nine runs to Kansas City on Monday. Jhoan Duran recorded his 24th save with a perfect ninth. Eduardo Valencia homered, and Matt Vierling went 3-for-3 and scored for Detroit. Casey Mize (4-6) allowed all four runs, three earned, on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Kyle Bradish took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as the Orioles beat the Royals 6-1, extending their winning streak to three games. Bradish (6-9) was done after 6 2/3 innings and allowed one run on two hits. Jac Caglianone broke up the no-hit bid with a single as the first batter in the seventh and later scored on Salvador Perez's sacrifice fly. Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer, and Coby Mayo, Taylor Ward, and Gunnar Henderson each hit solo shots for Baltimore, which snapped a four-series losing streak at Camden Yards. Noah Cameron (5-7) struck out nine in seven innings but allowed five runs on five hits.
Lars Nootbaar launched a three-run home run in the first inning, and Matthew Liberatore tossed six scoreless innings to help the Cardinals beat the Braves 4-1 in St. Louis. Liberatore (5-6) allowed four hits, struck out six, and walked one. Reynaldo Lopez (4-2) allowed four runs on five hits in five innings, striking out three and walking one. Mauricio Dubon homered for Atlanta, which saw its lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East reduced to two games. The Braves dropped their fifth game in seven tries.
LaMonte Wade Jr. hit his first career grand slam, and Yordan Alvarez hit his AL-leading 31st home run as the Astros beat the Rangers 9-3 in Arlington, Texas. Christian Vazquez also homered for Houston. Peter Lambert (8-5) allowed one run on three hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking one. Ezequiel Duran drove in all three Texas runs with two home runs. Kumar Rocker (2-8) gave up three homers and seven runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Alex Bregman hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Cubs beat the Reds 5-3 in Cincinnati. Carson Kelly added a solo homer, and Michael Busch had three hits for Chicago. Drew Pomeranz (2-3) got the win despite allowing a run on two hits in the sixth. Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb each pitched a scoreless inning before Trent Thornton got the final out for his third save. Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suarez, and JJ Bleday each hit solo homers for Cincinnati. Nick Lodolo allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts before leaving with a blister on his left index finger after Kelly's leadoff homer in the sixth.