PHOENIX (AP) — Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw six scoreless innings, rookie Andy Pages hit a two-run homer as part of a five-run second inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 on Wednesday night.

Yamamoto (3-1) continues to pitch well in his first big-league season after signing a $325 million, 12-year deal during the offseason. The Japanese star was roughed up in his first outing on March 21 in South Korea, but has been much better over his past six starts and now has a 2.91 ERA.

The righty gave up five hits and two walks, striking out five.

“I think I’m able to keep myself very calm and that’s one of the biggest reason I’m able to execute my pitches,” Yamamoto said through a translator.

Pages worked a full count against Arizona’s Jordan Montgomery before hammering his 429-foot homer to deep left-center for a 2-0 lead in the second. He’s on an eight-game hitting streak and has 10 RBIs in 14 games.

Austin Barnes ripped an RBI double and Mookie Betts followed with a two-run single for a 5-0 lead. Will Smith hit a solo homer — his second of the series — to push the advantage to 6-0 in the third.

Betts had three hits while Miguel Rojas added two. The Dodgers have won eight of their past 10 and took two of three games in the series.

“We had a really good plan,” Rojas said. “The offense has been having great at-bats, regardless of the results.”

Montgomery’s start was pushed back one day after the beginning of Tuesday’s game was delayed nearly two hours because of a bee infestation. The extra day of rest didn’t help the lefty, who gave up six runs on six hits and three walks over three innings.

“I’m not going to make any excuses,” Montgomery said. “Today was my day to take the ball. Yesterday was, but it didn’t work. I was excited to get out there today and I just really didn’t have good stuff.”

Montgomery (1-2) struck out one.

D-backs lefty Blake Walston gave up two runs over 3 2/3 innings of relief in his big league debut. He was a first-round selection by the franchise in the 2019 draft.

D-backs manager Torey Lovullo was frustrated that the pitching staff gave up eight walks.

“The recipe is simple, you’ve got to put the ball on the plate,” Lovullo said. “I think it was eight or nine walks today. When you have the amount of walks against any team, not just the one we’re playing today, that many baserunners, there going to get you.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: C Gabriel Moreno was a late scratch after feeling the effects of some dental work done earlier Wednesday. … RHP Zac Gallen won’t pitch on Friday as originally scheduled. He left his last outing with a hamstring cramp and the D-backs are giving him extra rest. Lovullo said the plan is to pitch him Tuesday.

Dodgers: DH Shohei Ohtani had a regularly scheduled day off.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: Return home for a three-game series with the Braves on Friday. Los Angeles will start RHP Gavin Stone (2-1, 4.68 ERA) in the opener while the Braves counter with RHP Charlie Morton (2-0, 3.60 ERA)

Diamondbacks: Host a three-game series with the Padres on Friday. RHP Slade Cecconi (1-1, 2.25 ERA) will start the first game.

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AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/MLB

(Reuters) – American super lightweight boxer Ryan Garcia has denied taking a banned performance-enhancing substance before his victory over WBC world champion Devin Haney in New York last month.

ESPN, citing a leaked letter from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), reported on Wednesday that Garcia had tested positive for ostarine on the day before and day of the fight.

Garcia addressed the report in a video posted on X.

“Everybody knows that I don’t cheat,” the 25-year-old said.

“Never taken a steroid. … I don’t even know where to get steroids at the end of the day, I barely take supplements. Big lies …”

Garcia floored Haney three times on the way to a majority decision at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to hand his rival the first defeat of his professional career. He missed weight so was unable to claim the title.

Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator which produces similar results to anabolic steroids, allowing athletes to increase muscle mass, stamina and fitness. It is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

VADA, an independent agency based in Las Vegas that runs testing mostly for boxing and mixed martial arts, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)

Rookie Shota Imanaga had another strong start and Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the fifth inning Wednesday night as the visiting Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 1-0.

Nico Hoerner had two hits and a stolen base for the Cubs, who have won two of the first three games of the four-game series. Jeff McNeil collected a pair of hits for the Mets, who have lost seven of 10.

