Pirates put MVP Andrew McCutchen on DL

The Royals won their eighth straight and took over the AL Central lead last night when Yordano Ventura outdueled Sonny Gray during a 3-2 win over the A's in Kansas City .

The victory, coupled with a loss by Detroit in Pittsburgh, gave the long-suffering Royals a division lead at the latest point in a season since 2003.

Alcides Escobar drove in a run in the second inning before delivering a two-out RBI single off Gray (12-6) in the seventh, putting Kansas City in front and sending the crowd to its feet. Ventura gave up two runs in six innings but did not figure in the decision. Greg Holland worked the ninth for his 35th save.

It gave the Royals, eight games out of first place on July 21, their 16th win in 19 games.

Rays 7, Rangers 0: Drew Smyly (7-10) allowed three hits in 72/3 innings in his first win since the David Price trade for visiting Tampa Bay.

Pirates 11, Tigers 6: Travis Snider hit two home runs, and Starling Marte drove in three runs for host Pittsburgh. Loser Justin Verlander (10-11) left after one inning with right shoulder soreness. He gave up five runs -- four earned -- on four hits. The Pirates played without Andrew McCutchen, who was placed on the 15-day DL with a broken rib.

Marlins 6, Cardinals 5: Giancarlo Stanton hit two home runs and made a spectacular diving catch in rightfield to help host Miami beat St. Louis. Stanton's 13th multi-homer game tied Hanley Ramirez for second place on the club's all-time home run list with 148. Stanton has 31 on the season, tops in the National League. Marlins starter Tom Koehler (8-9) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings. Steve Cishek escaped the ninth to record his 30th save in 33 chances.

Dodgers 6, Braves 2: Kevin Correia won his debut with visiting Los Angeles, outpitching Atlanta All-Star Julio Teheran. The Dodgers increased its NL West lead to five games over idle San Francisco. The Braves have dropped 10 of 12 and fallen four games behind NL East-leading Washington. Correia, who gave up one run in six innings, was tied for the major league lead in losses with a 5-13 record when he was traded from Minnesota to Los Angeles. Teheran (10-9) allowed five runs and nine hits in 71/3 innings.

Brewers 3, Cubs 1: Yovani Gallardo (7-6) gave up a run in seven sparkling innings and Khris Davis had a tiebreaking RBI double for visiting Milwaukee. Mark Reynolds hit his 20th homer for the Brewers as the NL Central leaders opened a seven-game trip with its fourth victory in five games. Francisco Rodriguez earned his major league-best 36th save in 40 opportunities. -- AP