LaMonte Wade Jr. clubbed his first career grand slam in the third inning, the second of three homers hit by the visiting Houston Astros in their 9-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

The Astros evened the three-game series and set the stage to close the gap to one game behind the Rangers in the American League West in the rubber match on Sunday. They did so with a power display against Texas right-hander Kumar Rocker, who continued to struggle at home.

Rocker (2-8) entered 0-5 with a 4.70 ERA in his last eight home starts dating back to April 26. Two batters into his 16th start of this season, he tumbled into a two-run deficit courtesy of Yordan Alvarez, who homered for the second time this series and the seventh time in six road games against the Rangers this season.

Alvarez followed a leadoff infield single by Jeremy Pena in the top of the first with a 425-foot blast to straightaway center field. Alvarez recorded his AL-leading 31st home run.

Rocker surrendered a double to Isaac Paredes after Alvarez homered, but then retired seven consecutive batters before Alvarez came to the plate with one out in the third. Alvarez keyed that four-run frame with a double, followed by a walk to Paredes. Jose Altuve loaded the bases with a two-out single before Wade popped a 1-1 slider 400 feet to right for a 6-0 lead.

Christian Vazquez led off the fourth with his fifth home run, a line drive that just cleared the wall in left-center. Rocker departed with two outs in the sixth inning before facing Alvarez a fourth time. He allowed seven runs on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

Alvarez finished 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs.

Astros right-hander Peter Lambert (8-5) notched his sixth win in his last seven decisions and posted his sixth quality start. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over six innings.

Ezequiel Duran socked his ninth home run with two outs in the bottom of the fourth for Texas.

The Astros tacked on two runs off Rangers reliever Chris Martin in the ninth. Duran homered again in the bottom of the ninth, a two-run shot to left off Astros reliever AJ Blubaugh.

–Field Level Media

Alex Bregman hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning as the visiting Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Saturday.

Carson Kelly added a solo shot and Michael Busch had three hits for Chicago, which won for the fourth time in its last six games.

Drew Pomeranz (2-3) pitched the sixth inning to record the win despite allowing a run on two hits. Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb each tossed a scoreless frame before the Reds put runners on the corners with two outs in the ninth against Ryan Rolison.

Elly De La Cruz stole second base before Trent Thornton got Sal Stewart to ground out to second for his third save.

Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suarez and JJ Bleday each hit solo homers for Cincinnati, which has lost five of its last eight games.

With the score 3-3 and one out in the seventh, Seiya Suzuki drew a one-out walk off Julian Garcia (0-2) before Bregman followed with his eighth homer.

The Reds opened the scoring with one out in the fourth inning against Javier Assad on back-to-back homers by Lowe and Suarez.

Lowe’s 381-foot shot was his first homer and RBI since May 29. Suarez followed with his 10th homer, a 370-foot liner to right-center field.

Assad gave up two runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out four with no walks.

Chicago got on the board with a run in the fifth against Nick Lodolo. With two runners on and two outs, Miguel Amaya scored from second on Suzuki’s single.

Lodolo exited the game with a blister on his left index finger after allowing Kelly’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning. Lodolo was making his 12th start since beginning the season on the injured list with blister issues.

Caleb Ferguson entered and was greeted by a single from Busch, who came around to score on Ian Happ’s one-out double to left field.

Lodolo yielded two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts over five-plus innings.

Cincinnati pulled even in the bottom of the sixth on Bleday’s leadoff homer against Pomeranz. Bleday’s homer was his 16th this season and second in as many games.

–Field Level Media

Esmerlyn Valdez delivered a go-ahead grand slam to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-6 win against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

Valdez, who had six RBIs, connected for his second home run of the game in the seventh to put Pittsburgh back in front after previously giving them a 3-2 lead with his first homer in the third.

Braxton Ashcraft allowed five runs on five hits and struck out six in five innings for the Pirates. Gregory Soto got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth for his 12th save.

Brewers starter Brandon Sproat surrendered three runs on two hits, fanning three, before he was lifted after the third. Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick homered for Milwaukee.

