Tanaka shines as Yanks dominate Cubs
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NEW YORK — Masahiro Tanaka allowed two bunt hits in eight dominant innings on a frigid Wednesday, Carlos Beltran homered for the third straight game and New York welcomed the Chicago Cubs to the current Yankee Stadium with a 3-0 victory in the opener of Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader. The Yankees also won via shutout in the second game, 2-0 as Michael Pineda fired six shutout frames allowing just four hits.
The 25-year-old Japanese right-hander Tanaka struck out 10 for his second straight start, this time while wearing three-quarter sleeves on a 43-degree day that felt much colder because of a brisk wind. Tanaka (2-0) gave up a replay-aided hit to Junior Lake in the second inning and Anthony Rizzo pushed a bunt toward a vacated third base with a shifted infield leading off the seventh.
Tanaka threw 107 pitches, and Shawn Kelley allowed a single to Rizzo as he finished the three-hitter for his fourth save.
In the nightcap, Brett Gardner and Scott Sizemore each had run-scoring hits to pace New York’s offense.
Orioles 3, Rays 0
BALTIMORE — Miguel Gonzalez and two relievers combined on a six-hitter, and the Baltimore Orioles capitalized on two infield singles by Adam Jones.
Nick Markakis also had two hits for the Orioles, who outscored the Rays 10-1 in the rain-abbreviated, two-game series. Baltimore has won five of seven to reach .500 (7-7) for the first time since the second game of the season.
Playing at designated hitter instead of center field after returning from an illness, Jones reached on a bunt in a’ two-run fourth inning and drove in a run with a 50-foot chop down the third-base line in the fifth.
Mets 5, Diamondbacks 2
PHOENIX — Dillon Gee allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings for the Mets, who completed a three-game sweep and sent the Diamondbacks to their sixth straight loss.
Arizona finished an 0-6 homestand and dropped to 1-11 at Chase Field. At 4-14, the Diamondbacks are off to their worst 18-game start.
Gee (1-0) retired his first 14 batters, struck out three, walked none and threw 72 pitches. He also had an RBI groundout.
Anthony Recker hit a solo homer off Brandon McCarthy. Two errors led to the final two Mets runs in the ninth.
Reds 4, Pirates 0
CINCINNATI — Johnny Cueto pitched his third career shutout against the team that beat him in the playoffs, and Joey Votto hit a two-run homer to led the Reds.
Cueto (1-2) had his way with the lineup that beat him 6-2 in the NL wild card playoff at PNC Park last year. He limited the Pirates to three hits and struck out a career-high 12 during his first shutout since 2011.
Several Pirates questioned called third strikes by Quinn Wolcott, a Triple-A umpire called up to the majors. Eight of Cueto’s strikeouts were called.
Brewers 5, Cardinals 1
MILWAUKEE — Wily Peralta allowed one run in 6 1-3 innings and the Brewers turned two errors into four unearned runs to end a two-game losing streak.
Milwaukee, which came into the series with a nine-game winning streak, salvaged the finale of the three-game set.
Braves 1, Phillies 0
PHILADELPHIA — Julio Teheran pitched a three-hitter and Evan Gattis homered among a career-best four hits as the Braves won.
Teheran (3-1) retired his first 12 batters before Ryan Howard led off the bottom of the fifth with an infield single. The 23-year-old righty struck out four and got 14 outs on flyballs in his first complete game in 38 career starts. He became the ninth Braves starter in the first 14 games this year to allow one run or none.
Philadelphia wasted an excellent outing by Cliff Lee (2-2). The ace left-hander struck out 13 and pitched around 11 hits, throwing a career-high 128 pitches.
Nationals 6, Marlins 3
MIAMI — Jayson Werth’s homer scored three unearned runs against Jose Fernandez and led Washington’s rally.
Two errors in the sixth inning by Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia helped the Nationals overcome a 3-0 deficit. Pinch-hitter Zach Walters broke a tie in the eighth inning against Mike Dunn (0-2) with his second career homer — and his second in as many nights.
The Nationals took the rubber game of the three-game series despite being without four starters, including Bryce Harper, a late scratch because of a tight left quadriceps.
