Pittsburgh: Rookie Brandon Cumpton pitched seven scoreless innings for his first major-league victory and Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run home run to spark the Pirates in the second game of a doubleheader to win 6-0. The Pirates won the first game 2-1.
The Pirates moved to the top of the NL Central standings, 1-1/2 games ahead of the Cardinals with the victory.
Meanwhile, Roberto Hernandez pitched his first complete game of the season and the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays improved to a 21-4 record in July with a 5-2 victory over Arizona.
Tampa Bay (64-43), who have gained nine games in the standings, clinched their best month ever and produced the best record in July since the 1941 New York Yankees (25-4).
Boston Red Sox’s rookie right-hander Brandon Workman struck out nine and allowed just one run in six innings as Boston rebounded from a loss one night earlier that knocked them out of first place. They beat Seattle 8-2.
Tampa Bay defeated the Red Sox to take a half-game lead in the AL East on Monday, but Boston was able to keep pace behind Workman who was making just his third Major League start.
Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jarrod Saltalamacchia all homered to lead Boston’s offense.
Elsewhere, in another match, Los Angeles Dodgers beat New York Yankees 3-2. REUTERS
