CHICAGO -- Cole Hamels and a high-scoring offense helped the Texas Rangers avoid their bullpen woes for a day.
Hamels overcame a shaky start and the Rangers hit three home runs Saturday in a 10-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Hamels (3-0) allowed two runs and two hits while striking out six in 6 2/3 innings for his first win since April 26.
"We needed for somebody to go out and put a foot down and give us a good start," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said (see full recap).
Astros win thriller over Yankees
HOUSTON -- Yuli Gurriel is a rookie on paper.
However, after a 17-year career in Cuba and Japan before joining the Astros late last season he's one of the team's most experienced players, and he showed it by fighting through an at-bat with Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman to get a two-run double to lift Houston to a 7-6 victory Saturday night.
Gurriel also hit a two-run homer in the fifth before capping Houston's scoring in its four-run eighth (see full recap).
MLB
Mejia, Cardinals edge Nationals
ST. LOUIS -- Saturday night was one of firsts for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Rookie second baseman Alex Mejia's first two major league hits -- including an eighth-inning home run -- and Matt Bowman's first career save were the difference as the Cardinals defeated the Washington Nationals 2-1.
"He's a stud," Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha said of Mejia. "He made great plays on defense and then drove in our two RBIs. For a rookie that's pretty amazing stuff,” (see full recap).
Reds take down struggling Cubs
CINCINNATI -- With the bases loaded, two outs and the Reds down a run, manager Bryan Price decided to let his rookie pitcher take some swings.
Jackson Stephens delivered on the first one.
The right-hander lasted five innings in his major league debut and drove in the go-ahead runs with a bases-loaded single on Saturday, leading Cincinnati to a 5-3 victory over the struggling Chicago Cubs (see full recap).