HOUSTON: Houston’s Dallas Keuchel struck out a career-high 12 batters in his second shutout in less than a month to lead the Astros past the New York Yankees 4-0 on Thursday, extending their lead in the American League West division.
The Astros moved five games clear atop the AL West, while in the National League equivalent, the Los Angeles Dodgers maintained their one-game lead by beating the Chicago Cubs by the same 4-0 score-line while nearest rival San Francisco produced a rare extra-base hitting feat in defeating San Diego.
Houston’s Keuchel (9-3) walked one while topping his previous best of 11 strikeouts in a shutout over the Chicago White Sox on May 30.
Jose Altuve had three hits and scored three times for the Astros.
The Los Angeles Dodgers produced a road shutout to split the four-game series against the Cubs, for whom pitcher Jon Lester continued to struggle.
Lester (4-6) , who was signed to a $155 million, six-year contract, only last four innings in his shortest outing in more than three years, and saw his winless streak reach seven games. He allowed four runs and four walks.
Dodgers starter Carlos Frias (5-5) combined with four relievers to shut out the Cubs.
St. Louis’ Lance Lynn resumed from injury for his first outing in almost three weeks and pitched six scoreless innings to lead the Cardinals to a 5-1 win against Miami and a three-game sweep.
Lynn (5-4), who had been sidelined with a strained forearm, lowered his ERA to 2.84.
Backup infielder Pete Kozma, who came into the game hitless in his past 21 at-bats, singled three times, scored twice and drove in a run for only his second RBI this year as St. Louis moved a season-high 24 games above a .500 winning percentage, while Miami fell to a season-worst 14 games under .500.
San Francisco hit four triples in a game for the first time in 55 years and the Giants beat San Diego 13-8.
Brandon Belt had two of the triples and Brandon Crawford and Matt Duffy also sprinted to third for San Francisco, which last achieved the feat against Philadelphia in 1960, when Willie Mays hit three of them.
The last time they did it at home was in 1924 when they were based at New York’s Polo Grounds.
Washington’s Doug Fister got through seven scoreless innings in another superb outing by a Nationals starter as the hosts beat Atlanta 7-0 to notch their sixth straight win.
Fister (3-3), who made his second start since a stint on the sidelines with right forearm tightness, only issued one walk.
Washington’s rotation has thrown a franchise-record 41-1/3 consecutive scoreless innings over its past six games, the longest streak in the major leagues for seven years.
Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips led off the top of the 13th inning with a homer to give the Reds a 5-4 win against Pittsburgh.
Phillips, who sat out Wednesday’s game due to a thumb injury, jumped on a fastball from Rob Scahill (2-4).
Phillips had three of Cincinnati’s season-high 17 hits.
Oakland’s Sonny Gray won his fifth consecutive start at Texas as the Athletics won 6-3 to complete a three-game series sweep of the Rangers.
Baltimore’s Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer during a six-run fourth inning that carried the Orioles over Boston 8-6.
Chicago’s Carlos Sanchez hit a three-run triple off Joba Chamberlain in the 10th inning to give the White Sox an 8-7 win against Detroit.
Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki started a five-run eighth inning with his first career pinch-hit home run, and the Rockies beat Arizona 6-4.
New York’s Jacob deGrom pitched eight scoreless innings to guide the Mets to a 2-0 victory over Milwaukee, ending a seven-game losing skid.