Imanaga (5-0) gave up three hits and one walk while striking out seven over seven scoreless innings. The seven innings are a career high for Imanaga, who lowered his ERA from 0.98 to 0.78.

Imanaga entered the game as the first starting pitcher to begin his career with a 4-0 record or better and an ERA below 1.00 in his first five starts since Dave Ferriss (5-0 with a 0.60 ERA) for the Boston Red Sox in 1945.

Twins 9, White Sox 5

Jose Miranda and Willi Castro had three hits apiece and Alex Kirilloff homered as Minnesota defeated host Chicago, extending its winning streak to 10 games.

Ryan Jeffers’ two-run double punctuated the Twins’ four-run ninth. His two RBIs matched Miranda for the team high. Tommy Pham homered, doubled and drove in two runs, and Robbie Grossman doubled twice to keep Chicago afloat before bullpen woes took a toll. The Twins scored six runs in the seventh inning or later.

Twins starter Bailey Ober (3-1) worked six innings, allowing four runs and six hits while striking out three. White Sox reliever Dominic Leone (0-1) took the loss after yielding two runs in two-thirds of an inning with two walks and two strikeouts.

Tigers 4, Cardinals 1

Matt Vierling belted a two-run home run as part of a three-RBI performance and host Detroit defeated St. Louis.

Colt Keith added an RBI double for the Tigers. Kenta Maeda (1-1) gave up one run on four hits in six innings for his first win with Detroit.

Willson Contreras accounted for St. Louis’ lone run with a home run. Starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (2-4) gave up three runs and six hits in six innings. The Cardinals have lost three of their past four games.

Brewers 7, Rays 1

Willy Adames belted two home runs and drove in four runs and Colin Rea pitched six shutout innings as host Milwaukee defeated Tampa Bay in the final meeting of a three-game series.

Adames, who also homered in Tuesday’s win, stayed hot at the plate with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth inning and a three-run home run in the seventh. The Rays were unable to crack Rea (3-0), as the Brewers’ starting pitcher limited them to four hits and two walks while striking out five batters.

Tampa Bay has lost five of its past six games. Starter Zach Eflin (1-4) was relieved midway through the sixth inning after Adames had his first home run of the day. Eflin allowed three earned runs on six hits and struck out six batters.

Royals 6, Blue Jays 1

Michael Massey hit a three-run homer, right-hander Seth Lugo allowed two hits over seven innings and visiting Kansas City defeated Toronto.

Danny Jansen hit a solo home run for the Blue Jays in the rubber match of the three-game series. The Royals took the season series between the teams, 5-2.

Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (2-5) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings. He also hit a batter but did not allow a hit until Kansas City put together a three-run sixth. Lugo (5-1) allowed one run, walked two and fanned eight.

Athletics 4, Pirates 0

Ross Stripling won for the first time since 2022, Abraham Toro and Tyler Nevin hit home runs and Oakland completed a three-game sweep of visiting Pittsburgh.

T.J. McFarland, Austin Adams, Dany Jimenez, Michael Kelly and Mason Miller extended the Oakland bullpen’s run of consecutive scoreless innings to 27 1/3 with three more, capping a four-hit effort that produced the A’s season-best fourth straight win.

Stripling (1-5), who entered the game 0-5 after having gone 0-5 for the San Francisco Giants in 2023, worked six innings, allowing three hits and no walks. Pirates starter Quinn Priester went six innings, charged with three runs (two earned) on five hits.

Phillies 2, Angels 1

Kyle Schwarber had two singles and two RBIs to lift Philadelphia past Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.

Whit Merrifield added two hits for the Phillies, who won despite striking out 18 times. Starter Zack Wheeler (3-3) tossed five innings and allowed five hits, one run and one walk with six strikeouts. Gregory Soto threw a scoreless ninth for his second save.

Ehire Adrianza hit a solo home run for the Angels in the second. Taylor Ward, Luis Rengifo, Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel had two hits each. Starter Patrick Sandoval (1-5) gave up four hits and two runs with 10 strikeouts and two walks in five innings.

