Roki Sasaki goes 7 innings and Kyle Tucker hits 2-run homer for Dodgers in 4-2 win over Mets

NEW YORK (AP) — Roki Sasaki pitched seven sparkling innings, Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets 4-2 on Friday night.

Freddie Freeman had three hits and Shohei Ohtani put Los Angeles ahead 2-1 with a sacrifice fly off Brooks Raley (4-5) in the seventh.

Tucker homered against left-hander A.J. Minter with two outs in the eighth after Freeman singled leading off the inning and stole second base. It was the eighth homer this year and first since June 27 for the slumping Tucker, who spurned the Mets in free agency last offseason to sign a $240 million, four-year contract with the Dodgers.

Luis Robert Jr. and Francisco Alvarez homered for New York in the opener of a 10-game homestand. The last-place Mets (43-61) fell a season-worst 18 games under .500 as they prepare for a selloff ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

New York slugger Juan Soto was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth because of left calf soreness.

Coming off a fine outing at Yankee Stadium a week ago, Sasaki (4-5) allowed one run and three hits while striking out nine and walking two for his first win in nine starts since May 23 at Milwaukee. He retired his final nine batters, striking out five.

Alvarez went deep against Evan Phillips in the eighth before Tanner Scott worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Mets starter Sean Manaea pitched six effective innings and gave up only Miguel Rojas' tying sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Manaea was helped out by rookie right fielder Carson Benge, who had a pair of assists. Benge relayed to shortstop Francisco Lindor to throw out Ohtani trying to stretch a leadoff double in the fifth, then cut down Freeman at home plate with a 100 mph throw after catching Rojas' flyball for an inning-ending double play in the sixth.

The crowd of 35,338 on Japanese Heritage Night at Citi Field was filled with fans of the Dodgers, who outhit the Mets 11-4 and improved to 4-0 against them this season. The two-time defending World Series champions won their third straight game and upped the best record in the majors to 66-38.

Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-6, 2.78 ERA) faces Mets rookie Nolan McLean (7-6, 3.34) in an attractive matchup Saturday night. The two hooked up for a tight pitchers' duel April 14 in Los Angeles.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Mets' Sean Manaea pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, July 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani follows through on a sacrifice fly ball to drive in a run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Kyle Tucker (23) celebrates with Freddie Freeman (5) after they scored on two-run home run by Tucker during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, left, reacts as Los Angeles Dodgers' Kyle Tucker follows through on a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Roki Sasaki pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

CHICAGO (AP) — Christian Walker hit a three-run double, Cam Smith added a two-run homer in Houston’s eight-run sixth inning and the Astros overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Friday night.

Jeremy Peña and Jose Altuve had three hits apiece for Houston.

Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti left the mound during his warmup pitches and was relieved by AJ Blubaugh to begin the second inning. Arrighetti allowed three runs and two hits, walked two and hit two batters.

Kai-Wei Teng (5-6) pitched two innings for the victory.

Braden Montgomery had a career-high three hits and an RBI for the White Sox. Chase Meidroth doubled and drove in two runs.

Yordan Alvarez hit a leadoff single in the sixth, Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch and Altuve singled to load the bases before LaMonte Wade Jr. singled in a run to chase starter Davis Martin. Two pitches later, Walker hit a three-run double off Bryan Hudson (3-3) and Smith added his 13th homer of the season to give the Astros a 6-5 lead.

Peña singled with two outs and moved to second on a balk, Alvarez was intentionally walked and Seranthony Domínguez replaced Hudson. Paredes walked to load the bases, Altuve singled in a run and Wade walked on four pitches to score Alvarez and make it 8-5.

Alvarez has a 10-game hitting streak.

Isaac Paredes went 0 for 3 and had his eight-game hit streak snapped.

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (1-1, 4.05 ERA) was set to start Saturday against Sean Burke (7-4, 3.20) in the second of a three-game series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Houston Astros' LaMonte Wade Jr, left, is safe at as Chicago White Sox catcher Drew Romo, right, stands nearby during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Houston Astros' Christian Walker hits a three-run double against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Houston Astros' Cam Smith hits a two-run homer against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Houston Astros' Cam Smith runs the bases after hitting a two-run homer against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)