INTERLEAGUE
NATIONALS 6, TWINS 5 (16)
WASHINGTON -- During a career that has spanned five decades, Dusty Baker was pressed to remember a baseball game as zany at this one.
"I feel like I just came out of The Twilight Zone," the Nationals' first-year manager said Sunday night after Washington spent nearly six hours crafting a 6-5, 16-inning victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Bryce Harper tied it with a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning, pitcher Oliver Perez put down a bunt in the 15th that kept the game going and Chris Heisey hit a home run in the 16th to end it.
At 5 hours, 56 minutes, it was the longest regular-season game in Nationals' history. By far one of the wildest, too.
"We've seen thousands of games. They always say, go to the ballpark and you may see something you haven't seen before," Baker said. "Well this, I certainly haven't seen anything like this. This was crazy."
The Nationals were down 5-4 in the 15th when Danny Espinosa drew a two-out walk and stole second. With no one else left to hit, Perez (1-0) batted for the first time since 2010 and bunted down the third base line. Catcher John Ryan Murphy picked up the ball but threw it wildly past first, allowing Espinosa to score.
Heisey then hit his home run off Michael Tonkin (1-1) to complete a three-game sweep.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
CUBS 9, REDS 0 Anthony Rizzo had a home run and drove in four runs, Jason Hammel pitched six sharp innings and visiting Chicago routed Cincinnati. The Cubs improved to 14-5 for the first time in 47 years. Tommy La Stella had a home run and doubled twice and Jason Heyward had four hits and three RBI.
METS 3, BRAVES 2 Jacob deGrom made a successful return to the mound after tending to his ill infant son and an injury, pitching visiting New York to a three-game sweep. Atlanta has lost five in a row. Back in the rotation after healing from a sore right lat muscle and seeing his son recover from a health concern, deGrom (2-0) gave up 1 run and 8 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
DODGERS 12, ROCKIES 10 Chase Utley drove in the go-ahead run with a double during visiting Los Angeles' five-run ninth to rally at Colorado. Trailing 10-7, the Dodgers lit up Rockies closer Jake McGee (0-1).
MARLINS 5, GIANTS 4 J.T. Realmuto matched his career high with four hits, including a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning as visiting Miami avoided a three-game sweep. Giancarlo Stanton also had a home run and reached base four times for the Marlins.
CARDINALS 8, PADRES 5 Jedd Gyorko hit a home run, tripled and singled, and rookie Aledmys Diaz had a home run among his three hits as visiting St. Louis rallied. Gyorko, traded from San Diego to the Cardinals in December, had two chances to complete the cycle but flied out and grounded out.
BREWERS 8, PHILLIES 5 Scooter Gennett and Alex Presley hit home runs in a six-run sixth inning, backing an encouraging outing by struggling starter Wily Peralta as host Milwaukee beat Philadelphia.
PIRATES 12, DIAMONDBACKS 10 (13) Arizona pitcher Shelby Miller played left field and chased after Sean Rodriguez's go-ahead double in the 13th inning before striking out to end the game, and visiting Pittsburgh beat Arizona. Miller had to play the outfield after shortstop Nick Ahmed was ejected in the 12th for arguing balls and strikes. Miller is the first Diamondback pitcher to play a position and the first major leaguer to do so since Jason Gurka played right field for the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 15.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RAYS 8, YANKEES 1 Steven Souza Jr. hit two home runs on his 27th birthday and visiting Tampa Bay went deep five times in all, giving Drew Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks) enough run support. New York star Alex Rodriguez hit an RBI double and later exited with stiffness on his left side.
INDIANS 6, TIGERS 3 Francisco Lindor got three hits and visiting Cleveland overcame an early injury to starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco. The Indians completed a three-game sweep. Detroit has lost four in a row.
BLUE JAYS 6, ATHLETICS 3 Jose Bautista hit a two-run home run, Ezequiel Carrera added a solo shot and host Toronto beat Oakland. Chris Coghlan, Khris Davis, and Josh Reddick each hit solo home runs for the Athletics.
ROYALS 8, ORIOLES 1 Yordano Ventura settled down after a shaky first inning, Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon had home runs and host Kansas City beat Baltimore. Ventura (2-0) allowed his lone run and two of his three hits in the first inning.
MARINERS 9, ANGELS 4 Wade Miley overcame a shaky first inning that included a home run by slumping Albert Pujols to post his first victory in a Seattle uniform. Kyle Seager, Leonys Martin and Seth Smith hit home runs for the visiting Mariners.
WHITE SOX 4, RANGERS 1 Mat Latos pitched six solid innings for his fourth consecutive victory and host Chicago swept Texas. Latos (4-0) was charged with one run and seven hits. T
Sports on 04/25/2016