Settling the Score: Saturday's results - MLB

It sure looks like the battle for the National League Central will be going down to the wire this season.

Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke decided to get most of his regressing out of the way in one start, yielding eight runs on 10 hits over just two innings Saturday night in a 15-5 blowout loss to the Diamondbacks. The Cardinals, a bit earlier in the day, took care of business at Wrigley Field, blanking the rival Cubs 4-0 with Yadier Molina homering for the first time since his knee sprain. The Reds couldn’t muster any offense at Milwaukee’s Miller Park, falling 2-0.

Pittsburgh is 72-50 with a two-game division lead over the 70-52 Redbirds. Cincy (69-54) is 3 1/2 back.

Your Saturday box scores and recaps:

Yankees 1, Red Sox 6

Cardinals 4, Cubs 0

Diamondbacks 15, Pirates 5

Rockies 4, Orioles 8

Dodgers 5, Phillies 0

Mariners 3, Rangers 15

Nationals 8, Braves 7 (15 innings)

Mets 2, Padres 8

Astros 5, Angels 6 (10 innings)

Indians 7, Athletics 1

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CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Guardians traded outfielder Will Benson to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday for outfielder Justin Boyd.

The defending AL Central champions also will get a player to be named from the Reds in the swap.

Cincinnati drafted Boyd in the second round last year out of Oregon State. He led the Pac-12 with a .373 batting average and 24 steals in 2022. The 21-year-old batted .203 in 73 at-bats for Class-A Daytona.

The 6-foot-5 Benson spent 28 games with the Guardians last season, batting .182 with three RBIs in 28 games. The 24-year-old struggled at the plate, striking out 19 times in just 55 at-bats.

Benson was once considered one of Cleveland’s top outfield prospects, but has since been surpassed by Steven Kwan, Oscar Gonzalez and Will Brennan.

Settling the Score: Saturday’s results

Guardians trade OF Will Benson to Reds for OF Justin Boyd