Thomas tosses 5 sharp innings in emergency start

National League

DODGERS 7, METS 2

NEW YORK -- Justin Turner homered and drove in three runs against his former club, Ian Thomas hurled five effective innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets 7-2 on Friday night.

The Dodgers spoiled the major league debut of outfielder Michael Conforto, the Mets' first-round draft pick last year who was promoted from Class AA Binghamton earlier in the day. Conforto drove in the Mets' first run with an RBI groundout in the fifth inning, and finished 0-for-3.

Thomas (1-1) allowed 1 run and 3 hits over 5 innings in his first major league start. The rookie left-hander, recalled from Class AAA Oklahoma on Wednesday, pitched in place of All-Star Zack Greinke-- who left the team Thursday morning for the birth of his first child.

The Dodgers scored early and often off Mets starter Jonathan Niese (5-9), who allowed 6 runs and 8 hits -- including home runs by Turner and Yasiel Puig -- in 3 innings.

Jimmy Rollins also homered off Hansel Robles in the eighth for the Dodgers, giving the veteran shortstop 32 career home runs against the Mets.

Niese had quietly strung together eight consecutive quality starts before Friday's outing. The left-hander's availability was in question just a couple of hours before game time, with his wife expected to go into labor at any time.

CARDINALS 4, BRAVES 2 Randal Grichuk homered and rookie Tim Cooney threw seven solid innings to earn his first major league victory, leading host St. Louis to a victory over Atlanta. Grichuk hit a two-run home run in the second inning for the second night in row. His 11th of the season came off rookie Manny Banuelos (1-2), who gave up 6 hits and 4 earned runs in 5-plus innings.

PIRATES 7, NATIONALS 5 Gregory Polanco homered and drove in three runs as Pittsburgh exacted a measure of revenge against Max Scherzer and visiting Washington. Just over a month after Scherzer no-hit the Pirates, Pittsburgh touched Washington's ace for five runs in five innings before putting it away against reliever Sammy Solis (1-1).

PHILLIES 5, CUBS 3 (10) Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run home run with two outs in the 10th inning and Philadelphia, which rallied in the ninth, beat host Chicago. Francoeur drove his game-winner deep into the bleachers in left field off Cubs reliever Rafael Soriano.

ROCKIES 6, REDS 5 Carlos Gonzalez homered twice, tying the game each time, and Charlie Blackmon scored on a wild pitch in the ninth inning to lift Colorado past visiting Cincinnati.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RAYS 3, ORIOLES 1 Tim Beckham snapped an eighth-inning tie with a two-out, bases-loaded single that gave host Tampa Bay a victory over Baltimore. The sputtering Rays rallied after being limited to two hits over seven innings by Orioles starter Chris Tillman, who came within six outs of winning his sixth consecutive decision before walking Kevin Kiermaier leading off the eighth.

WHITE SOX 6, INDIANS 0 Jose Quintana pitched a seven-hitter for his first career shutout and complete game and Jose Abreu homered off Corey Kluber, sending visiting Chicago to a victory over Cleveland. Abreu homered in the sixth off Kluber (5-11) and Melky Cabrera hit a two-run double in the eighth to make it 4-0.

RED SOX 2, TIGERS 1 (11) Xander Bogaerts' single up the middle off Blaine Hardy in the 11th inning drove home the winning run, and host Boston snapped an eight-game losing streak with a victory over Detroit. Hardy (3-2) gave up a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts, who moved to second on Brock Holt's sacrifice bunt. Bogaerts then sent a changeup into center field and Betts beat the throw home in a play that withstood a video review.

ASTROS 4, ROYALS 0 Scott Kazmir pitched seven strong innings in his Houston debut, leading the visiting Astros to a victory over Kansas City. Kazmir, 31, a left-hander, limited the Royals to three singles and only one runner -- Mike Moustakas in the fourth -- past first base.

TWINS 10, YANKEES 1 Phil Hughes pitched seven shutout innings against his former team and Miguel Sano hit one of host Minnesota's four home runs in the Twins' victory over New York. Trevor Plouffe went 3 for 4 with a home run and a double, and Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) and Brian Dozier also went deep for the Twins.

Sports on 07/25/2015

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