MLB roundup: Judge homers, and Yankees hold off Mets, 4-2

Aaron Judge of the Yankees smiles as he runs the bases after hitting a home run in the fourth inning Tuesday night against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium. Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge hit a 453-foot drive halfway up the bleachers for his 48th home run and added an RBI single during a seventh-inning rally, boosting the New York Yankees past the Mets 4-2 Tuesday night for a two-game sweep in a Subway Series both teams hope was a World Series prelude.

In a game full of crazy plays, a boisterous crowd of 49,217 – the most at Yankee Stadium in the regular season since the 2013 opener – stood for the ninth as the Mets loaded the bases with two outs on a hit and two walks against rookie Clarke Schmidt (5-2).

Wandy Peralta relieved and retired Francisco Lindor on a flyout for his second save.

Andrew Benintendi had his third straight big day at the plate, singling in the go-ahead run for a 3-2 lead in the seventh against Joely Rodriguez (0-3). The hit came after pinch-hitter Jose Trevino’s twisting popup fell just fair next to Pete Alonso down the right-field line.

Judge followed with a two-out run-scoring single against Adam Ottavino. Judge leads the majors in homers and with 105 RBI.

Yankees rookie right fielder Oswaldo Cabrera made three key contributions. He took a 3-2 splitter for a bases-loaded walk in the fourth against Taijian Walker for his first big league RBI, preserved the lead in the fifth when he threw out Brett Baty trying to score from second on Starling Marte’s RBI single and singled to start the seventh-inning rally.

The Yankees, who have won three straight games for only the second time since the All-Star break, overcame a mental gaffe by second baseman Gleyber Torres, who sprinted in a vain attempt to catch the trailing runner as Alonso scored the tying run unchallenged in the sixth. Torres also combined with shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa to turn a pair of sparkling double plays.

The Mets, whose NL East lead over Atlanta was cut to two games, swept a two-game series from the Yankees at Citi Field last month. With both New York teams in first place, their fans are looking ahead to a possible rematch of the 2000 World Series, won by the Bronx Bombers in five games.

GIANTS 3, TIGERS 1: Carlos Rodon continued his hot streak with seven strong innings as San Francisco survived a bases-loaded threat in the bottom of the ninth inning to win at Detroit.

Evan Longoria homered for the Giants, who won their eighth straight interleague game on the road.

Rodon allowed one run on five hits and struck out 10 without walking a batter. He is 4-0 in his last five starts with a 1.44 ERA and has now recorded eight double-digit strikeout games this season.

ROCKIES 7, RANGERS 6: CJ Cron hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning and Elias Diaz also had a three-run homer as Colorado edged visiting Texas.

The Rockies overcame two three-run deficits.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RAYS 11, ANGELS 1: Christian Bethancourt had two run-scoring hits in the same inning and later moved from behind the plate to the mound to pitch a scoreless ninth as surging Tampa Bay won at home.

The Rays own the top AL wild-card spot. They have won four straight and 10 of 12, and they moved a season-best 12 games over .500 at 67-55.

Bethancourt homered and hit a two-run single in a six-run seventh that gave the Rays a 9-1 lead. With Tampa Bay ahead by 10 in the ninth, Manager Kevin Cash sent his catcher to the mound.

ORIOLES 5, WHITE SOX 3: Ryan Mountcastle hit a three-run homer off Dylan Cease in the first inning, and Felix Bautista pitched out of an eighth-inning jam to help Baltimore win at home.

Cease (12-6) allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings, his second straight start allowing at least three earned runs after he went 14 in a row yielding no more than one.

The right-hander settled in after a rough first inning, but Austin Voth (4-1) pitched through trouble enough times to keep the Orioles ahead.

The White Sox, who have lost 5 of 6, left 13 men on base.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS-CUBS SPLIT: Nolan Arenado and Tyler O’Neill homered in a five-run fourth inning, Corey Dickerson had four hits and visiting St. Louis pounded Chicago 13-3 to split a doubleheader.

The Cubs blanked the Cardinals 2-0 in the opener, ending St. Louis’ season-best eight-game winning streak. Javier Assad pitched four scoreless innings in his major league debut and combined with four relievers on a five-hitter.

The NL Central-leading Cardinals got back on track in the nightcap with 16 hits. Tommy Edman had a solo homer, a double and three RBI.

BRAVES 6, PIRATES 1: Max Fried allowed only three hits in eight innings, pacing visiting Atlanta over Pittsburgh.

Fried (12-4) struck out seven and walked one, retiring 20 of his final 23 batters, and allowed one run. The All-Star left-hander got through eight innings for the second time this season. He gave up two hits to the Rockies in eight shutout innings on June 3.

PHILLIES 7, REDS 6: Nick Maton’s pinch-hit single with one out in the bottom of the ninth gave Philadelphia a win over visiting Cincinnati.

Matt Vierling homered and JT Realmuto had a two-run triple for the Phillies, who have won the first two of their four-game series.

TJ Friedl hit a two-run triple and Donovan Solano had two hits, including an RBI double, for the Reds.

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