Jansen breaks out for Rays in victory

MLB HIGHLIGHTS

The Rays’ Danny Jansen celebrates his RBI double off Braves pitcher Pierce Johnson during the eighth inning on Friday night. CHRIS O’MEARA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Danny Jansen hit his first home run of the season and drove in four runs, Christopher Morel also homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the visiting Atlanta Braves 6-3 on Friday night.

Jansen, who had one hit in his first 27 at-bats through the Rays’ first 12 games, hit a two-run homer on a first-pitch sinker from Bryce Elder in the fourth inning, scoring Kameron Misner. In his next at-bat in the sixth, the 29-year-old catcher hit an RBI single to center and added a ground-rule double in the eighth that scored another run.

Rays starter Taj Bradley (2-0) worked six innings and limited Atlanta to one run on five hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Guardians 7, Royals 0 >> Gabriel Arias had three hits — including a three-run homer — Angel Martínez had his second career three-hit game and Cleveland extended its winning streak to four by blanking visiting Kansas City.

Five Cleveland pitchers combined for the second shutout of the homestand. Tim Herrin (2-0) got the win after starter Tanner Bibee went 4 1/3 innings.

Reds 5, Pirates 3 >> Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run homer to help Brady Singer and Cincinnati win at home over Pittsburgh.

Singer (3-0) pitched five innings of three-run ball in his third straight win.

Nationals 7, Marlins 4 >> Nathaniel Lowe hit a pinch-hit, bases-clearing, go-ahead double in the eighth inning, James Wood added a 400-foot homer in the ninth and Washington scored seven unanswered runs in a victory at Miami.

Wood’s homer was his fifth of the season, with 11 RBIs.

PADRES’ INJURY WOES >> The San Diego Padres placed infielder Jake Cronenworth on the 10-day injured list with a right rib fracture.

The move with Cronenworth came after center fielder Jackson Merrill went on the 10-day IL on Tuesday because of a right hamstring strain.

The Padres also are playing without right-hander Yu Darvish, who began the season on the IL because of elbow inflammation.

Cronenworth is batting .257 with two homers and five RBIs in 12 games this season. The two-time All-Star hit .241 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs in 155 games in 2024.