Keider Montero keeps Tigers pitching dominance going in win over Rays

DETROIT (AP) – Keider Montero and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Monday night.

The Tigers (58-34) have won four straight games while only allowing four runs, improving to 24 games over .500 for the first time since 2013.

Montero (4-1) allowed one run and four hits and a walk in six innings while striking out four. After losing his first start, Montero is 4-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 outings as a starter and bulk reliever.

Tyler Holton, Brenan Hanifee and Will Vest each pitched a scoreless inning to complete the win.

Shane Baz (8-4) gave up three runs and seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in six innings for the Rays, who have lost seven of their last 10 games. Baz entered the game with a 5-0 record in his last eight starts.

RED SOX 9, ROCKIES 3

BOSTON (AP) – Roman Anthony hit a two-run home run, Ceddanne Rafaela homered for the third straight game and Boston beat the Colorado.

Boston rookie Richard Fitts (1-3) allowed five hits, two earned runs and struck out six over 5 2/3 innings to notch his first major league victory.

Romy Gonzalez added a solo homer, and Abraham Toro had a two-run double to help Boston post its fourth straight win and seventh in nine games.

Rockies starter Austin Gomber (0-2) exited after 4 2/3 innings, yielding five runs and seven hits, including Anthony’s homer.

Colorado’s first run of the game was set up by a throwing error on Boston shortstop Trevor Story. In the sixth inning, the Rockies pulled to 5-3 on a fielder’s choice RBI by Michael Toglia and RBI single by Ryan McMahon.

But Boston added to its lead an inning later via RBI singles by Jarren Duran and Carlos Narváez.

ROYALS 9, PIRATES 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez hit two of Kansas City’s four home runs to back a strong start by rookie Noah Cameron, and the Royals beat Pittsburgh.

Cameron (3-4) struck out seven in a season-high seven innings. The left-hander allowed three hits, a walk, and two runs – on Tommy Pham’s two-run shot in the third.

Witt went 2 for 3 and scored twice to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Witt hit his 13th homer, a two-run shot the opposite way to right-center field off reliever Chase Shugart to give the Royals a 6-2 lead in the fourth. He added a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Witt finished off a seven-game trip Sunday by extending his club-record hitting streak on the road to 25 games.

Perez hit his 11th homer, a solo shot to left in the fifth for a five-run advantage. He hit his 24th double off the top of the wall in left to drive in a run for a 3-2 lead in the third.

BLUE JAYS 8, WHITE SOX 4

CHICAGO (AP) – Joey Loperfido homered and drove in three runs, and Toronto beat Chicago for their ninth consecutive win.

Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes also connected as AL East-leading Toronto improved to 27-10 in its last 37 games. Bo Bichette had two hits and All-Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked three times.

At 53-38, the Blue Jays matched the franchise record for most victories before the All-Star break. It’s the longest win streak for the team since an 11-game run in August 2015.

José Berríos (5-3) pitched six innings of one-run ball, bouncing back nicely after he struggled in a no-decision against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. The right-hander improved to 16-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 27 career starts against Chicago.

BREWERS 9, DODGERS 1

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Andrew Vaughn hit a three-run homer in his first plate appearance with his new team, Freddy Peralta threw six shutout innings and Milwaukee trounced Los Angeles.

Peralta (10-4) struck out seven while allowing five hits and one walk, lowering his ERA to 2.74. Christian Yelich added a two-run homer for Milwaukee.

Los Angeles starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7) got just two outs before leaving the shortest start of his career as the Dodgers lost their fourth straight. His quick exit spoiled a starting pitching matchup featuring two NL All-Stars in Peralta and Yamamoto.