Red Sox 6, Giants 2

Kutter Crawford threw a career-high seven innings and Connor Wong went 3-for-4 with two doubles as host Boston eased past San Francisco.

Three two-out RBIs, including Jarren Duran’s run-scoring triple in the fourth inning, helped Boston to its fourth straight win and second to begin the three-game series. Crawford (2-1) held up his end on the mound, striking out six while allowing two runs on four hits.

For the Giants, Tom Murphy’s solo home run in the third opened the scoring, while Mike Yastrzemski had the only other RBI.

Braves 5, Mariners 2

Austin Riley hit a two-run triple and Chris Sale allowed one run over five innings as Atlanta salvaged the finale of a three-game series at Seattle.

Riley and Ronald Acuna Jr. each had two hits for the Braves, who snapped their first two-game losing streak of the season. Sale (4-1) gave up six hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out nine.

Julio Rodriguez had three hits, including a double, and Jorge Polanco had two RBIs for the Mariners, who lost for just the fourth time in their past 15 games.

Yankees 2, Orioles 0

Luis Gil pitched 6 1/3 innings and Oswaldo Cabrera hit a two-run home run as New York beat host Baltimore.

Caleb Ferguson, Ian Hamilton and Clay Holmes worked out of the bullpen to secure the Yankees’ second shutout win of the season. Holmes logged 1 2/3 innings for this 10th save.

Orioles starter Corbin Burnes (3-1) worked six innings, allowing both runs and four hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

Padres 6, Reds 2

Jake Cronenworth hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the seventh inning to help San Diego win the rubber contest of the three-game series against visiting Cincinnati.

Jurickson Profar went 4-for-4 in the leadoff spot with two RBIs and a run scored for the Padres, who beat the Reds on Tuesday to snap a five-game skid. Joe Musgrove allowed two runs and four hits in six innings, striking out a season-high nine.

Spencer Steer homered and right-hander Graham Ashcraft allowed two runs, both unearned, and five hits in six innings for the Reds.

Marlins 4, Rockies 1

Emmanuel Rivera had two hits and scored twice and host Miami beat Colorado to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

Roddery Munoz (1-0) tossed six strong innings to earn his first major league victory and Anthony Maldonado got the final three outs of the contest for his first save of the season for the Marlins.

Elias Diaz had the only RBI for Colorado, which has yet to put together a winning streak this season. The Rockies have trailed in each of their first 30 games of the campaign, a feat no team has ever accomplished before in league history.

Nationals 1, Rangers 0

Trevor Williams and four relievers combined on a six-hit shutout as visiting Washington beat Texas.

Williams (3-0) pitched five scoreless innings despite allowing five hits with four walks and three strikeouts for the Nationals. Derek Law, Dylan Floro and Hunter Harvey combined for three scoreless innings before Kyle Finnegan struck out the side in the ninth for his 10th save.

Texas outhit the Nationals 6-5 but was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Rangers stranded 11 baserunners and were shut out for the third time this season.

Guardians 3, Astros 2 (10 innings)

Steven Kwan hit an RBI double in the top of the 10th inning before Emmanuel Clase recorded his ninth save as visiting Cleveland beat Houston.

Kwan finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs for the Guardians. He followed a leadoff walk from Brayan Rocchio with a double to left field off Astros reliever Shawn Dubin (0-1) that scored automatic runner Gabrial Arias with the go-ahead run. Rocchio finished 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.

Justin Verlander allowed two runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts in seven innings for the Astros.

Dodgers 8, Diamondbacks 0

Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw six scoreless innings to help lead Los Angeles past Arizona in Phoenix.

Yamamoto (3-1) gave up five hits and two walks while striking out five. Mookie Betts went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs while Andy Pages and Will Smith homered for the Dodgers, who have won eight of their past 10 games.

Diamondbacks starter Jordan Montgomery (1-2) allowed six runs on six hits in three innings.

–Field Level Media

HOUSTON (AP) — Steven Kwan gave Cleveland the lead with his RBI double in the 10th inning and made a diving catch to start a double play in the bottom of the inning to lead the Guardians to a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.

