ALEC Burleson hit a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) to give rookie sensation Paul Skenes his first career major league loss.
Nolan Arenado hit a solo home run for the Cardinals, who evened a three-game series at a victory apiece.
Skenes (6-1) allowed two runs on four hits in a career-high 8 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and didn’t issue a walk.
Cardinals starter Lance Lynn blanked the Pirates for five innings, giving up four hits and walking three. He fanned two and now has 2,000 strikeouts in his career. Ryan Fernandez (1-2) earned his first big-league victory and Ryan Helsley earned his 33rd save of the season for St. Louis.
Athletics 8, Astros 2
Lawrence Butler hit one of Oakland’s five home runs and finished a single shy of the cycle as the Athletics routed visiting Houston.
Brent Rooker, Seth Brown, Zack Gelof and Shea Langeliers also homered for Oakland, which has taken the first two games of a three-game set. Osvaldo Bido (2-1) limited the Astros to one run and four hits in five innings.
Jeremy Pena capped a three-hit night for the Astros with a homer in the ninth inning. Jake Bloss (0-1) served up five runs and six hits in four innings.
Phillies 3, Twins 0
Brandon Marsh hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly and Nick Castellanos followed with a two-run double in the top of the ninth inning, lifting Philadelphia to a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Zack Wheeler fired seven scoreless innings for the Phillies, who evened a three-game series at one victory apiece. Gregory Soto (2-3) recorded one out and received the victory, and Matt Strahm pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.
Simeon Woods Richardson tossed six shutout frames for the Twins. Jhoan Duran (5-5) gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
