Guardians: Kyle Manzardo hit his first two major league homers, Alex Cobb did not allow a baserunner through the first six innings and the AL Central-leading Guardians beat the Pirates 6-1 on Sunday in Cleeland. Manzardo, recalled from Triple-A Columbus before the game, homered in the fourth and sixth against Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller. Manzardo batted .207 in 30 games earlier this season during his initial MLB stint. José Ramírez and Andrés Giménez also went deep as the Guardians hit four solo homers and improved their AL-best home record to 43-25. They lead the division by three games over the Royals, who played the Astros in a game that ended too late for this edition. Cobb (2-1) had his bid for a perfect game broken up when Isaiah Kiner-Falefa led off the seventh with a sharp single off the pitcher’s glove. The right-hander subsequently allowed a second straight hit to Bryan Reynolds and was removed from the game. The Guardians activated Cobb to make his first start since Aug. 14, when he broke a fingernail on his pitching hand. The 36-year-old, who joined the Guardians in a July 30 trade with the Giants, allowed one unearned run and struck out six without a walk. The Pirates scored their only run in the seventh after Cade Smith replaced Cobb. Oneil Cruz stole second base when catcher Austin Hedges threw the ball into center field for an error, allowing Kiner-Falefa to come home from third. Hunter Gaddis and Tim Herrin followed Smith and wrapped up the combined two-hitter. Keller (11-9) worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up four runs, three earned, three homers and a season-high 11 hits. The righty struck out seven and hit one batter with a pitch. Cleveland hasn’t thrown a no-hitter since Len Barker’s perfect game against the Blue Jays on May 15, 1981. There have been 24 perfect games in MLB history, the most recent by Domingo Germán of the Yankees against the A’s on June 28, 2023 in Oakland, California.

Cubs: Dansby Swanson had four hits, Jordan Wicks pitched five solid innings and the Cubs beat the host Nationals 14-1 for their season-high sixth consecutive win. Isaac Paredes had three RBIs for the Cubs, who finished with 18 hits. Cody Bellinger, Nico Hoerner and Miguel Amaya each drove in two runs. The Cubs closed out an 8-1 road trip that also included series against the Marlins and Pirates. The Cubs, who are looking to rally into an NL wild-card slot, improved to 20-8 since July 31. Pitching on his 25th birthday, Wicks (2-2) permitted one run and four hits in his first big league appearance since June 14.

Extra innings: Santiago Espinal drove in Rece Hinds with an infield single in the 11th and the Reds stopped the visiting Brewers’ five-game win streak with a 4-3 victory over the NL Central leaders. Hinds began the inning on second as the designated runner. He advanced on Will Benson’s groundout, and Reds manager David Bell sent Espinal up to hit for Noelvi Marte. Espinal hit a grounder back up the middle that went off reliever Bryse Wilson, and Hinds scored without a throw. The Reds have lost eight of 10. ... The Orioles reinstated RHP Zach Eflin (9-7) from the 15-day IL. He will start edthe finale of a three-game series at the Rockies that ended too late for this edition.