Shawn Dubin (0-1) walked Brayan Rocchio to start the 10th before Kwan doubled down the left field line to score the automatic runner and put the Guardians on top 3-2.

Cade Smith (1-0) got the last two outs of the ninth for the win and closer Emmanuel Clase pitched a perfect 10th for his ninth save.

There was one out in the 10th when Mauricio Dubón hit a fly ball into shallow left field where Kwan made a diving catch before throwing to second to retire the automatic runner and end the game.

Manager Stephen Vogt raved about Kwan, who is a two-time Gold Glove award winner.

“Kwan has come through for us over and over,” Vogt said. “He gets us started and tonight getting the huge hit and then obviously the play to end it, there’s gold out there for a reason. That’s beautiful.”

Kwan singled in the first inning and had an RBI triple in the fifth inning to finish a home run shy of the cycle and end Cleveland’s two-game skid.

He leads the majors with seven three-hit games and is first in the American League with 45 hits. He’s the fifth player in franchise history with at least seven three-hit games through the first 30 games and the first since Lyn Lary had 10 in 1937.

Kwan was asked which he enjoyed more Wednesday, his work at the plate or in the field.

“The defense is probably really good,” he said. “Just the work that I put in day in and day out with that and to kind of see some results with that, it feels really good.”

It was the fourth straight extra-inning game for the Guardians, matching a franchise record set in 1910. Cleveland’s seven extra-inning games this season leads the majors and is the second-most through 30 games in team history, behind the 1910 team.

Houston won the series opener 10-9 in 10 innings Tuesday in a game where closer Josh Hader pitched two innings, making him unavailable Wednesday.

Will Brennan homered for the Guardians and David Fry added two hits.

Kyle Tucker tied it with a solo homer in the seventh and Dubón doubled twice for the Astros, who had won three in a row.

Cleveland starter Triston McKenzie allowed five hits and two runs with six strikeouts in seven innings. It was his longest outing since 2022 after the 26-year-old was limited to just four starts last season because of shoulder and elbow injuries.

Justin Verlander yielded six hits and two runs with three walks in seven innings in his third start this season.

“That’s a great performance,” manager Joe Espada said. “We needed him to go deep in the game and he did just that. Gave us a chance to win the game and that’s Justin Verlander at his best right there.”

Brennan put the Guardians up 1-0 when he homered to open the fifth inning. Rocchio drew a two-out walk before scoring when Kwan tripled for the second straight game making it 2-0.

Rocchio slid into home safely just before catcher Victor Caratini could get the tag down.

Dubón doubled down the left field line with one out in the sixth. The Astros cut the lead to 2-1 when he scored on Jose Altuve’s single.

Tucker tied it at 2-2 when he sent McKenzie’s third pitch of the seventh inning to the second deck in right field for his eighth homer this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Guardians: RHP Eli Morgan (right shoulder inflammation) will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Columbus this weekend.

Astros: OF Chas McCormick was placed on the injured list with discomfort in his right hamstring Wednesday and INF Jacob Amaya was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to take his roster spot. … RHP Cristian Javier (neck discomfort), who was scratched from his scheduled start April 21, threw a bullpen Wednesday and manager Joe Espada said he could come off the injured list this weekend. … RHP José Urquidy, who hasn’t pitched this season because of an elbow injury, threw around 20 pitches in live batting practice Wednesday. Espada said he’ll likely begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment after throwing live batting practice once more.

UP NEXT

Houston RHP Spencer Arrighetti (0-3, 10.37 ERA) opposes LHP Logan Allen (3-1, 5.46) in the series finale Thursday night.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Trevor Williams escaped two bases-loaded, none-out jams while pitching five scoreless innings, four relievers finished off Washington’s shutout and Alex Call singled home the game’s only run as the Nationals beat the Texas Rangers 1-0 on Wednesday night.

Washington (15-15) recorded its third shutout of the season, all since April 17, and has a chance to move above .500 for the first time since July 1, 2021.

