Jul 13, 2019 3 min read

Locked in a desperate push to get back into the playoffs, the Boston Red Sox had no intention of waiting until the end of the month to upgrade their starting rotation.

Getting a jump on the July 31 trade deadline, the Red Sox obtained burly right-hander Andrew Cashner from the Baltimore Orioles for two 17-year-old prospects.

The deal was announced Saturday after Baltimore beat Tampa Bay 2-1 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

Cashner is 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors. He has gone at least six innings in his last five starts and has a 1.41 ERA since the beginning of June.

“He’ll be here (Sunday) and start on Tuesday,” Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski said.

The Orioles received infielder Noelberth Romero and outfielder Elio Prado. Neither player is well known, but that’s what happens when a team launches a rebuild from the ground up.

National League

N.Y. Mets 4, Miami 2: Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the New York Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins.

Cano’s fifth home run of the season sailed into the second deck in right field at Marlins Park, breaking a 2-all tie.

Noah Syndergaard (7-4) won his fourth consecutive decision. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits. He struck out nine without walking a batter and retired the final 11 batters he faced.

Seth Lugo pitched a perfect eighth and Edwin Diaz worked around a one-out single in the ninth for his 20th save in 24 opportunities.

American League

Toronto 2, N.Y. Yankees 1: Toronto center fielder Randal Grichuk made a diving catch with the bases loaded and hit a two-run single as the Blue Jays held off the New York Yankees, 2-1.

The AL East-leading Yankees, who have not been shut out in more than a year, scored with two outs in the ninth inning on Aaron Judge’s fourth hit of the game, a single off third baseman Brandon Drury’s glove.

With runners at the corners, Luke Voit looked at strike three from Daniel Hudson to end it. Hudson posted his second save while Voit went 0 for 3 with two walks after being activated from the injured list.

Joe Biagini (3-1) got one out, allowing a hit and walk, and picked up the win.

Oakland 13, Chicago White Sox 2: Franklin Barreto hit a three-run home run to cap a seven-run first inning, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago White Sox, 13-2.

Matt Chapman had three hits and scored twice for the A’s, who have won nine of 11. Marcus Semien added two hits and Robbie Grossman drove in three runs.

Chris Bassitt (6-4) pitched six scoreless innings and struck out six.

Baltimore 2, Tampa Bay 1: Stevie Wilkerson hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to back a surprisingly effective performance by Baltimore’s pitching staff, and the Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 in the opener of a split doubleheader.