Gerrit Cole wins 20th straight regular-season decision, Yankees top Red Sox

Gerrit Cole posted his 20th straight regular-season win, becoming the sixth pitcher to reach the mark by throwing seven sharp innings to lead the Yankees over the Boston Red Sox 10-3 Friday night in New York.

Cole (4-0) allowed one run and four hits. He struck out eight, walked none and threw 95 pitches. Cole’s only defeat since May 2019 was in the World Series opener last year, when he pitched for Houston and lost to Washington.

The Yankees improved to 7-0 at home for the fourth time since 1959 (also 2017, 1998 and 1987). Gary Sanchez homered for the second straight game and Gleyber Torres had four hits, including a two-run double.

Dodgers 7, Angels 4: Clayton Kershaw allowed one hit over seven innings, Cody Bellinger hit a pair of two-run homers and the Dodgers took the opener of the Los Angeles Freeway Series in Anaheim. It was the first win for the Dodgers (14-7) over the Angels since 2018 and they moved back into sole possession of first place in the NL West. Anthony Rendon homered in his fourth consecutive game for the Angels.

Diamondbacks 5, Padres 1: Merrill Kelly (3-1) pitched shutout ball into the seventh, Kole Calhoun hit a solo homer and a run-scoring single, and host Arizona pulled away late.

Astros 11, Mariners 1: Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat of the season after recovering from the coronavirus, connecting during a nine-run burst in the first inning for host Houston. Alvarez was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2019 (.313, 27 homers).

Marlins 8, Braves 2: Jesus Aguilar drove in three runs, Jon Berti stole home and NL East-leading Miami won its long-awaited, coronavirus-delayed home opener. Miami returned to Marlins Park following a 23-day road trip, interrupted when 18 players and two coaches tested positive for the virus.

Brewers 4, Cubs 3: Christian Yelich hit a three-run homer and visiting Milwaukee beat major league-leading Chicago. Yelich hit his fifth homer of the season off Alec Mills to right-center field, erasing Chicago’s 3-1 lead in the sixth inning.

Phillies 6, Mets 5: Bryce Harper’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth won it for Philadelphia. Walker Lockett started for New York after two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was scratched because of neck tightness.

Blue Jays 12, Rays 4: Teoscar Hernandez hit two of Toronto’s six home runs, Bo Bichette connected for the fourth straight game and the Blue Jays beat Tampa Bay in Buffalo, N.Y. Along with their seven homers in a 14-11 loss to Miami on Wednesday night at Sahlen Field, Toronto became the fourth team in major-league history to hit at least six homers in back-to-back games after the Dodgers (1996), Angels (2003) and Washington (2012).