After allowing three consecutive singles to open Texas’ second inning, Williams (3-0) recorded three outs on eight pitches.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Rangers again in the fifth. Williams again got the first out on a force at the plate. He then struck out Adolis García, who entered hitting .423 with runners in scoring position, and retired Evan Carter on popup to shallow center.

“Believe it or not, I’ve been there before,” Williams said. “Your thought process is one pitch at a time. You just trust that as a pitcher no matter what, you have the advantage.”

Call hit a sharp single to left field in the second against Andrew Heaney (0-4) to score Ildemaro Vargas, who preceded him with a one-out double off the wall in left-center. Call was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday when Joey Gallo was placed on the 10-day injured list.

Derek Law, Dylan Floro and Hunter Harvey followed Williams before Kyle Finnegan struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.

The game ended on a swinging strike three by Corey Seager, his bat flying toward Texas’ dugout. Seager, last year’s World Series MVP, went 0 for 4 and is 3 for 37 in his last 10 games lowering his batting average to .227.

The Nats left one on base. Vargas’ double was the game’s only extra-base hit.

It was the defending World Series champions’ second 1-0 loss this season, the other against Oakland on April 11, also at home.

García also struck out with runners on first and second to end the seventh.

The Rangers (16-15) were 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.

“We just couldn’t get the hit, and we couldn’t get a productive out there,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “You’re not going to see that very often when you create that many opportunities.”

Williams is 3-0 for the first time since 2018, when he finished with a career-high 14 wins for Pittsburgh. He struck out three and walked four.

Williams continued his streak of not allowing a home run this season against a Texas team that had hit multiple homers in its previous six games. He gave up a career-high 34 homers last season.

Heaney pitched a season-high seven innings, allowing one run on four hits. He walked none and struck out four while losing his first four decisions for the first time in his career.

Texas’ Josh Smith extended his on-base streak to 18 games with a first-inning single.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: OF Victor Robles (left hamstring strain) went 1 for 3 during a rehab start for Rochester.

Rangers: There’s still no date for RHP Max Scherzer’s second rehab start after he was scratched from one Tuesday with a sore thumb.

UP NEXT

Thursday’s series finale will match Nationals rookie LHP Mitchell Parker (2-0, 1.69 ERA) against Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-2, 3.00).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

NEW YORK (AP) — Ian Happ, Nick Madrigal and Miguel Amaya teamed up for the game-ending double play Wednesday night, preserving the win for sensational rookie Shota Imanaga after he threw seven scoreless innings in the Chicago Cubs’ 1-0 victory over the New York Mets.

Hector Neris, who notched his fifth save, hit Pete Alonso with one out in the ninth and gave up a double to J.D. Martinez before Jeff McNeil flew out to Happ in left field. Alonso tagged up and raced home, but Madrigal — inserted at third base as a defensive replacement for Christopher Morel in the eighth — cut off Happ’s throw and whirled as he fired home to Amaya.

Alonso beat the throw, but Amaya had his foot on the plate and Alonso didn’t get his arm around the catcher.

“I thought we made a great play,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “Ian made a good throw to Nick and Nick put a throw right on the money. Just good wherewithal by both guys to do it as fast as they did and as accurately as they could. And a great tag by Miggy.”

The Mets challenged the play, but after a review of more than four minutes, umpire Derek Thomas — the replay official at the Replay Center in New York — determined Amaya did not violate the home plate collision rule and could not “… definitely determine that (Alonso) contacted home plate” before Amaya made the tag.

“A roller coaster of emotions overall, but happy it worked out for us,” Madrigal said.

The Cubs resumed celebrating once crew chief Chad Fairchild announced the call was upheld.

“Amazing,” Amaya said. “An electric end for us.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza argued with Fairchild.

“I think they got the wrong call,” Mendoza said. “Without possession of the baseball, he cannot be in front of the plate, straddle the plate or have his foot on top of the plate. Clearly, on the replay, that wasn’t the case. He was blocking without possession of the baseball.”

