Henderson’s go-ahead RBI single helps Orioles edge Guardians

CLEVELAND (AP) – Gunnar Henderson singled in Alex Jackson with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and Charlie Morton matched his longest start of the season, helping the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday afternoon.

Henderson’s liner to right came against Erik Sabrowski, giving the loss to Guardians starter Logan Allen (6-9). The Orioles won for the second time in nine games and avoided a four-game series sweep.

Morton (6-8) went 6 2/3 innings and threw a season-high 107 pitches, giving up three runs while striking out seven. Gregory Soto tossed a clean ninth for his first save, filling in for injured closer Félix Bautista, who is on the injured list with right shoulder discomfort.

Steven Kwan hit a pair of solo homers and Nolan Jones had a sacrifice fly for Cleveland, which is 11-3 since July 7 and wrapped up its homestand with five wins in seven contests. The Guardians’ current surge came immediately after they lost 10 straight.

BLUE JAYS 11, TIGERS 4

DETROIT (AP) – Ernie Clement and Joey Loperfido hit back-to back hit home runs in the fifth inning to help surging Toronto rout slumping Detroit in a matchup of first-place teams going in opposite directions.

The AL East-leading Blue Jays have won 19 of their last 24 games, and the AL Central-leading Tigers have lost 10 of 11.

Clement’s three-run home run gave Toronto a 4-1 lead and Loperfido followed with a soaring, solo shot to right field.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a game-tying double in the sixth to bring home the first of five runs in the inning. Guerrero’s RBI double in the four-run seventh helped the Blue Jays pull away with a 9-1 lead.

The Blue Jays didn’t let up, going ahead 11-1 in the eighth on Nathan Lukes’ two-run homer.

ATHLETICS 5, ASTROS 2

HOUSTON (AP) – Luis Severino struck out eight in seven innings and Luis Urias homered to lead the Athletics to a victory over AL West-leading Houston.

Severino (4-11) allowed four hits and two earned runs as the A’s snapped a four-game skid. Mason Miller earned his 20th save.

Urias hit his eighth homer in the sixth inning and finished with two hits. Nick Kurtz went 3 for 5 with an RBI double in the two-run fourth inning. Max Schuemann also knocked in a run in the inning on a fielder’s choice grounder.

Christian Walker drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field and Victor Caratini scored on a groundout by Cam Smith – all in the seventh inning – for the Astros, who had their four-game winning streak halted.

Jason Alexander (1-1), a former member of the Athletics who was claimed off waivers in May, allowed five earned runs and 11 hits in six innings. The 32-year-old right-hander finished with three strikeouts and two walks.

CARDINALS 9, PADRES 7

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras hit three-run homers in the second inning and St. Louis beat San Diego in the opener of a four-game series.

Willson had with four RBIs and Donovan finished with three hits. Iván Herrera had three hits and two RBIs, including a solo homer in the sixth.

Sonny Gray (10-4) gave up seven runs – six earned – on 11 hits with five strikeouts in five innings. Ryan Helsley pitched a scoreless ninth for his 20th save.

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado each had three hits for San Diego. Tatis led off the third with a home run and Machado added a two-run shot that made it 7-5.

MARINERS 4, ANGELS 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena and Jorge Polanco homered, Logan Evans gave up one run in five innings, and Seattle beat Los Angeles.

Rodríguez, who stole third base in the first inning, has 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases this season. The 24-year-old is the first player in MLB history with at least 15 homers and 20-plus stolen bases in each of their first four seasons.

Evans (4-3), a 24-year-old rookie, allowed three hits and walked three with three strikeouts. Andrés Muñoz pitched a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save.