Baseball

HOUSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez struck out eight in seven strong innings and combined with Seth Martinez for a two-hitter, and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 3-0 on Wednesday for their season-high fourth straight victory.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants signed veteran catcher Curt Casali to a one-year contract on Wednesday amid a growing number of injuries on their roster.

ATLANTA (AP) — Javier Assad pitched six shutout innings and the Chicago Cubs avoided being swept for the first time this season by beating the Atlanta Braves 7-1 on Wednesday night.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper homered, doubled and drove in three runs, unbeaten Ranger Suárez became the first eight-game winner in the majors and the streaking Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York Mets 10-5 on Wednesday night.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Austin Gomber allowed two hits in six innings, Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck homered and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 8-0 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep with their seventh straight victory.

SEATTLE (AP) — Ty France homered for the second time in three games, Bryan Woo allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings for his first win and the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Wednesday.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Max Scherzer was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, when the Texas Rangers made a move they initially avoided at the start of the season when there was some hope the three-time Cy Young Award winner might return

PHOENIX (AP) — Brandon Pfaadt threw seven stellar innings, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 on Wednesday.

CHICAGO (AP) — Korey Lee went 3 for 3 with an RBI, Garrett Crochet tossed five scoreless innings and the Chicago White Sox topped the Washington Nationals 2-0 on Wednesday for their second straight win.

SEATTLE (AP) — Umpire Jim Wolf was pulled for precautionary reasons during the fifth inning of Wednesday’s game between the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners after taking a foul ball off his facemask.