Imanaga (5-0) allowed three hits and walked one with seven strikeouts to lower his ERA to 0.78 — the fourth-lowest mark by a pitcher through his first six career starts since earned runs became official in both leagues in 1913.

“I think personally there’s probably not that much data on me,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “As they watch more video, they’re gathering more data, they’re going to have a plan for attack against me. So once that happens, just need to make an adjustment and then I need to prove myself.”

The Mets got two on against Mark Leiter Jr. in the eighth before Yency Almonte struck out Tyrone Taylor and Starling Marte.

Former Mets farmhand Pete Crow-Armstrong — who was dealt to Chicago for Javier Báez at the 2021 trade deadline — had a sacrifice fly in the fifth, four pitches after his bat flew out of his hands and landed in the netting above the home dugout when he missed an offering from New York starter Jose Butto. The bat was retrieved by Citi Field security immediately after the sacrifice fly that drove in Matt Mervis.

Butto (0-2) gave up four hits in six innings for the Mets, whose starting pitchers have posted a 1.33 ERA in the last four games. He struck out six.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Justin Steele (left hamstring strain), who was injured Opening Day, began a rehab assignment Wednesday, when he allowed three runs over 3 1/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa. Manager Craig Counsell said he wasn’t sure if Steele would make another rehab start before rejoining the major league team. … RHP Kyle Hendricks (lower back strain) is scheduled to start and throw 75-80 pitches Thursday for Double-A Tennessee.

Mets: SS Francisco Lindor (flu-like symptoms) was 0 for 1 before exiting after the second inning. Lindor has missed just three out of a possible 354 games since the start of 2022. … Marte, who didn’t play Tuesday after being activated from the bereavement list, went 0 for 4 in his first action since Friday. … RHP Kodai Senga (shoulder) felt good after throwing live batting practice Monday and is slated to do so again Saturday

UP NEXT

The four-game series concludes Thursday when Mets RHP Adrian Houser (0-3, 8.37 ERA) opposes Cubs RHP Ben Brown (0-1, 4.30 ERA).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

BOSTON (AP) — Kutter Crawford pitched a career-high seven innings, Connor Wong had three hits and the Boston Red Sox beat the San Francisco Giants 6-2 on Wednesday night.

Crawford (2-1) allowed two runs on four hits — including a home run — and two walks with six strikeouts as the Red Sox won their fourth straight.

“That was good,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Crawford’s outing. “He worked hard in the offseason to get to this point. Big strikeout to end the sixth. Good stuff, good fastball. He earned the right to go out there and try to get three outs.

“Very proud of him. He’s been awesome, absolutely great. He got hit hard in the middle of the game, but that’s part of it, right? He threw a lot of strikes with good stuff and he maintained his stuff throughout the outing.”

The right-hander’s previous career high was 6 1/3 innings on April 17, 2023, against the Los Angeles Angels.

“Really satisfying,” Crawford said. “I can’t think of a better feeling than to get through seven, give your team the best chance to win and help the bullpen out while you’re at it.”

Chris Martin and Greg Weissert each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Boston.

Wong was 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Jarren Duran also reached base three times for Boston, with two walks and his fourth triple of the season.

Daulton Jefferies (0-2) pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts for San Francisco. He lowered his ERA from 22.50 to 17.36.

“He’s getting behind some guys,” said Giants manager Bob Melvin. “He’s normally a strike thrower. He walked a couple and gave up some hits, but got behind in some counts. And, as you saw, he was missing low with quite a few pitches and took a little while to find the strike zone and when he did, he was behind and they got some good swings off him.”

The Red Sox scored two runs in the third when Ceddanne Rafaela singled, Duran walked and Rafael Devers hit an RBI double. Rob Refsnyder then grounded out, scoring Duran.

Boston added two runs in the fourth when Wong led off with a double and scored on Enmanuel Valdez’s double. Duran’s stand-up triple scored Valdez.

Dom Smith, whom the Red Sox signed just before the game after he was released by Tampa Bay on Tuesday, had an RBI single in the fifth.

