Tellez hits tying HR, Adames winning single, Brews beat Rays
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MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Rowdy Tellez hit a tying homer in the ninth inning and made a key defensive play in the 10th, setting up Willy Adames' game-ending RBI single that gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
Adames had struck out in his previous three at-bats before he came up in the 10th following an intentional walk to Christian Yelich. His grounder off Ryan Thompson (3-3) got past diving shortstop Taylor Walls and scored automatic runner Tyrone Taylor from second base.
"I always get excited," Adames said about the free pass to Yelich. "It kind of like pumps me up. I've got to do it now."
Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said: "I always think that does something for the hitter, a little bit. It means they want to face you, and I just think that gives you a little bit of extra. You're having a tough day but you have a shot to win the game, and it's a brand-new at-bat and a brand-new game."
Milwaukee completed a two-game sweep of Tampa Bay and moved within one-half game of NL Central-leading St. Louis, which was playing at Colorado on Wednesday night. The Brewers are 3-5 since trading closer Josh Hader to San Diego at the deadline.
The Rays fell even with division rival Baltimore for the final AL wild card.
In the top of the 10th, first baseman Tellez fielded Walls' grounder and threw to third to cut down automatic runner Francisco Mejia. Catcher Victor Caratini then threw out Walls trying to steal second.
Devin Williams (3-2) ended the inning by striking out Jose Siri.
Tellez, who entered as a pinch-hitter in the sixth, led off the ninth with his 23rd homer, a drive to center off Colin Poche that made it 3-3.
"I've played against him a couple times. I don't think I've ever got a hit. I think I struck out every single time," Tellez said. "Really, in that 3-2 count, really just wanted to see something up in the zone and try to hit a ball the other way, hit a line drive, just get on base, start off the inning. I was able to put a good swing on it. The ball carried out."
Randy Arozarena hit his first homer since July 17, a 431-foot shot off Milwaukee starter Brandon Woodruff in the seventh that put the Rays ahead 3-2. Yu Chang homered in the fifth off Woodruff, who allowed three runs on four hits in seven innings.
With Tampa Bay leading 3-2 in the eighth, Milwaukee reliever Hoby Milner came on with the bases loaded and one out. He struck out Brandon Lowe and Isaac Paredes on called third strikes.
"Milner's tough, keeps the ball down, but would like to think that we can put a little pressure on the defense right there with some contact, but we weren't able to do that," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.
Rays starter Jeffrey Springs gave up two runs in five innings while striking out eight.
Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the first thanks in part to a pair of soft fly balls that landed for singles in shallow left field.
Andrew McCutchen doubled, then scored on Mike Brosseau's single. Springs was then called for a balk while pitching to Hunter Renfroe, walked Renfroe, and gave up a single by Keston Hiura that scored Brosseau.
Milwaukee opens a three-game series at St. Louis starting Friday with LHP Eric Lauer (8-3, 3.59) facing Cardinals LHP Jordan Montgomery (4-3, 3.53).
On Tuesday night, McCutchen and Kolten Wong each drove in two runs and the Brewers beat the Rays 5-3.
GUARDIANS 3,
TIGERS 2
DETROIT (AP) -- Steven Kwan hit a leadoff triple and scored to Cleveland get off to a solid start and beat Detroit.
Cleveland started the day tied with Minnesota for first place in the AL Central. The Guardians lead the last-place Tigers by 16 games in the division.
Aaron Civale started for Cleveland after being on the 15-day injured list with wrist inflammation and retired the first nine batters. Civale gave up two runs and three hits while striking out four over four innings. James Karinchak and five other relievers -- including Bryan Shaw (5-2) -- combined for five innings of scoreless relief. Emmanuel Clase gave up one hit in the ninth, earning his 26th save.
Drew Hutchison (1-6) allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings for Detroit.
CUBS 4,
NATIONALS 2
CHICAGO (AP) -- Nico Hoerner homered to ignite a four-run rally in the seventh inning that sent Chicago past Washington.
Hoerner's seventh home run ended a shutout bid by Nationals starter Josiah Gray.
Rookie Joey Meneses homered in his third straight game for the Nationals, who have lost seven of eight.
Nick Madrigal hit a single off reliever Steve Cishek (1-3). Rafael Ortega followed with a sacrifice fly off Cishek, and Ian Happ capped the comeback with an RBI single off Carl Edwards Jr.
Michael Rucker (1-1) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn his first major league win. Rowan Wick struck out Maikel Franco with the tying run at first to end the eighth and earned his sixth save in eight opportunities.
BRAVES 8,
RED SOX 4
BOSTON (AP) -- Top Atlanta prospect Vaughn Grissom homered onto Lansdowne Street in his major league debut, and Marcell Ozuna hit a three-run homer to lead the Braves.
MARINERS 4,
YANKEES 3
SEATTLE (AP) -- Carlos Santana snapped an 0-for-17 slump with a go-ahead two-run homer during Seattle's three-run seventh inning, and the Mariners rallied to beat the slumping New York Yankees.
Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 45th homer of the season for the Yankees, who have lost eight of 10.
METS 10,
REDS 2
NEW YORK (AP) -- Francisco Lindor scored three runs, tying a franchise record by crossing the plate in 13 consecutive games, and New York breezed past Cincinnati for its sixth straight win.
Lindor finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a two-run single in the second inning that increased his RBI total to 82, matching Jose Reyes in 2006 for the most by a Mets shortstop.