NEW YORK — Rookie Tyler Austin hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the New York Yankees their season-high fifth straight victory, 5-4 over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.
Brian McCann hit two homers for the Yankees, who moved a season-high nine games over .500 (74-65).
Austin homered off Erasmo Ramirez (7-11) on a 3-2 pitch for his third homer since being called up Aug. 13. Teammates met him at home plate by dousing him with water in a raucous celebration.
INDIANS 10, ASTROS 7: The Indians scored a pair of runs on a controversial bases-loaded wild pitch by David Paulino in the third inning that led to the ejection of Astros Manager A.J. Hinch, and Cleveland went on to win at home.
Cleveland led 2-1 when Lonnie Chisenhall attempted to check his swing on a pitch in the dirt. The ball bounced away from catcher Jason Castro and rolled toward the on-deck circle.
Play was allowed to continue, although replays showed Chisenhall fouled off the pitch. All three runners – Francisco Lindor, Mike Napoli and Jose Ramirez – crossed the plate.
Hinch protested the ruling and was ejected. After a video review, Lindor and Napoli were allowed to score, and Ramirez was put at second.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PIRATES 4, REDS 1: Ivan Nova pitched a six-hitter to stay unbeaten with Pittsburgh and Jung Ho Kang hit a two-run double to key a three-run first inning as the Pirates defeated visiting Cincinnati, extending the Reds’ losing streak to five games.
Nova (12-6) pitched his second complete game in seven starts since being acquired from the New York Yankees in a trade on Aug. 1.
PHILLIES 4, NATIONALS 1: Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer, Alec Asher pitched six innings of two-hit ball coming off a suspension, and Philadelphia won at Washington.
BREWERS 12, CARDINALS 5: Domingo Santana and Orlando Arcia hit back-to-back homers in the second, and Hernan Perez had four hits and three RBI as Milwaukee continued its recent road dominance.
NOTES
NATIONALS: Stephen Strasburg has a strained flexor mass in his elbow and the Nationals don’t know when he will pitch again, but the team said it was relieved the right-hander did not re-tear a ligament.
Strasburg left his start in the third inning Wednesday night after feeling a pinch in the back of his elbow.
RAYS: Tampa Bay signed veteran shortstop Alexei Ramirez, who was released by the Padres on Sunday after losing his job as the team’s starting shortstop.
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