Baty’s home run lifts Mets to win

MLB HIGHLIGHTS

Kodai Senga of the Mets waves to the crowd after leaving Tuesday’s game against the Pirates in the sixth inning. Al Bello / Getty Images

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The Associated Press

Brett Baty hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning and the host New York Mets held off the punchless Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Brandon Nimmo had an early RBI double off hard-luck loser Mitch Keller for the NL East-leading Mets (28-15), who have won five of six to move a season-best 13 games over .500.

Keller (1-5) allowed just two runs and five hits in seven innings, but lost his fifth consecutive decision. He struck out eight and walked one.

The last-place Pirates failed to score more than four runs for the 19th straight game.

Mets starter Kodai Senga allowed one run, six hits and struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings.

Braves 5, Nationals 2: Drake Baldwin hit a two-run homer, Spencer Schwellenbach pitched seven strong innings and Atlanta improved to .500 for the first time this season with a home win over Washington.

The Braves (21-21), who began the season 0-7, handed the Nationals their seventh straight loss.

Baldwin was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

CJ Abrams homered on the first pitch of the game from Schwellenbach, who kept the Nationals in check from there. He gave up two runs, four hits and two walks while striking out three.

Guardians 2, Brewers 0: José Ramírez hit his seventh homer, Logan Allen allowed three hits in six innings, and Cleveland posted its second consecutive shutout of visiting Milwaukee.

Kyle Manzardo drove in the Guardians’ other run with his second triple this season.

Allen (2-2) walked one and struck out six.

The Guardians have six shutouts this season, including Monday night’s 5-0 win over the Brewers. They have won five of seven overall.

Ramírez went deep in the first inning off Quinn Priester (1-2), who allowed three hits in five innings.

Astros 2, Royals 1: Isaac Paredes hit a tiebreaking solo homer off John Schreiber in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Houston over Kansas City.

The game was tied at 1 after a home run by the Astros’ Jeremy Peña in the sixth inning.

Both teams got strong outings from their starters. Houston’s Framber Valdez allowed six hits and a run with seven strikeouts in eight innings. Kris Bubic yielded six hits and a run and tied a career high with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.