Tom Murphy led off the third with his first home run of the season, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Erik Miller, taking the rotation spot of left-hander Blake Snell, on the injured list with a left adductor strain, went one scoreless inning with two walks and a strikeout.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: LHP Blake Snell, out since April 23 with a left adductor strain, threw a bullpen session on Wednesday.

Red Sox: RHP Nick Pivetta, out since April 6 with a right elbow flexor strain, is expected to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday. … 2B Vaughn Grissom, out all season with a left hamstring strain, could rejoin the team on Friday, manager Alex Cora said. … INF Romy Gonzalez, out since April 11 with a left wrist sprain, could begin a rehab assignment Thursday or Friday.

UP NEXT

LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, 4.09 ERA) is scheduled to start for San Francisco, his first career appearance against Boston. RHP Josh Winckowski (1-1, 3.50) will start for Boston. He has two career appearances against the Giants, spanning 2 2/3 innings, with no decisions and a 3.38 ERA.

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AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/MLB

MIAMI (AP) — Roddery Muñoz pitched six strong innings to get his first major league win and the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Making his second major league start, the 24-year-old Muñoz (1-0) gave up one run and three hits while striking out seven and walking two. After allowing two base runners in the first, Muñoz retired 11 straight before Elehuris Montero’s one-out single in the fifth.

“This is something I have always dreamed of and thank God, I am accomplishing it,” Muñoz said in Spanish. “It is very emotional not only for me but my family.”

Muñoz also had a solid debut, when he allowed two runs in five innings against the Chicago Cubs on April 20 but was optioned to Triple-A after his outing. He was recalled by the Marlins on Tuesday.

“That is normal, one knows how this works,” Muñoz said. “What you do is work even harder to return here.”

Emmanuel Rivera singled twice, walked and was hit by a pitch, while Luis Arraez and Bryan De La Cruz each drove in a run for the Marlins, who won their first series of the season. Dane Myers drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single in the eighth and has five RBIs over the last two games.

“We have a good group of guys, good ball players,” Rivera said. “We go out every time to try to win. Obviously, it is not always going to happen but we always come with that winning mentality.”

The Rockies are the first team since 1900 to have trailed at one point in each of their first 30 games. They lost their fourth straight since scoring six in the eighth and rallying from a five-run deficit to beat San Diego 10-9 April 25.

“We’ve got to keep on fighting,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “I think the youth on this team is being served. They’re learning and they learn that it’s hard in the big leagues with big league pitching. “

Arraez hit a two-out RBI single against Rockies starter Dakota Hudson and scored on De La Cruz’s double to put Miami ahead 2-0 in the fifth.

Elias Díaz’s run-scoring grounder in the sixth got the Rockies to 2-1 after Muñoz walked Brenton Doyle and allowed Ryan McMahon’s double.

Bryan Hoeing relieved Muñoz and got the next five outs. Tanner Scott completed the eighth and Anthony Maldonado closed with a perfect ninth for his first major league save.

“Some really good wins the last couple and it started with the starting pitching,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “Roddery was amazing today. The slider was real. The fastball command was great. Excellent job by Roddery.”

Hudson (0-5) allowed two runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander walked two, struck out two and hit a batter.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland (left elbow strain) is improving and could progress to a throwing session soon.

Marlins: SS Tim Anderson (mild left thumb sprain) was scratched from the original lineup as a precaution. Anderson didn’t start Tuesday but entered as the automatic runner in the 10th inning and scored the tying run in Miami’s 7-6 win.

UP NEXT

RHP Peter Lambert (2-1, 4.67) will start the series finale for the Rockies on Thursday while the Marlins will go with RHP Edward Cabrera (1-1, 5.28).

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AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/MLB

BALTIMORE (AP) — Luis Gil outdueled Corbin Burnes, Oswaldo Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning and the New York Yankees topped the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Gil (2-1) allowed two hits and a walk over a career-high 6 1/3 innings in another low-scoring game between the top two teams in the AL East. Baltimore began this four-game series with victories of 2-0 and 4-2, but Gil’s performance helped the Yankees ensure they weren’t swept.