Pirates 3, Brewers 2 (Game 2)

Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-3 and drove in the go-ahead run for Pittsburgh, which edged Milwaukee to complete a doubleheader sweep

Starting pitcher Bubba Chandler struck out six while limiting the Brewers to two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings for the Pirates. Valdez added another homer in the second game of the day and has gone yard in three straight games.

Shane Drohan (4-3) allowed three runs on five hits and fanned six in 6 1/3 innings for Milwaukee, which has lost three of its past four games after going 8-2 in its previous 10.

White Sox 1, Athletics 0

Chase Meidroth’s sixth-inning RBI double lifted the White Sox over the visiting Athletics.

Meidroth was 2-for-3, and Luisangel Acuna had two hits. Five Chicago pitchers combined for a four-hit shutout. Erick Fedde (5-6) earned the win after allowing two hits and no runs, while walking one and striking out three over four innings.

Athletics starter Gage Jump (3-4) allowed one run on five hits, walked two and fanned seven in 5 2/3 innings. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer was 2-for-4 with a double, and Jacob Wilson was 2-for-4 with a triple.

Red Sox 4, Mets 0

Andruw Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida each belted two-run homers and five pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as visiting Boston blanked New York for its eighth straight win.

Reliever Jovani Moran (2-2) got the win for the Red Sox with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless work. Fill-in starter Eduardo Rivera fired 3 2/3 scoreless innings in just his second major league appearance. Rivera gave up one hit, walked two and struck out three.

Freddy Peralta (5-8) absorbed the loss after working 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs off three hits and five walks. Peralta whiffed six. The Mets went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding nine for the day.

Twins 5, Angels 3

Victor Caratini’s double down the left field line scored Royce Lewis for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Minnesota notched a win over Los Angeles in Minneapolis.

Lewis earlier hit a two-run home run, giving the Twins a three-run lead before the Angels rallied to tie the game. However, Minnesota scored two runs in the seventh, starting with a Lewis double, followed by Caratini’s double and Alan Roden’s run-scoring single, which put them back in the lead, and they held on to secure the win.

Minnesota starter Joe Ryan allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks in six innings of work. Ryan Johnson gave up three runs and three hits over five innings for the Angels. He walked three and struck out one.

Guardians 4, Marlins 1

Nine-hole hitter Steven Kwan lined a two-out, two-strike, two-run double and also produced a run-saving defensive gem, leading Cleveland past host Miami.

The Guardians also got a two-out, two-strike, two-run double from eight-hole hitter Patrick Bailey in the eighth to add some insurance. Tanner Bibee, who started this season 0-7 with six no-decisions, earned the win. Bibee (3-9) turned in a quality start, allowing five hits, four walks and one run in 6 2/3 innings.

Eury Perez, who pitched seven perfect innings in his previous start, took the loss. Perez (5-7) allowed eight hits, two walks and two runs in six innings. He struck out six.

Giants 4, Rockies 2

Casey Schmitt’s three-run homer in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie, leading host San Francisco to a defeat of Colorado.

After Heliot Ramos and Luis Arraez opened the inning with singles, Schmitt hit his 19th homer, tying him for the team lead. Arraez was 2-for-4, Tyler Mahle (2-8) allowed a run on five hits over seven innings and J.T. Brubaker pitched the final two innings for his first career save.

Kyle Karros homered and Mickey Moniak was 2-for-4 for the Rockies, who have lost three of their last four. Colorado starter Kyle Freeland (2-8) surrendered four runs and six hits in six innings.

Yankees 4, Nationals 2

Ryan McMahon, Trent Grisham and Paul Goldschmidt hit eighth-inning homers and New York rallied late for the second straight game, topping host Washington.

After staging a three-run ninth-inning rally in a 5-3 win Friday night, the Yankees struck an inning earlier on Saturday. Trailing 2-0, McMahon homered off right-hander Orlando Ribalta with one out. After Ben Rice walked, Clayton Beeter (3-2) came in to face Grisham, who hit a two-run shot to give the Yankees the lead. Goldschmidt followed with his 15th homer of the season. Brent Headrick (5-1) got the win and David Bednar pitched the ninth for his 18th save as New York won its third straight.

James Wood had three hits, including a homer, and Curtis Mead had a homer and a single for the Nationals, who recorded their 27th blown save of the season.

Rays 6, Mariners 1

Jonathan Aranda recorded three hits and drove in the go-ahead run, and Tampa Bay claimed its final home series before the All-Star break in a win over struggling Seattle in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Aranda went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run, including his first two-bagger in the third that scored Yandy Diaz to break a 1-1 tie. Pinch hitter Ryan Vilade stroked a three-run homer in the seventh. Ben Williamson went 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run and a stolen base to help the Rays improve their majors-best home record to 35-14.

Rays starter Griffin Jax (5-6) turned in a strong outing over five innings, yielding one run on four hits. Seattle’s Logan Gilbert (7-6) tossed 6 2/3 innings and surrendered four runs on nine hits with five strikeouts as the club lost its fifth straight.

Phillies 4, Tigers 2

J.T. Realmuto had a two-run double, All-Star Cristopher Sanchez tossed seven-plus strong innings and visiting Philadelphia ended Detroit’s six-game winning streak.

Sanchez (11-4) allowed two runs and 10 hits while striking out seven. Sanchez bounced back from his worst outing of the season when he surrendered nine runs to Kansas City on Monday. Jhoan Duran recorded his 24th save with a perfect ninth.

Eduardo Valencia homered and Matt Vierling went 3-for-3 and scored a run for the Tigers. Starter Casey Mize (4-6) gave up all four runs (three earned) on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Orioles 6, Royals 1

Kyle Bradish took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Baltimore extended its winning streak to three games after beating visiting Kansas City.

Bradish (6-9) was done after 6 2/3 innings, charged with one run on two hits. Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone rapped a single as the first batter in the seventh to break up the no-hit bid. He later scored on Salvador Perez’s sacrifice fly.

Pete Alonso smashed a two-run home run, and Coby Mayo, Taylor Ward and Gunnar Henderson all belted solo shots for the Orioles, who snapped a four-series losing streak at Camden Yards. Royals starter Noah Cameron (5-7) struck out nine in seven innings, but he was charged with five runs on five hits.

Cardinals 4, Braves 1

Lars Nootbaar launched a three-run home run in the first inning and Matthew Liberatore tossed six stellar innings to help lift St. Louis to a victory over visiting Atlanta.

Liberatore (5-6) threw six scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out six and walking one for the Cardinals, who clinched their final series before the All-Star break.

Reynaldo Lopez (4-2) allowed four runs on five hits across five innings, striking out three and walking one for the Braves, who dropped their fifth game in seven tries. Mauricio Dubon homered for Atlanta, which saw its lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East reduced to two games.

Astros 9, Rangers 3

LaMonte Wade Jr. clubbed his first career grand slam in the third inning, the second of three homers hit by visiting Houston in its win over Texas in Arlington, Texas.

Yordan Alvarez hit his AL-leading 31st home run to open the scoring in the first inning for the Astros, who also got a solo homer from Christian Vazquez. Houston right-hander Peter Lambert (8-5) notched his sixth win in seven decisions, allowing one run on three hits over six innings.

Ezequiel Duran had all three of the Rangers’ RBIs on a pair of home runs. Texas starter Kumar Rocker (2-8) continued to struggle at home, giving up three homers among seven runs on eight hits over his 5 2/3 innings.

Cubs 5, Reds 3

Alex Bregman hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning as Chicago defeated host Cincinnati to win for the fourth time in its last six games.

Carson Kelly added a solo shot and Michael Busch had three hits for the Cubs. Drew Pomeranz (2-3) pitched the sixth inning to record the win despite allowing a run on two hits. Caleb Thielbar and Jacob Webb each tossed a scoreless frame before Trent Thornton recorded the final out for his third save.

Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suarez and JJ Bleday each hit solo homers for the Reds, who have lost five of their last eight games. Starter Nick Lodolo yielded two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts before exiting the game with a blister on his left index finger after allowing Kelly’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning.

–Field Level Media