By Ron Kaplan, contributor

Kevin Pillar launched a two-out, three-run homer (his 8th) in the top of the second to give the Toronto Blue Jays a 4-1 lead over the Oakland As. The home team came back to tie things up and send the game into extra innings. The Jays (29-31) ended up with a 7-5 win. It was Pillar’s only hit in four at-bats although he was hit by a pitch and scored a second run.

Alex Bregman was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, but the Houston Astros (42-18) fell to the host KC Royals, 7-5. He did have this amusing moment.

Ian Kinsler was 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored as the Detroit Tigers got back to the .500 mark (29-29) thanks to a 4-0 shutout over the visiting LA Angels. He did have this amusing moment/brain freeze. The Detroit Jewish News ran a story about Kinsler and Tigers manager Brad Ausmus “connecting with their Jewish roots.”

Danny Valencia was 0-for-4, striking out twice, but the Seattle Mariners reached the .500 point (30-30) thanks to two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the visiting Minnesota Twins (29-26), 6-5. Craig Breslow did not appear for the Twins.

Richard Bleier retired the only batter he faced as the Baltimore Orioles (31-26) beat the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-6.

Scott Feldman did not appear for the Cincinnati Reds (28-30) in their 6-4 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. He gets the start this afternoon.

Brad Goldberg did not appear for the Chicago White Sox (25-32) in their 3-1 loss to the host Tampa Bay Rays.

Ryan Braun (Milwaukee Brewers) and Joc Pederson (LA Dodgers) remain on the disabled list, although Pederson is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Friday.

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