Choo extends hit streak in loss

CINCINNATI (AP) ― Jeff Locke broke into a grin before taking any questions.

“Happy to be back,” the left-hander said.

No one’s happier than the Pittsburgh Pirates, who used their formula from a highly successful first half ― great pitching, just enough scoring ― to salvage the final game of their series with Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Locke allowed only an infield single through six innings of a 3-2 victory.

Second-place Pittsburgh left town with a three-game cushion over the NL Central-rival Reds, who won the first two games.

“There’s still a lot of games left, but to get this final game is big,” said Garrett Jones, who homered off Homer Bailey.

Locke (9-2) and the majors’ second-stingiest bullpen limited the Reds to three singles, but issued seven walks and let a run score on a wild pitch. Jason Grilli worked the ninth for his 30th save in 31 chances. His only blown save came in Cincinnati on June 19.

Locke had to miss his last scheduled start and couldn’t pitch in the All-Star game because of a sore back. There were no problems when he got back on the mound.

Bailey (5-9) struck out a career-high 12 but remained winless since his no-hitter against San Francisco at Great American Ball Park this month. Jones hit his second homer in two games, and the Pirates added a pair of runs in the seventh.

Choo Shin-soo’s infield single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games.

Cleveland 7, Minnesota 1

Tampa Bay 4, Toronto 3

NY Mets 5, Philadelphia 0

Chicago White Sox 3, Atlanta 1

Detroit 4, Kansas City 1

Milwaukee 1, Miami 0

Seattle 12, Houston 5

St. Louis 3, San Diego 2

Oakland 6, LA Angels 0

Arizona 3, San Francisco 1

Colorado 4, Chicago Cubs 3

LA Dodgers 9, Washington 2

Baltimore 4, Texas 2

Boston 8, NY Yankees 7