Mariners continue mastery of division-rival Angels, win 4-1  —  The Mariners' lead over the Angels for the second AL wild card is now 12 games.  —  If the Mariners have shown anything in this run to a winning record and all of their success in 2018, it's that they aren't reliant on the same handful …

Gurriel's RBI single in 9th gives Astros 4-3 win over Sox  —  The Astros trailed by 1 when Joakim Soria (0-3) walked pinch-hitter Tony Kemp with no outs in the ninth before advancing to third on a single by pinch-hitter Marwin Gonzalez.  —  HOUSTON (AP) - Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer …

Michael Lorenzen outhomered fellow Gatorade ad actor Bryce Harper in June  —  We don't know for sure whether Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper homers off of Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Michael Lorenzen in a Gatorade ad featuring the pair.  (It looks like he might.)

Turner homers twice, Nationals rally past Marlins  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Trea Turner hit two homers, including his first career grand slam, and drove in eight runs to help the Washington Nationals rally from a nine-run deficit and defeat the Miami Marlins 14-12 in a wild slugfest Thursday night to end a five-game losing streak.

Lauer, Hedges help Padres beat slumping Diamondbacks 6-3  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Eric Lauer limited Arizona to a run over five innings, Austin Hedges homered for the first time since April 10 and the San Diego Padres opened a four-game series in the desert with a 6-3 victory over the slumping Diamondbacks on Thursday night.

Granderson has kept up his end of the bargain, now the Blue Jays can do him a favour  —  After a brilliant big-league career, there is still one milestone that Curtis Granderson would love to experience.  And that would be to win a World Series.  —  “I've been there three times, haven't won it …

MLB: LeBlanc agrees to extension  —  Pitcher Wade LeBlanc is guaranteed $2.75 million under a new contract with the Seattle Mariners covering 2019.  The deal contains three options that would be worth $31.3 million over four years if he pitches 180 innings or more each season.

Launch angle, Goodrum's bat cost Dixon Machado spot on Detroit Tigers  —  Niko Goodrum forced the issue.  —  The Detroit Tigers' designating-for-assignment of infielder Dixon Machado had as much to do with Goodrum's production as it had to do with Machado's offensive struggles.

Chacin solid in Brewers' 7-2 win over Braves  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) Jhoulys Chacin settled down nicely after a rough start.  —  Trailing 2- after the first three batters of the game, Chacin threw seven solid innings and Hernan Perez homered among his three hits, leading the Milwaukee Brewers …

Scooter Gennett, Eugenio Suárez are Cincinnati Reds who deserve to make NL All-Star team  —  Two for sure.  —  Possibly three, but it's a bit of a long shot.  —  We're talking Cincinnati Reds on the National League All-Star team.  No one is likely to be voted in.

From unknown to indispensable, Max Muncy is putting up All-Star numbers for the Dodgers  —  LOS ANGELES  —  Eyes locked on the right field bleachers, searching for his latest homer cresting through the ink-black sky, Max Muncy exhaled and let his bat roll through his fingers.

Giants Activate Johnny Cueto  —  The Giants announced that they've activated Johnny Cueto from the 60-day disabled list on Thursday.  Infielder Kelby Tomlinson was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in order to open a spot on the active roster.  Cueto's activation will also require a 40-man move …

Veteran pitcher Casey Coleman returning to Iowa Cubs  —  Triple-A baseball came to Des Moines in 1968 with the Iowa Oaks, and the Iowa Cubs have carried the torch since 1982.  Here's a collection of some of the biggest names and best players during that time.  Mark Marturello and Michael Zamora/The Register

Fowler seeks more playing time  —  SAN FRANCISCO  • Drawn into a tempest this past week that stretched from St. Louis in the present to Chicago of the past, from his place on the team to his comfort level in the city, Dexter Fowler returned to the Cardinals clubhouse with some pointed comments of his own, and one simple request.

Surging Philadelphia Phillies open long road trip vs. skidding Pittsburgh Pirates  —  Teams from opposite ends of Pennsylvania and heading in opposite directions face off this weekend when the Philadelphia Phillies visit the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.  —  Philadelphia (47-37) …