Former Twin Alex Meyer wins first major league game

Former Twins pitcher Alex Meyer won his first major league game on Sunday, then donned a "Cat in the Hat" suit for the team flight to Texas.

The victory was his reward for pitching five shutout innings for the Los Angeles Angels, who beat the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 4-0. The getup was his penance for being a rookie.

In his fourth career start, including his third with the Angels, Meyer gave up two hits, walked three and struck out a career-high seven. A disappointment with the Twins, the 6-9 righthander was traded to Los Angeles on Aug. 1 along with Ricky Nolasco.

"It was awesome, it's something that you think about for a long time," Meyer said. "I don't want to say it gets a monkey off your back, but to be able to get that is pretty special. I can't really put it into words, but it was a fun day."

Meyer had to sit through a 13-minute delay in the bottom of the third inning when a swarm of bees took over shallow right field. ("We got to share the world," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "That's the best way I could put it.")

After his last start, Meyer went back and watched film of some of his collegiate starts for Kentucky and also worked with pitching coach Charles Nagy and special assistant Bud Black in an effort to repeat an old delivery and change his arm slot.

"I think that he understands some of the things he needs to get back to from when he pitched in college and where he feels really comfortable throwing the ball," Scioscia said. "His stuff out there today was explosive. He had great command, great velocity, he was spinning the ball well, threw some good changeups. Some pitches got away from him, but for the most part, he was very pitch-efficient and effective."

Detroit 9, Cleveland 5: J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton homered as the visiting Tigers defeated the AL Central-leading Indians for only the second time in 15 tries this season. Cabrera added his 2,500th career hit. Upton's two-run shot in the fifth cleared the 19-foot-high wall in center field and traveled an estimated 450 feet, and Upton stood at home plate for several seconds admiring the homer before slowly trotting around the bases.

Baltimore 2, Tampa Bay 1: Mark Trumbo and Manny Machado homered for the host Orioles, who improved to 16-47 when scoring three runs or fewer. Trumbo's homer was his major league-leading 43rd.

Kansas City 10, Chicago 3: Kendrys Morales homered for his 1,000th career hit and drove in four runs for the host Royals. Morales was hitting .191 on June 5 but is up to .261 with 28 home runs and 85 RBI. Todd Frazier hit his 37th homer, a White Sox record for a third baseman.

Oakland 5, Texas 2: Khris Davis hit his 39th and 40th homers of the season for the visiting Athletics. Davis is the first A's player to hit 40 homers since Jason Giambi had 43 in 2000. Davis has 10 homers in 15 games against the Rangers.

Seattle 7, Houston 3: Seth Smith hit a pair of home runs and drove in four for the host Mariners. Seattle has won nine of its past 11 games.

Milwaukee 3, Chicago 1: Tyler Thornburg struck out Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo with two on in the ninth as the visiting Brewers beat the Cubs. Major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks took the loss.

Cincinnati 7, Pittsburgh 4: Joey Votto had four hits, including a home run, and Tucker Barnhart tied his career high with four RBI for the host Reds.

Miami 5, Philadelphia 4: The visiting Marlins scored three runs in the eighth, the first two on Christian Yelich's home run.

Colorado 6, San Diego 3: Chad Bettis won his 13th game for the host Rockies.

Atlanta 6, Washington 2: The visiting Nationals lost to the Braves for only the fourth time in 19 meetings this season.