American League

Astros 21, White Sox 5

Alex Bregman hit two homers and two doubles, driving in a career-high six runs and powering the Houston Astros past the Chicago White Sox 21-5 Thursday.

Houston’s run total tied for the second most in team history — the Astros scored 23 against Baltimore in 2019.

“I don’t think I’ve been on a team that scored that many runs,” said Houston's Dusty Baker, in his 25th season as a manager following a 19-year playing career.

“It was good to get out of here with a split. It was good the fact we came back the last two games because they were looking at a sweep," he said.

The Astros wound up with 25 hits as Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Christian Vazquez tied career highs with four each. Chas McCormick, who had five RBIs, and Trey Mancini homered for the AL West leaders.

White Sox second baseman Josh Harrison pitched the ninth inning and allowed four runs and six hits in his third mound appearance of the season.

“I hate that rule you can pitch a position player,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “There’s got to be a way to avoid that at some point when you get far down. I think it’s a travesty for the game. I don’t think fans enjoy it."

“But that’s our fault. They beat us up. They deserve the credit. We take the heat," he said.

Bregman, who had an eight-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday, scored four times. He hit a pair of two-run drives for the fifth multi-homer game of his career and his first since May 28, 2019, against the Cubs.

“I’ve really been just working hard in the cage trying to beat it into my head to stay closed with every swing I take,” Bregman said. “Today was better.”

Bregman’s big day actually didn’t start out so well. He was called out on strikes to end the first and had words with plate umpire Ramon DeJesus, who then ejected Astros hitting coach Alex Cintron.

“I don’t want to say anything because I don’t want to get fined,” Bregman said.

By the end of the afternoon, Bregman was in a much better mood and signed autographs for fans after the final out.

The Astros won for the sixth time in their last eight games. They improved to 34-19 against teams with a .500 record or better.

Gavin Sheets got a career-high four hits for the White Sox, who lost for the second day in a row and split the four-game series.

“Just a brutal day,” La Russa said.

After totaling eight runs in the first three games of the series, the Astros broke loose.

Houston scored six times in the fourth inning, chasing Lucas Giolito (9-7) in taking a 10-0 lead. Bregman homered off reliever Vince Velasquez to cap the burst and homered again in the sixth.

“We made a statement,” McCormick said. “We have a good offense. They’re a good team. We were a little upset they beat us the first two times.”

Giolito lasted three-plus innings, matching his shortest start of the season against Cleveland on July 22, when he allowed six runs on nine hits.

Giolito has allowed 15 runs on 15 hits in two starts against the Astros this season.

Luis Garcia (10-8) blanked Chicago for the first four innings but was pulled after needing 97 pitches to complete five innings. Yoan Moncada hit a three-run homer in the fifth.

The Astros were in position to score even more. White Sox center fielder AJ Pollock robbed Jose Altuve of extra bases with a catch near the top of the fence in the sixth.

Rays 7, Royals 1

Luis Patiño pitched strongly into the sixth inning, Yandy Díaz drove in three runs and Tampa Bay beat Kansas City.

The Rays have won five of six.

Patiño (1-1), recalled from Triple-A Durham to make his first big league appearance since July 23, gave up four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

Díaz homered on the second pitch from Max Castillo (0-1) leading off the first and had a two-run double during a during a five-run seventh off Brad Keller.

Rangers 10, Athletics 3

Nathaniel Lowe hit a three-run homer, Jonah Heim drove in two runs against his former team and Texas beat Oakland.

Dane Dunning (3-6) allowed two runs in six innings for his second consecutive win.

Texas completed a 4-3 homestand by splitting four games with the last-place A’s.

Rookie Zach Logue (3-7) allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.

National League

Cardinals 13, Rockies 0

Albert Pujols launched a pinch-hit grand slam and drove in five runs, Adam Wainwright pitched seven sharp innings and St. Louis routed Colorado for a three-game sweep.

The Elias Sports Bureau said the Cardinals were the first team in big league history to have a player at least 40 years old hit a grand slam and another at least 40 to pitch seven shutout innings in the same game. Pujols is 42, two years older than Wainwright.

The Rockies lost starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela (3-7) and right fielder Charlie Blackmon in the second inning to leg injuries.

The NL Central-leading Cardinals won their fourth in a row and sent Colorado to its fifth straight loss.

Pujols hit his 690th career home run, connecting off Austin Gomber and capping a five-run third that made it 10-0.

Wainwright (10-9) gave up three hits, two of them infield singles.

Brewers 5, Dodgers 3

Andrew McCutchen homered twice, Hunter Renfroe also went deep and Milwaukee split a four-game series with major league-leading Los Angeles.

McCutchen had three RBIs in his 19th career multi-homer game.

Andrew Heaney (1-1) gave up all three homers. He struck out 10 but allowed five runs, five hits and one walk in 4 2/3 innings.

Corbin Burnes (9-5) allowed three runs, six hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Devin Williams struck out the side in the ninth for his eighth save.

Diamondbacks 5, Giants 0

Zac Gallen struck out a career-high 12 in 7 1/3 innings, extending his shutout streak to 21 1/3 innings as Arizona beat San Francisco.

Gallen (9-2) limited the Giants to four hits and has won five straight decisions.

The D-backs chased Logan Webb (11-6) early and earned a split of the four-game series.

Webb gave up five runs, three earned, on nine hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.

Nationals 3, Padres 1

Nelson Cruz drew a bases-loaded walk from Josh Hader to bring in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, and Washington beat San Diego.

Hader relieved Yu Darvish (10-7) in a 1-1 game after the right-hander allowed two singles sandwiched around the first out in the ninth. Hader, obtained from Milwaukee on Aug. 1, hit Luke Voit with a pitch and then walked Cruz. Keibert Ruiz followed with a sacrifice fly.

Carl Edwards (5-3) pitched a perfect eighth and Kyle Finnegan worked the ninth for his sixth save.

Anibal Sánchez allowed just Manny Machado’s homer in five innings.

Interleague

Cubs 3, Orioles 2

Willson Contreras hit a pair of homers, Adrian Sampson pitched scoreless ball into the sixth inning and Chicago beat Baltimore.

Sampson (1-3) allowed four hits with six strikeouts and two walks over 5 2/3 innings, earning his first win since last Sept. 14 at Philadelphia.

Contreras then gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the sixth with a solo shot off Spenser Watkins (4-3).

Rafael Ortega also homered for the Cubs, who have won five of seven.

Brandon Hughes picked up his first career save.