Matt Moore isn’t only breaking records set by reigning Cy Young winner David Price, he’s performing at a level that’s drawing comparisons with a pretty good southpaw named Babe Ruth.
Moore pitched seven innings of five-hit ball to stay unbeaten, Luke Scott and Matt Joyce homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Orioles, 3-1, Sunday for a three-game sweep in Baltimore.
Moore (8-0) gave up one run, struck out three, and walked one to become the first eight-game winner in the majors. The lefthander has won nine straight decisions dating to last season, breaking the franchise record of eight set last year by Price.
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Not only that, but the 23-year-old is the youngest lefty to start a season 8-0 since Ruth did it in 1917 for the Red Sox at 22.
‘‘Historically speaking, it’s been wonderful,’’ Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Moore’s season.
Tampa Bay is 9-0 in Moore’s starts.
‘‘It’s good for our team. That’s the biggest thing we can take away from my record,’’ Moore said.
Joel Peralta worked a perfect eighth and Fernando Rodney got his eighth save.
The Rays’ ninth victory in 11 games left them a season-high three games over .500 (23-20) and lifted Tampa Bay into a third-place tie with Baltimore in the AL East.
Adam Jones had two hits and drove in a run for the Orioles, who have dropped five straight — all at home. Baltimore managed only five hits, none after the sixth inning.
Phillies 3, Reds 2 — Erik Kratz and Freddy Galvis hit back-to-back homers off Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth to give Philadelphia a stunning victory.
Chapman (3-2) walked pinch hitter Delmon Young on four pitches to open the inning. Pitcher Cliff Lee pinch ran and was caught trying to steal second base, but Kratz hit a tying shot to left and Galvis followed by lining a 1-and-1 pitch just inside the foul pole in left.
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Rangers 11, Tigers 8 — David Murphy hit go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth for host Texas, which overcame the second career three-homer game by Miguel Cabrera.
Indians 6, Mariners 0 — Justin Masterson (7-2) struck out 11 in seven shutout innings for host Cleveland and Michael Brantley drove in four runs off Seattle ace Felix Hernandez (5-3).
Braves 5, Dodgers 2 — Ramiro Pena had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in a four-run eighth for host Atlanta, which rallied against Los Angeles’s beleaguered bullpen in a game twice delayed by rain.
Athletics 4, Royals 3 — Yoenis Cespedes’s leadoff homer in the eighth broke a 3-3 tie and gave Oakland a three-game sweep of visiting Kansas City.
Angels 6, White Sox 2 — Jason Vargas (3-3) scattered four hits over seven scoreless innings, and Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick each hit a two-run double for host Los Angeles.
Rockies 5, Giants 0— At Denver, Juan Nicasio (4-1) tossed six scoreless innings to help Colorado to its first series win over San Francisco in two years.
Cardinals 4, Brewers 2 — Host St. Louis scored four times in the fourth to support rookie John Gast, who improved to 2-0 while pitching into the sixth.
Padres 13, Nationals 4 — San Diego tied its season high in runs and Will Venable, Kyle Blanks, and Yonder Alonso all went deep against visiting Washington.
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Marlins 2, Diamondbacks 1 — Ricky Nolasco (3-5) struck out 11 to help host Miami break a season-high seven-game skid.
Mets 4, Cubs 3 — Daniel Murphy led off the eighth with a tiebreaking homer and New York earned its first series win at Wrigley Field since 2007.
Pirates 1, Astros 0 — Jeff Locke was strong over seven innings to win his fourth straight decision and Pedro Alvarez went deep in the fifth for Pittsburgh.
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The Blue Jays and Yankees were washed out by rain in New York. No makeup date was announced. The teams are not scheduled to meet again in the Bronx until Aug. 20-22.