Aug 11, 2018 4 min read

Ryan Zimmerman hit two home runs off a shaky Jon Lester and tied a career high with six RBIs, sending the Washington Nationals over the Chicago Cubs 9-4 Saturday.

Zimmerman hit a two-run homer in the first inning, had a sacrifice fly to the warning track in the third and chased Lester with a three-run drive in the fourth that made it 9-1. He is batting .355 (16 for 45) with four homers and 16 RBIs in 14 games since returning from the disabled list last month.

Daniel Murphy also homered and had three hits, helping Tanner Roark (7-12) win his fourth straight start.

Lester (12-5) was tagged for eight earned runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. The left-hander is winless in his last five starts for the NL Central leaders, going 0-3 with a 10.32 ERA during that span.

Anthony Rizzo got his 1,000th career hit for the Cubs. Ben Zobrist drove in two runs and Addison Russell had three hits for Chicago.

American League

Boston 5, Baltimore 0: The highest-scoring team in the majors doesn’t necessarily have to go on the offensive to win, especially when David Price is in a groove.

Price struck out 10 over six sparkling innings to get Boston started on its 12th shutout of the season, and the Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-0 Saturday in the opener of a split doubleheader.

The Red Sox have won eight of their last nine games and 12 of 14 to improve their big league-best record to 83-35. The twinbill was caused by a rainout on July 25 – before the bad weather came that night, Boston led 5-0 in the second inning.

Jackie Bradley Jr. hit two solo homers and Eduardo Nunez contributed a two-run drive, but Price hardly needed all that support on a day in which he scattered five hits and didn’t issue a walk.

Price (12-6) threw 94 pitches on a sweltering afternoon to win his sixth straight start against Baltimore. The lefty had at least one strikeout in every inning and did not allow a runner past second base.

N.Y. Yankees 5, Texas 3: Rain pouring off his hat, Aroldis Chapman struck out Jurickson Profar with the bases loaded in a steady storm to end the game, preserving the New York Yankees’ 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers.

Rookie Miguel Andujar hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the seventh inning and Yankees newcomer Lance Lynn turned in another strong start. New York has won five of six.

Chapman took over to begin the ninth and the Rangers tried to rally with a walk and a single. With home plate beginning to turn into a puddle, Chapman hit Adrian Beltre with a pitch to load the bases with two outs.

Chapman fell behind Profar in the count 3-1, then came back to get him to swing through strike three for his 30th save in 32 chances.

Tampa Bay 3, Toronto 1: Willy Adames had two hits and drove in the decisive run, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1, their seventh win in eight meetings with Toronto this season.

Aledmys Diaz homered for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of six.

Speedy Rays outfielder Mallex Smith led off the first with a chopper over the mound. Shortstop Aledmys Diaz and second baseman Devon Travis both charged, and then backed off as the ball rolled between them. Smith took advantage of two infielders being out of position to advance to second and was credited with a double. He scored one out later on Joey Wendle’s double just inside the right field foul line.

Tampa Bay took advantage of another defensive miscue to double its lead in the second. Kevin Kiermaier led off with a single to center and advanced to second when center fielder Kevin Pillar bobbled the ball. Kiermaier later stole third and scored on Adames’ RBI grounder.

Minnesota 4, Detroit 3: Tyler Austin hit a two-run homer in his Minnesota debut, helping the Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3.

Austin was acquired in the July 30 trade that sent Lance Lynn to the New York Yankees. He was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Kyle Gibson pitched seven effective innings as Minnesota improved to 2-4 on its seven-game trip. Gibson (6-9) allowed one run and seven hits, struck out four and walked two.