Encarnacion Homers Twice, Jays Rout Rangers 12-2  —  TORONTO — Edwin Encarnacion hit his seventh career grand slam and a solo homer as the Toronto Blue Jays handed the slumping Texas Rangers their season-high sixth straight loss, 12-2 Friday night.  —  Russell Martin and Danny Valencia …

Ross, Kemp Lead Padres to 4-2 Win Over D-Backs  —  SAN DIEGO — Tyson Ross overcame control problems to combine on a two-hitter and Matt Kemp hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly, lifting the San Diego Padres to a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.  —  Ross (5-7) allowed just two hits and struck out seven in six innings.

Orioles Use 8th-Inning Run to Beat Indians 4-3  —  BALTIMORE — Chris Davis singled in the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning, J.J. Hardy homered and had two RBIs and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3 Friday night.  —  Jimmy Paredes had three hits and scored twice for the Orioles …

OPENLY GAY PITCHER DELIVERS HISTORIC GEM  —  Thursday night, I wrote a blog post about Sean Conroy, scheduled for his first professional start for the Pacific Association's Sonoma Stompers.  Well, things could hardly have turned out better for everyone involved...

Cano's HR Helps M's Beat Angels 3-1  —  LOS ANGELES — Taijuan Walker pitched seven sharp innings to win his fourth straight start, Robinson Cano homered and Nelson Cruz and Brad Miller had RBI doubles to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Holt's 10th-Inning Single Lifts Red Sox Over Rays 4-3  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mookie Betts doubled to extend his career-best hitting streak to 13 games and scored on Brock Holt's 10th-inning single to give the Boston Red Sox a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.

Brett Anderson Pitches Dodgers Past Slumping Marlins 7-1  —  MIAMI — Brett Anderson tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and allowed only one fly ball in seven innings Friday night to help the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-1 victory over the Miami Marlins, who lost their fifth straight game.

Mercer's Walk-Off Lifts Pirates to 3-2 Win Over Braves in 10  —  PITTSBURGH — Jordy Mercer doubled home Andrew McCutchen with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.  —  McCutchen doubled off Jason Grilli …

Bourjos Scores on Throwing Error in 10th as Cards Beat Cubs  —  ST. LOUIS — Peter Bourjos scored the winning run from third on a throwing error by Mike Baxter in the 10th inning to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.  —  Bourjos began the inning with a double off Justin Grimm (1-2).

Ryne Sandberg Resigns As Phillies Manager  —  Ryne Sandberg has resigned his role as the manager of the Phillies, he announced today.  The Hall-of-Fame second baseman was hired late in the 2013 season after Charlie Manuel lost his job.  He'll be replaced on an interim basis by Pete Mackanin.

Astros Recall Jon Singleton, Place Chad Qualls On DL  —  The Astros announced today that setup man Chad Qualls has been placed on the 15-day DL (retroactive to June 25) with a pinched nerve in his neck.  To fill his spot on the roster, Houston recalled first baseman Jon Singleton.

ICYMI: News on Matz, 6-man rotation, Wright, Murphy and Trades  —  Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins talked with reporters today for roughly 20 minutes, which you can listen to here...  In short, Triple-A LHP prospect Steven Matz will start for the Mets on Sunday, again creating a six-man rotation.

Syndergaard sharp as Mets beat Reds, 2-1  —  Despite only recording two hits, Noah Syndergaard threw eight solid innings as the New York Mets beat the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1, Friday at Citi Field.  —  Syndergaard (3-4) gave up five hits and one run in a career-high eight innings, striking out five batters on 89 pitches.

Jacob deGrom tosses eight scoreless innings as Mets snap seven-game streak with 2-0 win over Brewers  —  METS 2, BREWERS 0  —  MILWAUKEE — Get ready to meet the Matz.  —  As Jacob deGrom was pitching a brilliant game to stop the Mets' seven-game losing streak with a 2- win over the Brewers …