The Boston Red Sox defeated Seattle Mariners 14-10 in a thrilling Friday clash, prevailing after scoring eight runs in their last three innings.
J.D. Martinez led Boston with four hits, three runs scored, a home run (23) and five RBIs to take his total to 60 for the season.
The game which featured 24 runs, 34 hits and plenty of lead changes marked the first time players on opposing teams had four hits and at least five RBIs in the same game since May 19, 1999 (Dante Bichette for the Colorado Rockies, and Sean Casey and Jeffrey Hammonds did it for the Cincinnati Reds).
Nelson Cruz led the Mariners with four hits, two home runs (20) and seven RBIs. The ageless slugger now has 48 RBIs as he continues to pounce on opposition pitching.
Red Sox starter Steven Wright lasted just 3 1/3 innings after being touched up for 10 earned runs off 10 hits and two walks. He somehow avoided the loss and still has a respectable 3.38 ERA this season.
Wade LeBlanc started for the Mariners but allowed six runs off 11 hits in a game where fans of pitcher's duels wouldn't have had much joy.
The win helped Boston move just one game behind the New York Yankees atop the American League East standings.
BIEBER FEVER HITS CLEVELAND
Shane Bieber, 23, tossed seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 10-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Diamondbacks shortstop Ketel Marte singled to centre in the 13th inning to help Arizona defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1. Neither team scored for 10 innings, but Arizona and Pittsburgh each managed to push a run across in the 11th to keep the game going. Marte's only hit of the game broke the deadlock, which made sure the Diamondbacks left with a win.
Athletics second baseman Franklin Barreto, 22, crushed two three-run home runs to lead Oakland to an 11-2 win over the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of their doubleheader.
ROARK RECORD PLUMMETS
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark allowed six earned runs off seven hits and four walks in a 12-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Roark fell to 3-8 on the season with a 4.27 ERA, while also giving NL-East rivals the Phillies a confidence boost.
FRIDAY'S RESULTS
Oakland Athletics 11-2 Chicago White Sox
Philadelphia Phillies 12-2 Washington Nationals
Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 Pittsburgh Pirates
LA Dodgers 5-2 New York Mets
Cincinnati Reds 6-3 Chicago Cubs
Boston Red Sox 14-10 Seattle Mariners
Cleveland Indians 10-0 Detroit Tigers
Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 New York Yankees
Baltimore Orioles 10-7 Atlanta Braves
Texas Rangers 8-1 Minnesota Twins
Kansas City Royals 1-0 Houston Astros
Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 St. Louis Cardinals
Chicago White Sox 6-4 Oakland Athletics
Colorado Rockies 11-3 Miami Marlins
LA Angels 2-1 Toronto Blue Jays
San Diego Padres 6-2 San Francisco Giants
PHILLIES AT NATIONALS
Phillies ace Aaron Nola (8-2, 2.55 ERA) is enjoying a breakout season and will try to continue his dominance against Erick Fedde (0-2, 5.63 ERA) and the Nationals. Both teams remain in the playoff hunt and are linked with big potential big trades before the July 31 trade deadline. Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera will look to hit a home run in a sixth straight game.