MLB

Baltimore Orioles catcher James McCann drives in five runs against former team in 10-3 win over New York Mets

By Sports Desk August 04, 2023

James McCann matched a career high with five RBIs against his former team to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 10-3 win over the New York Mets on Friday.

McCann, traded to the Orioles from the Mets in the offseason, opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a two-run single.

He ripped a two-run double high off the wall in left field in Baltimore’s four-run sixth and added an RBI single to cap a four-run seventh.

The veteran catcher drove in five runs one time previously, on August 12, 2017, while with the Detroit Tigers.

McCann became the first catcher to go 3 for 3 or better with a walk, stolen base and at least five RBIs since RBIs became an official stat in 1920.

Rookie Jordan Westburg hit his second career home run – a three-run blast to centre - as American League-leading Baltimore won for the fifth time in six games to remain two games ahead of Tampa Bay in the East.

Reliever Mike Baumann worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings to become the first in team history to win his first nine relief decisions in a season.

Francisco Lindor had a two-run single for the Mets, who have been outscored 30-11 during a four-game losing streak.

 

Royals beat Phillies for 7th straight win

Bobby Witt Jr. and Michael Massey homered to lead the Kansas City Royals to their seventh straight win, 7-5 over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dairon Blanco knocked in three runs and stole three bases for the last-place Royals, who followed three-game sweeps of the New York Mets and AL Central-leading Twins with a series-opening victory for their longest win streak since July 2017.

Witt has keyed the streak, going 17 for 32 with four homers, 15 RBIs, eight runs and four steals in those seven games.

He became the first player in MLB history with 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in each of his first two seasons.

 

Braves’ Fried dominates Cubs in return

Max Fried pitched six stellar innings in his return and the Atlanta Braves homered on back-to-back pitches in a seven-run fourth in an 8-0 rout of the Chicago Cubs.

Making his first appearance since May 5, Fried limited the Cubs to three hits with no walks and eight strikeouts while throwing 72 pitches.

Sean Murphy and Marcel Ozuna went deep off Kyle Hendricks on consecutive pitches in Atlanta’s fourth inning and Austin Riley connected in the seventh.

The major league-best Braves earned their sixth win in seven games to increase their NL East lead to 12 ½ games over Philadelphia.

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