Washington’s Trea Turner rounds the bases on his home run during the Nationals’ 15-6 win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday in Washington. Nick Wass/Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Trea Turner completed his record-tying third career cycle by hitting a sixth-inning triple for the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, accomplishing the feat on his 28th birthday in a 15-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
The speedy shortstop became the fifth player in major league history with three cycles, joining Adrian Beltre, Babe Herman, Bob Meusel and John Reilly, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
He also scored four times in the victory, which sealed a two-game sweep as well as Washington’s fourth straight win and 14th in its last 17 games.
Starlin Castro hit his third homer, singled and drove in four. Josh Bell drove in three and Juan Soto had three hits and two RBIs.
Jordy Mercer added his first homer of the season for the Nationals, who pounded out 18 hits and have homered 24 times since June 19.
Turner singled in the first off Tampa Bay opener Drew Rasmussen, doubled in the third against Ryan Sherriff (0-1), then hit his 14th homer in the fourth off Michael Wacha.
Two innings later, Turner hit a ball into the right-field corner, and the Nationals Park crowd immediately stood anticipating a play at third.
Manuel Margot hit cutoff man Mike Brosseau, and the second baseman’s throw to third was also true, but Turner narrowly beat Yandy Díaz’s tag with a headfirst slide.
The triple sparked a three-run inning that expanded Washington’s lead to 11-5. The Nationals took the lead for good earlier with a four-run third and added four more in the eighth.
Ryan Zimmerman pinch-hit for Turner in the seventh.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
BRAVES 20, METS 2: Ozzie Albies drove in seven runs with five hits, including two home runs, and host Atlanta battered New York for a strong finish to a disappointing month.
The Braves (38-41) were 13-15 in June. They trail the first-place Mets (41-35) by 4 1/2 games in the NL East after enjoying a rare offensive highlight with 20 hits.
Mets left-hander David Peterson exited due to right side soreness in the fourth inning, leaving his status for his next start unknown. Peterson (2-6) allowed six runs and eight hits, each matching his career high.
The Braves led 14-2 when outfielder Albert Almora entered the game to pitch in the eighth with the bases loaded. Almora walked Ender Inciarte and hit Pablo Sandoval with a pitch to force in runs.
Almora then gave up a three-run homer to Albies, who set career highs for hits, RBIs and by scoring four runs. Albies had three singles before hitting a two-run homer off Thomas Szapucki in the fifth.
CARDINALS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 4: Kwang Hyun Kim won for the first time in 11 starts, pitching five solid innings and helping himself with a two-run double as St. Louis won at home for a three-game sweep.
Kim (2-5) had lost five straight decisions since his last win on April 23. He stranded six runners through his first four innings, giving up just an RBI single to Asdrúbal Cabrera.
Kim retired the last five batters he faced. He struck out five, walked three and allowed three hits as the Cardinals won for the fourth time in their last five games.
Alex Reyes earned his 20th save in as many opportunities. Arizona lost its fourth in a row.
Kim’s opposite-field double to left in the second scored Yadier Molina and Edmundo Sosa to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. The two RBI were Kim’s first in the majors, and it was also the first extra-base hit for the 32-year-old lefty – he was 1 for 15 in the big leagues before that.
Arizona lost its fourth straight on the road since winning Saturday at San Diego to end a record 24-game road losing streak. The Diamondbacks are a major league-worst 22-60, including 10-36 away from home.
CUBS 15, BREWERS 7: Highly touted Milwaukee prospect Aaron Ashby got hammered for seven runs in the first inning of his big league debut, but Luis Urias homered twice as the Brewers rallied to rout Chicago in Milwaukee for their eighth straight win.
The Brewers swept the three-game series and increased their NL Central lead to six games over Chicago. The Cubs lost their sixth in a row.
Willy Adames hit a grand slam during an eight-run burst in the fourth inning that put Milwaukee ahead 14-7. His error at shortstop helped the Cubs break loose at the start against Ashby.
Called up from Triple-A to start, the 23-year-old Ashby — and nephew of two-time All-Star pitcher Andy Ashby – was in trouble right away.
ROCKIES 6, PIRATES 2: Jon Gray tossed six strong innings in another solid outing for Colorado starters, and the Rockies beat Pittsburgh in Denver.
Garrett Hampson had four hits for the Rockies, who swept the three-game series and improved to 28-16 at home. Colorado is just 6-31 on the road.
A day after being no-hit by Germán Márquez for eight innings, the Pirates jumped on Gray for their first runs of the series. Adam Frazier led off the game with a triple, scored on a sacrifice fly and Bryan Reynolds hit his 14th homer for a quick 2-0 lead.
Gray (5-6) didn’t give up another hit before leaving four a pinch-hitter in the sixth. He walked four — one intentional — hit a batter and struck out five to continue the strong run of outings by Colorado starters.
PADRES 7, REDS 5: Trent Grisham hit a grand slam and a solo shot and the San Diego Padres rallied for their 11th win in the last 12 games, beating Cincinnati in a game called in the sixth inning due to rain in Cinncinnati.
Grisham’s first career grand slam in the fifth inning came off reliever Josh Osich and gave San Diego the lead and its sixth straight win over Cincinnati in the past two weeks.
The game was stopped with one out in the Padres’ half of the sixth amid a thunderstorm. It was declared official after a 93-minute delay.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
TIGERS 9, INDIANS 4: Harold Castro and Jonathan Schoop each drove in three runs, powering Detroit past Cleveland in the first game of a doubleheader in Cleveland.
Castro’s two-out single off Bryan Shaw (2-3) in the fifth inning scored Nomar Mazara and broke a 4-4 tie. Schoop had a two-run single in the seventh as the Tigers banged out 15 hits in the seven-inning game.
MARINERS 9, TORONTO 7: Dylan Moore hit a three-run homer in the tenth inning and Seattle held on after blowing two earlier leads to beat Toronto in Buffalo, New York.
Moore hit a 3-1 pitch from right-hander Patrick Murphy (0-1) to left-center, scoring automatic runner Luis Torrens and Shed Long Jr., who singled as a pinch-hitter.
Drew Steckenrider allowed an RBI leadoff double to Cavan Biggio in the bottom of the inning but retired the next three batters — two via strikeout — for his second save.
Kyle Seager and Mitch Haniger hit two-run homers for Seattle. Moore and J.P. Crawford each had three hits and scored twice. Kendall Graveman (2-0) was the winning pitcher.
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