“Any time he goes out there he’s usually got some overwhelming stuff and the ability to do what he did tonight,” manager Aaron Boone said. “What a great tone he set for us. He’s got some poison coming out there at you.”

The game was significant enough that New York used closer Clay Holmes for the final five outs in his longest outing of the season. He struck out Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman with two on to end the eighth, then pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.

The teams are back in a virtual tie for first place, with the Orioles (19-11) percentage points ahead of New York (20-12).

Gil allowed five runs in five innings in his previous start at Milwaukee, but he rebounded against a talented Baltimore lineup. He struck out five and never allowed anyone past first base.

“Making sure that I threw strikes — it was a main point of work for me — even going back to spring training,” Gil said through a translator. “We knew that I needed to be more consistent in the strike zone.”

Burnes (3-1) permitted two runs and four hits, striking out six with one walk in his first loss since being traded from Milwaukee to Baltimore this past offseason. The game’s only scoring came when Cabrera’s line drive down the line in right field barely cleared the wall and stayed fair. The homer was upheld after a short review — the ball was sitting inside the foul pole afterward.

Caleb Ferguson struck out his only two batters in the seventh after relieving Gil. Ian Hamilton started the eighth by issuing a walk and then hitting a batter. After Hamilton retired pinch-hitter Anthony Santander on a foul pop, Holmes entered to face the top of the Baltimore order.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: Boone said RHP Gerrit Cole (right elbow) had a “pretty heavy throwing day” Tuesday but was not on the mound. “It sounds like that went well,” Boone said. … Boone said OF Alex Verdugo might be back Thursday after going on the paternity list.

Orioles: Baltimore put RHP Grayson Rodriguez (right shoulder) on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Tuesday and activated LHP John Means (left forearm) from the IL.

UP NEXT

The Orioles did not announce a starter for Thursday’s series finale. LHP Carlos Rodón (2-1) takes the mound for the Yankees.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears’ proposal to fund a new lakefront stadium remains a “non-starter,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office said after top aides met with team officials on Wednesday.

The Bears unveiled a nearly $5 billion plan calling for public funding last week for an enclosed facility to be built next to their longtime home at Soldier Field. Though the governor did not rule out more discussions, the team clearly is facing an uphill battle.

“As the Governor has said, the current proposal is a non-starter for the state,” press secretary Alex Gough said in a statement. “In order to subsidize a brand new stadium for a privately owned sports team, the Governor would need to see a demonstrable and tangible benefit to the taxpayers of Illinois. The Governor’s office remains open to conversations with the Bears, lawmakers, and other stakeholders with the understanding that responsible fiscal stewardship of tax-payer dollars remains the foremost priority.”

Pritzker’s chief of staff Anne Caprara and deputy governor Andy Manar met with the Bears, who called it “a productive conversation.”

“We share a commitment to protecting the taxpayers of Illinois and look forward to further discussions,” the team added.

The Bears’ plan calls for $3.2 billion for the new stadium plus an additional $1.5 billion in infrastructure. The team and the city said the project would add green and open space while improving access to the city’s Museum Campus.

The proposal calls for $2.025 billion from the Bears, $300 million from an NFL loan and $900 million in bonds from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. The funding from the ISFA would involve extending bonds of the existing 2% hotel tax.

Mayor Brandon Johnson gave a full-throated endorsement last week, saying the project is in line with Daniel Burnham’s “Plan of Chicago.” He said there would be no tax hikes or new taxes for Chicago residents. But Pritzker and other state legislators are skeptical of the plan.

The Bears spent $197.2 million more than a year ago to purchase the site of the shuttered Arlington International Racecourse from Churchill Downs Inc. They envisioned building a stadium on the 326-acre tract of land some 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field, with restaurants, retail and more on the property — all for about $5 billion, with some taxpayer help.

The Bears had said they would pay for the stadium in Arlington Heights, with taxpayer dollars covering infrastructure costs such as roads and sewers. Those plans stalled, with the team citing a property assessment it said was too high.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl