Better 8 than never: KC streaks into race

Better 8 than never: KC streaks into race

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals continue to ride dominating starting pitching with their seventh quality start in their last eight games.

This time it was back to left-hander Danny Duffy, who held the Twins to one run, while Eric Hosmer's go-ahead RBI double in the sixth was the difference offensively for the Royals in a 2-1 win on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City swept the four-game series with its eighth straight victory. Minnesota dropped to 2-11 in the season series and is 0-7 vs. Kansas City on the road.

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Jeffrey Flanagan has covered the Royals since 1991, and for MLB.com since 2015. Follow him on Twitter @FlannyMLB.

Rhett Bollinger has covered the Twins for MLB.com since 2011. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger and listen to his podcast.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Yo's homer all sparkling Thor needs vs. Giants

Yo's homer all sparkling Thor needs vs. Giants

SAN FRANCISCO -- Yoenis Cespedes smashed a two-run home run to left field in the seventh and Noah Syndergaard pitched eight shutdown innings as the Mets earned a series split and beat the Giants, 2-0, at AT&T Park.

Cespedes's blast to left field was just the second hit Giants right-hander Jeff Samardzija allowed Sunday night, but it proved to be the difference. The hit came after Curtis Granderson ended Samardzija's no-hit bid with a double to left field and punctuated the six-year veteran's return to the Mets lineup. Cespedes has hit three home runs in his first three games since returning from the disabled list.

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Mark Chiarelli is a reporter for MLB.com and covered the Mets on Sunday.

Justin Wise is a reporter for MLB.com based in the Bay Area.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Today's starting lineups: Aug. 22

Below are today's starting lineups that have been made public by Major League Baseball's clubs.

A lineup is not official until it is handed to the umpire.

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Indians don't balk at late drama, edge Jays

Indians don't balk at late drama, edge Jays

CLEVELAND -- Everyone in the ballpark knew it was gone as soon as it left his bat. Jose Ramirez's eighth-inning, two-run blast over the wall in left lifted the Indians past the Blue Jays, 3-2, in Sunday's series finale at Progressive Field.

According to Statcast™, Ramirez's homer off Jays reliever Brett Cecil went an estimated 401 feet with an exit velocity of 104 mph. It was his 10th home run of the season, with six of them coming in the eighth or ninth inning. It pushed the Tribe past Toronto in the rubber game between two first-place clubs in a potential postseason preview.

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Gregor Chisholm has covered the Blue Jays for MLB.com since 2011. Follow him on Twitter @gregorMLB and Facebook, and listen to his podcast.

Shane Jackson is a reporter for MLB.com based in Cleveland.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

First-place Dodgers face Reds on MLB.TV

Battle of Beltways begins; AL postseason hopefuls in play today

First-place Dodgers face Reds on MLB.TV

Perhaps we should've known all along that the National League West race between the Dodgers and Giants would come down to the very end.

It sure didn't look that way eight weeks ago. On the morning of June 27, the Dodgers learned that their ace Clayton Kershaw, in the midst of an historic season, had seriously aggravated a lower back injury in the team's 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh the night before. With Kershaw on his way to the disabled list, Los Angeles looked up and saw itself a season-high eight games back of the Giants.

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Matt Kelly is a reporter for MLB.com based in New York. Follow him on Twitter at @mattkellyMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

To trot or not to trot? HR delayed by pain

Carter initially unsure if game-tying blast had cleared Safeco wall or been caught

To trot or not to trot? HR delayed by pain

SEATTLE -- Chris Carter loves hitting at Safeco Field, but usually when he hits a home run, he knows it's gone. Take, for example, the 465-foot blast the Brewers' slugger slammed in Friday night's series opener between Milwaukee and the Mariners. That one was the longest long ball in the 17-year history of this ballpark.

In the Brewers' 7-6 win on Sunday, Carter came up with another round-tripper, and -- among his 18 career homers vs. Seattle -- this dinger was perhaps his masterpiece. The two-run tater tied the game with one out in the ninth inning.

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Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @DougMillerMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Gurriel singles, strains hamstring in debut

Hinch says Cuban is day to day, but could have finished game

Gurriel singles, strains hamstring in debut

BALTIMORE -- It was a dream more than 15 years -- plus nearly five hours -- in the making, but borders and politics always stood in the way. Yulieski Gurriel, at 32 years old, knew he was running short on time if he wanted to reach the pinnacle of the sport and play in the big leagues, which is why he took a chance and defected from Cuba with his brother earlier this year.

Gurriel, who defected following the Caribbean Series in February and signed with the Astros in July for $47.5 million, finally stepped onto a Major League field Sunday and made an immediate impact. He singled in his first at-bat and finished 1-for-2 with a walk before leaving with a strained right hamstring in the Astros' 5-3 win over the Orioles. He's day to day.

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Brian McTaggart has covered the Astros since 2004, and for MLB.com since 2009. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Week Ahead: Contenders clash from coast to coast

Dodgers lead Giants by half-game; Beltway Series renewed

Week Ahead: Contenders clash from coast to coast

There's only a quarter of the MLB regular season left to be played, and it's time for teams with an eye on the playoffs to make their move. This week shouldn't disappoint: in the last dog days of August, baseball's heavyweights are set to duke it out from coast to coast.

On Tuesday in Los Angeles, the Giants and Dodgers, neck-and-neck for the National League West title, meet for the first of nine critical games remaining between them this season. Across the country, the Nationals and Orioles, both in postseason position, clash in the Beltway Series, starting Monday -- two games in Baltimore, followed by two in D.C.

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David Adler is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @_dadler. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Catch the best plays from MLB last week

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Catch the best plays from MLB last week

Week 20 of the MLB season is over, and it was full of incredible moments. The D-backs' Racing Legends took a dip in the Chase Field pool, Orbit tried to qualify for the rhythmic gymnastics team and the Brewers started a left-handed pitcher for the first time in 474 games.

But what were the best plays from week 20? Tell us below.

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Galvis wants more protective netting for fans

Shortstop still shaken after foul ball hit little girl in face

Galvis wants more protective netting for fans

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis remains upset and shaken that a foul ball he hit into the stands struck a young fan in the face on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.

The girl had to be transferred to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for further evaluation. No update was available on her status as of late Sunday afternoon.

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Todd Zolecki has covered the Phillies since 2003, and for MLB.com since 2009. Read his Phillies blog The Zo Zone, follow him on Twitter and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Jeffress makes strides while taking on epilepsy

Longtime condition gives Rangers reliever unique perspective on game, life

Jeffress makes strides while taking on epilepsy

ST. PETERSBURG -- Rangers reliever Jeremy Jeffress believes his long and harrowing battle with seizures and juvenile epilepsy began at 15 with a freak accident on a basketball court.

"Me and my buddy were out there," Jeffress said. "I was trying to do some dunks and stuff. This kid literally came out of nowhere. I literally did not see this kid and I went up for a dunk and there was his basketball, right under my landing. I slipped on it and hit my head hard. My body froze. I got up, my head was dizzy and I just walked home. Didn't think anything else of it.

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T.R. Sullivan has covered the Rangers since 1989, and for MLB.com since 2006. Follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Bullpen of the Week: Relievers stoke red-hot Royals

KC 'pen holds opposition scoreless as team wins 8 straight

Bullpen of the Week: Relievers stoke red-hot Royals

Forget about the defending World Series champion Royals? Do so at your own peril.

Kansas City is as hot as any team in baseball after extending its win streak to eight games with a 2-1 victory over the Twins on Sunday. The Royals' 9-1 run over their last 10 games has them just 3 1/2 games back of Baltimore for the second American League Wild Card spot, which is remarkable given that they sat 9 1/2 games out on Aug. 6.

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Matt Kelly is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mattkellyMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Ellsbury's grab robs Pujols of homer history

Ellsbury's grab robs Pujols of homer history

ANAHEIM -- Less than 24 hours after Brett Gardner went horizontal to rob the Angels of a homer, Jacoby Ellsbury made a leaping grab of his own over the center-field wall to rob Albert Pujols of a historic home run.

With Mike Trout on first and two outs, Pujols hit a Statcast-projected 101 mph, 395-foot fly ball that would have given him 584 career homers. That would have broken a tie with Mark McGwire for 10th on the all-time list that Pujols achieved Saturday night when he went deep off Dellin Betances in a 5-1 loss.

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Jack Baer is a reporter for MLB.com based in Los Angeles. He covered the Yankees on Sunday. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Alyson Footer

Rangers holding steady in Power Rankings

Royals' win streak has them moving up; Orioles fall out of top 5

Rangers holding steady in Power Rankings

It wasn't that long ago that the Rangers seemed poised to run away with the American League West title, especially after landing two key pieces in Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy at the non-waiver Trade Deadline.

The Rangers are still in control, but they may have to make some room at the top of the division if the Mariners continue to make a push that has made them one of the most successful teams since the All-Star break.

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Alyson Footer is a national correspondent for MLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @alysonfooter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Blue Jays option All-Star Sanchez to Minor Leagues

Toronto makes move since right-hander was going to have start skipped

Blue Jays option All-Star Sanchez to Minor Leagues

CLEVELAND -- The Blue Jays have found a creative way to limit Aaron Sanchez's workload this season by deciding to option the powerful right-hander to Class A Advanced Dunedin on Sunday.

The move is designed to protect Sanchez, who has tossed a career-high 156 1/3 innings this season. Toronto's goal is to have Sanchez finish the year in the starting rotation, and the hope is that a little breather now will help that become a reality.

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Gregor Chisholm has covered the Blue Jays for MLB.com since 2011. Follow him on Twitter @gregorMLB and Facebook, and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Richard Justice

Starter kit: KC rides rotation back into contention

Duffy emerges as ace for revitalized defending champs

Starter kit: KC rides rotation back into contention

It's not just that the Kansas City Royals' bullpen may again be the best in baseball. Been there, done that.

Nor is it that the Royals are playing the kind of take-your-breath-away defense that helped get them to the World Series the past two seasons. Kansas City has also done that before.

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Richard Justice is a columnist for MLB.com. Read his blog, Justice4U. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

MLB.com Columnist

Mike Petriello

After week off, slugging Harper looks like his old self again

Has .526 on-base and .700 slugging since taking seat

After week off, slugging Harper looks like his old self again

It's probably too simplistic to merely say "Bryce Harper struggled for months, sat for a week, and has been fantastic since." It's probably a bit of cherry-picking to also note that a struggling Justin Upton sat for three days and has been crushing since, or that a struggling Andrew McCutchen sat for three days and has been outstanding since, or that the Cubs have currently given a struggling Jason Heyward a long weekend off and are hoping for similar returns. We don't know what we don't know.

Here's what we do know: In eight games since returning from what the Nationals termed a "stiff neck," Harper has looked a whole lot more like the hitter who terrorized pitchers in 2015 and early on in 2016, and a whole lot less like the player who'd mysteriously lost nearly all of his power in May, June, and July.

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Mike Petriello is an analyst for MLB.com and the host of the Statcast podcast. He has previously written for ESPN Insider and FanGraphs. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Dodgers cool down Reds behind dealing Urias

Dodgers cool down Reds behind dealing Urias

CINCINNATI -- Chase Utley and Julio Urias established the point early that Sunday would be a better day for the Dodgers. Utley gave his team its first lead of the series when he led off the game with a home run and played a part in two other runs in a 4-0 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. That snapped a three-game losing streak for Los Angeles while also ending Cincinnati's five-game winning streak.

The victory, combined with the Giants' 2-0 loss Sunday night against the Mets, lifted the Dodgers back into first place, a half-game ahead of their National League West rivals, who come to Los Angeles for a three-game series starting Tuesday.   

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Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast.

Cody Pace is a reporter for MLB.com based in Cincinnati and covered the Dodgers on Sunday.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Arenado surpasses 100 RBIs in rout of Cubs

Arenado surpasses 100 RBIs in rout of Cubs

DENVER -- Nolan Arenado's discontent came to a head Saturday night, when he and a hitting confidant argued until finding the cause. Arenado provided the solution Sunday afternoon, when he delivered two three-run homers in the Rockies' 11-4 rout of the National League Central-leading Cubs at Coors Field.

Batting-practice pitcher Garrett Carson, whose voice Arenado listens to, thought he was doing things right without good results. But Arenado, 1-for-16 this homestand before Sunday's 4-for-5 performance, knew something was off. Video revealed a slightly longer-than-recommended stride.

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Thomas Harding has covered the Rockies since 2000, and for MLB.com since 2002. Follow him on Twitter @harding_at_mlb, listen to podcasts and like his Facebook page.

Ben Weinrib is a reporter for MLB.com based in Denver and covered the Cubs on Sunday.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Pipeline preview: Alvarez aims to extend hitless streak

Pipeline preview: Alvarez aims to extend hitless streak

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in Monday's Minor League action:

Hitter to watch: Hunter Dozier (Royals' No. 2), Omaha vs. Nashville (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)

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Mike Rosenbaum is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @GoldenSombrero. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

With mammoth HRs, J-Up busts out in big way

Tigers slugger had been slumping, but stayed positive

With mammoth HRs, J-Up busts out in big way

DETROIT -- As Justin Upton simmered over the 420-foot double he hit off the center-field wall Saturday night, denied a game-tying home run by inches in his first game back in the lineup, he was asked if he could still take positives out of his return.

"I try to take positives out of every day," he said early Sunday morning.

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Jason Beck has covered the Tigers for MLB.com since 2002. Read Beck's Blog, follow him on Twitter @beckjason and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

This Pirates baby really wanted to eat some ice cream but UGH brain freeze

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This Pirates baby really wanted to eat some ice cream but UGH brain freeze

Everybody loves ice cream. It's delicious. You want to eat it all the time and as fast as you possibly can. The only problem is that it's very cold. This can result in brain freeze, aka sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia (yeah,that's what scientists call it).

A baby watching the Marlins' 3-2 win over the Pirates game on on Sunday probably knew these things, but maybe not as well as a fully-grown person, and the baby felt the sweet agony we've all felt multiple times in our lives.

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Delayed response: Astros take 3 of 4 from O's

Delayed response: Astros take 3 of 4 from O's

BALTIMORE -- The Astros are becoming road warriors when they need it most.

Houston used a solid start from Dallas Keuchel and capitalized on Baltimore's defensive woes in a three-run fifth to take their third straight win at Camden Yards, a 5-3 victory that clinched a series win for Houston in the four-game visit and a 6-1 record against the Orioles for the season series.

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Brittany Ghiroli has covered the Orioles for MLB.com since 2010. Read her blog, Britt's Bird Watch, follow her on Facebook and Twitter @britt_ghiroli, and listen to her podcast.

Brian McTaggart has covered the Astros since 2004, and for MLB.com since 2009. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter and listen to his podcast.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Cards crank 4 HRs in Leake's scoreless start

Cards crank 4 HRs in Leake's scoreless start

PHILADELPHIA -- The homer-happy Cardinals belted four balls out of Citizens Bank Park on Sunday and ended their road trip with an offensive outburst in a 9-0 win over the Phillies.

Brandon Moss, Stephen Piscotty, Jedd Gyorko and Jeremy Hazelbaker all went deep for St. Louis, and the team has now homered in 11 straight games -- 10 of which have been multi-homer contests. Moss and Piscotty hit leadoff homers in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, while Gyorko and Hazelbaker each hit two-run shots in a four-run eighth. Mike Leake pitched seven shutout innings for the Cardinals in the rubber match of the series.

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Stephen Pianovich is a contributor to MLB.com based in Philadelphia and covered the Cardinals on Sunday.

Todd Zolecki has covered the Phillies since 2003, and for MLB.com since 2009. Read his Phillies blog The Zo Zone, follow him on Twitter and listen to his podcast.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Yelich homers to back Urena, secure sweep of Bucs

Yelich homers to back Urena, secure sweep of Bucs

PITTSBURGH -- From spot starter to staple in the rotation. That's what the Marlins are asking of Jose Urena, and the right-hander came through with a composed six strong innings that set the tone in a 3-2 Miami win over the Pirates on Sunday at PNC Park.

Christian Yelich knocked a first-inning home run off Ryan Vogelsong, and the Marlins were able to complete a three-game sweep that puts them 1 1/2 games ahead of Pittsburgh in the National League Wild Card race. After recording its first sweep at Pittsburgh since 2011, Miami remains 1 1/2 games behind the Cardinals for the second Wild Card spot.

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Joe Frisaro has covered the Marlins for MLB.com since 2002. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro and listen to his podcast.

George Von Benko is a contributor for MLB.com based in Pittsburgh and covered the Pirates on Sunday.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Thor gives his all in gem against Giants

Thor gives his all in gem against Giants

SAN FRANCISCO -- Terry Collins asked Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen to check on Noah Syndergaard prior to the start of the ninth inning in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Giants. Collins, fully intending to send Syndergaard back to the mound to finish off one of his strongest starts of the season, received a surprising update on his ace.

Syndergaard was tiring.

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Mark Chiarelli is a reporter for MLB.com and covered the Mets on Sunday. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Beat the Streak leader within 5 of tying all-time mark

Beat the Streak leader within 5 of tying all-time mark

The top Beat the Streak players are inching ever-closer to the grand prize. User "csteele12" improved to a 44-game streak on Sunday night with a hit by the Astros' George Springer, while fellow player "jmd4221" stayed close behind, at 42 games, thanks to the D-backs' Paul Goldschmidt.

On Sunday, both players' streaks went through the Southwest. Springer preserved the streak for "csteele12," the current overall leader, with a fifth-inning single against the Orioles following an 0-for-2 start to the game. For "jmd4221," Goldschmidt singled in his second at-bat against the Padres to keep the streak alive. ("jmd4221" also attempted to double down with a second D-backs palyer, Jean Segura, but Segura did not play -- and therefore did not affect the streak, as he did not record an official at-bat.)

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Matt Kelly is a reporter for MLB.com based in New York. Follow him on Twitter at @mattkellyMLB. David Adler is a reporter for MLB.com based in New York. Follow him on Twitter at @_dadler. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Peterson's walk-off HR lifts Braves over Nats

Peterson's walk-off HR lifts Braves over Nats

ATLANTA -- As Nationals manager Dusty Baker often says, "The Braves never give up." And that was proven once again on Sunday afternoon at Turner Field as Atlanta rallied for a 7-6 win on Jace Peterson's walk-off home run in the 10th inning.

With the score tied at 6, Peterson -- who also crashed into the wall in center to make a catch in the third inning -- swung at a 3-2 pitch off Shawn Kelley and hit the ball into the right-field seats for his seventh home run of the season.

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Bill Ladson has covered the Nationals/Expos for MLB.com since 2002 and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the Time. He also can be found on Twitter @WashingNats.

Pat James is a reporter for MLB.com based in Atlanta.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Watch this D-backs prospect somersault over the wall to make an incredible catch

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Watch this D-backs prospect somersault over the wall to make an incredible catch

Spokane Indians DH Seth Spivey hit a line drive toward foul territory during his team's game against the Hillsboro Hops on Sunday afternoon. The ball sailed left -- looking like it would head straight over the short fence along the foul line. Maybe a fan would catch it? A little kid came racin -- OH MY GOD LUIS VERAS WHAT ARE YOU DOING.

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Comeback Crew! Brewers rally to top M's

Comeback Crew! Brewers rally to top M's

SEATTLE -- With rookie closer Edwin Diaz not available after a 34-pitch save in his last outing Friday, the Mariners saw relievers Tom Wilhelmsen and Vidal Nuno surrender four runs on six hits in the ninth inning as the Brewers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-6 comeback win at Safeco Field on Sunday.

"This whole week we've been grinding out ABs, grinding out games, and it just hasn't really worked out for us," said Brewers center fielder Keon Broxton. "Today we kept battling with the same mindset. Just go in there and get a win and battle hard. And we came out with a 'W' there."

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Greg Johns has covered the Mariners since 1997, and for MLB.com since 2011. Follow him on Twitter @GregJohnsMLB and listen to his podcast.

Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @DougMillerMLB.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.