HOUSTON — Powered by a hitting display that produced five home runs, including back-to-back blasts in the third and fourth innings, the Houston Astros extended their winning streak to nine games with a win over the Seattle Mariners 11-4 in the American League Saturday. Evan Gattis, Colby Rasmus, Jose Altuve, Luis Valbuena and Hank Conger all went deep for the Astros (17-7), providing ample run support for right-hander Collin McHugh. The Mariners fell to 10-14. Yankees 4, Red Sox 2: Brett Gardner's fifth-inning double drove in two runs and the left fielder had three RBIs on the day as the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox. New York (15-9) won for the ninth time in its last 11 games and has taken the first two of a three-game weekend set against Boston (12-12), who will try to avoid a sweep Sunday. Orioles 4, Rays 0: Playing their second home game at Tropicana Field because of the rioting that occurred in Baltimore after the funeral of Freddie Gray, starter Miguel Gonzalez limited the Tampa Bay Rays to four hits in 7 2/3 innings to give Baltimore the win. After stranding two runners in the second inning, the Orioles (11-11) broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the third to take permanent control. Twins 5, White Sox 3: Torii Hunter had three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Minnesota Twins won over the Chicago White Sox. Hunter, the designated hitter, also scored a pair of runs as the Twins rallied from an early two-run deficit for their third consecutive victory and climbed to .500 for the first time this season. Minnesota (12-12) will go for the four-game sweep of Chicago Sunday. Other results: Blue Jays 11, Indians 4; Tigers 2, Royals 1; Rangers 8, Athletics 7 (10 innings). National League Cardinals 2, Pirates 1 (11 innings): Starter Francisco Liriano flirted with a no-hitter but all the Pittsburgh Pirates got in the end was another bitter extra-inning defeat. Stranding a whopping 18 men on base, Pittsburgh eventually paid the price when St Louis' Matt Carpenter delivered a sacrifice fly the scored in the bottom of the 11th. Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 4: Joc Pederson hit another home run and second baseman Howie Kendrick added a run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead a two-run rally that enabled the Los Angeles Dodgers to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4. Pederson is the first Dodgers (15-8) rookie to hit home runs in four consecutive games since Bill Sudakis in 1969, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Padres 4, Rockies 2: Brandon Morrow held Colorado to two runs in six innings and left fielder Justin Upton reversed a one-run deficit with a two-run single in the fifth as the San Diego Padres defeated the Rockies 4-2. Nationals 1, Mets 0: Left-hander Gio Gonzalez continued his mastery of the New York Mets when he earned the win with seven shutout innings in the Washington Nationals' victory. Other results: Brewers 6, Cubs 1; Reds 8, Braves 4; Marlins 7, Phillies 0. Inter-League Giants 5, Angels 4: Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey belted home runs to help right-hander Tim Hudson post his first win of the 2015 season in the San Francisco Giants' victory over the Los Angeles Angels. — Reuters
