By Ron Kaplan, contributor

Congrats to Ian Kinsler. He became the fifth MOT to reach 10 home runs this year, thanks to a leadoff shot to start the game. He also walked and scored another run in four plate appearances as the Detroit Tigers (50-57) beat the host Baltimore Orioles (53-55), 7-5. It was the fifth time this year and 45th in his career that Kinsler began a game with a bang.  Richard Bleier pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Orioles, allowing one hit, and reducing his ERA to an A.L.-best 1.56 ERA (see story).

Danny Valencia hit his 12th home run and 17th double for the Seattle Mariners (55-55), who lost to the host KC Royals, 6-4. Valencia, who also walked and scored an additional run, leads all JMLs with 54 RBsI. The solo shot — an opposite field job — came in the fourth inning to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead but had to be reviewed before becoming official.

Alex Bregman had two singles and a double (#27) in four at-bats, stealing twice, scoring once and driving in a run, but the Houston Astros (69-39) nevertheless lost to the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3.

Brad Goldberg gave up a run on two hits in 1.1 innings and still got his ERA down, to an even — if ugly — 9.00 as the Chicago White Sox (41-65) lost to the host Boston Red Sox, 9-5.

Joc Pederson popped up on the first pitch he saw as a pinch-hitter as the LA Dodgers (76-32) beat the host Atlanta Braves, 7-4.

Ryan Braun did not appear for the Milwaukee Brewers (57-53) in their 2-1 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

The other Ryan (Lavarnway) did not appear for the Oakland As (48-61) in their 11-2 loss to the host San Francisco Giants.

Kevin Pillar and the Toronto Blue Jays had the day off.

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