Indians run streak to 14 games on Carrasco three-hitter

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday in Chicago. (AP)

CHICAGO: Carlos Carrasco allowed three hits in a complete game, giving the Cleveland Indians their 14th straight win in a 5-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Cleveland equaled its longest winning streak in franchise history and also won its 10th straight road game as the right-hander lost his shutout with two outs in the ninth inning when Adam Engel homered.
Carrasco (14-6) faced 28 batters and threw 97 pitches in his eighth career complete game, throwing 76 strikes.
Carlos Santana hit a two-run home run as Cleveland added three runs in the eighth inning to break open a 1-0 game.
After not allowing a hit through four innings, the White Sox had leadoff singles in the fifth and sixth innings off Carrasco, but Avisail Garcia and Kevan Smith were both doubled off on the next at-bat.
Cubs 1 Pirates 0: In Pittsburgh, Alex Avila knocked an RBI triple in the ninth inning, capping a duel between Jose Quintana and Gerrit Cole and lifting Chicago over Pittsburgh.
After Cole limited Chicago to two hits over eight innings, Avila scored pinch-runner Leonys Martin from second base with a drive to the right-field corner off reliever Daniel Hudson (2-6).
The only hits against Cole were Javier Baez’s infield single in the second and John Jay’s single in the eighth.
Red Sox 6 Blue Jays 1: In Boston, Doug Fister gave up one run over seven innings, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs and Boston beat Toronto a day after the teams played a 19-inning marathon.
It was the second straight win for the AL East-leading Red Sox, who moved four games ahead of the second-place Yankees. New York’s game at Baltimore was rained out.
Playing just 18 hours after completing a victory that lasted six hours and ended on Hanley Ramirez’s bloop single, the Red Sox took charge with a four-run fourth that was capped by Bradley’s homer.
Fister (5-7) allowed four hits, struck out nine and walked three, improving to 3-1 in his last four starts with a 1.50 ERA.
Twins 10 Rays 6: In St. Petersburg, Florida, Eduardo Escobar had three hits and three RBIs, Brian Dozier and Ehire Adrianza both homered and Minnesota beat Tampa Bay.
Minnesota ended a three-game skid streak and moved a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels for the second AL wild-card spot.
The Twins scored three runs in the seventh to take the lead for good. Dozier, who hit his 29th homer leading off the game, was walked by reliever Steve Cishek (2-1) to open the inning. Jorge Polanco then bunted and Cishek threw wildly past first base, allowing Dozier to come all the way around to score for a 7-6 lead with Polanco advancing to third.
One out later, Escobar singled to right-center to drive in Polanco. Robbie Grossman doubled off Austin Pruitt and pinch-hitter Joe Mauer was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Max Kepler followed with a run-scoring grounder.
Nationals 8 Marlins 1: In Miami, Gio Gonzalez and four relievers combined on a six-hitter, and Washington beat Miami for the eighth consecutive time.
Gonzalez (14-6) pitched five scoreless innings but needed 101 pitches. Ryan Zimmerman hit his 31st homer, and Michael A. Taylor added his 14th.
The Nationals, who completed a three-game sweep, have outscored Miami 53-12 in their past eight meetings. Washington increased its lead in the NL East to 18 games over second-place Miami.