NEW YORK — Luis Severino dominated over seven innings, Didi Gregorius and Todd Frazier homered, and the New York Yankees beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-5 on Wednesday to sweep the two-game interleague series.

The Yankees have won six of eight, inching closer to first-place Boston in the AL East.

Severino (7-4) did not allow a runner past second base until the seventh. He struck out nine, eight swinging, many on a devastating slider that looked untouchable at times.

The 23-year-old fireballer has emerged as New York’s de facto ace, pitching brilliantly since the All-Star break. Severino has allowed just one earned run in 21 innings (0.43 ERA) and has completed seven innings in a career-best four straight starts.

PHILLIES 9, ASTROS 0: Cameron Rupp hit two home runs and had four RBI and Aaron Nola set a career high with 10 strikeouts in six innings to lead Philadelphia at home.

Maikel Franco homered and doubled and Tommy Joseph had two doubles for the Phillies.

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

RAYS 5, ORIOLES 1: Evan Longoria and Steven Souza Jr. homered and Alex Cobb pitched seven strong innings in Tampa Bay’s victory at St. Petersburg, Florida.

Longoria’s two-run shot off Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez, his 15th of the season, put Tampa Bay up 2-1 in the sixth after a walk to Mallex Smith.

BLUE JAYS 3, ATHLETICS 2: Justin Smoak hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth and Kendrys Morales followed with a game-winning blast as host Toronto rallied past struggling Oakland.

It was the sixth time this season the Blue Jays have hit conseutive home runs. Smoak and Morales have been involved in each of the past three occasions.

INDIANS 10, INDIANS 4: Rookie Bradley Zimmer homered and drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning double and host Cleveland matched a season high with its sixth straight win.

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Zimmer hit a leadoff homer and broke a 2-all tie with a two-out double off the wall in left-center against Ricky Nolasco (4-12).

ROYALS 16, TIGERS 2: Eric Hosmer matched his career high with five hits, including his first major league grand slam, and Kansas City extended its winning streak to a season-high eight games with a rout at Detroit.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

GIANTS 2, PIRATES 1: Brandon Belt doubled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning in support of starter Jeff Samardzija, who threw seven strong innings for host San Francisco.

Pinch-hitter Miguel Gomez doubled to lead off the seventh for the Giants. Denard Span sacrificed him to third and Belt drove a ball to left field that Starling Marte seemed to have trouble finding. It fell in front of him, allowing Gomez to score.

DIAMONDBACKS 10, BRAVES 3: J.D. Martinez homered twice and Ketel Marte hit an inside-the-park two-run homer in as Arizona won at Phoenix.

Martinez hit his second and third home runs in the past three days, two of his first three as a Diamondback. It was Martinez’s third multi-home run game of the season, the first two as a Detroit Tiger.

NATIONALS 8, BREWERS 5: Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Lind each hit a two-run double in a seven-run eighth to help Washington rally to a win at home.

Bryce Harper was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Chris Segal after striking out in the eighth with runners on the corners. Harper’s single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to a career-high 18 games.


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