Josh Donaldson homered twice and drove in four runs, while Jon Lester struck out nine in six quality innings as the A’s posted an 11-3 win over the Royals on Tuesday night.

Right-hander Doug Fister pitched seven shutout innings and the Nationals erupted for four home runs, cruising to a 7-1 victory over the Mets on Tuesday night in New York.

Red-hot Chris Carter bashed two more home runs, giving him a Major League-leading 15 since the start of July, while tying a franchise record with his sixth multihomer game of the season to power the Astros to a 10-4 win over the Twins on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.

The Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program held the opening ceremonies banquet for the softball World Series on Tuesday evening at the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame room at Globe Life Park, welcoming the teams competing from all over the world.

It wasn’t exactly a coming-out party for the Pirates, already strutting on Major League Baseball’s Main Street prior to Tuesday night’s 4-2 Interleague triumph over Detroit. With the victory in front of 34,919 in PNC Park, the Bucs did return to their season peak of nine games above .500 while gaining a game on each of the three other National League Central contenders, nearing within 1 1/2 games of the leading Brewers.

One pitch after Yoenis Cespedes was brushed off the plate with an up-and-in fastball by Jonathan Broxton, the slugger belted a two-run homer as the Red Sox beat the Reds, 3-2, on Tuesday night.

Dan Haren went six strong innings for his second straight win as the Dodgers topped the Braves, 4-2, on Tuesday night at Turner Field.

Facing one of the best pitchers in the National League, the Marlins needed a standout starting performance Tuesday night. Jarred Cosart certainly delivered. Cosart threw seven shutout innings of three-hit ball, and Donovan Solano belted a two-run homer that helped lift the Marlins to a 3-0 victory over the Cardinals at Marlins Park.

The Giants honored the late actor Robin Williams with a moment of silence before Tuesday night’s game against the White Sox.

The Yankees’ rotation is hoping for a jolt from the return of starter Michael Pineda, who has not pitched in the Majors since April 23. Pineda gets the call against Chris Tillman and the Orioles on Wednesday.

Pirates starter Edinson Volquez needed something to turn around his first inning against the Tigers on Tuesday night. He got it when he turned around and blindly made a spectacular stab on a chopping grounder.

The Orioles announced Tuesday night that Manny Machado has been diagnosed with a right knee ligament sprain after an MRI taken earlier in the day. Machado was not available for an interview — with most of the team’s players gone given the rainout — and the Orioles said an update on his condition will be provided on Wednesday.

Justin Verlander has been diagnosed with inflammation in his right shoulder, but no major structural damage that would keep the former American League MVP out for more than one start.

For the first time since mid-June and just the fourth day all season, the Tigers are out of first place. The way things are going, that’s the lesser of their worries. They’ve got their own problems, and they’re big enough to overshadow their 11-6 loss to the Pirates Monday night at PNC Park.

A wild double steal started with what appeared to be a missed hit-and-run sign and resulted in two Yankees runs on Monday, as Chase Headley and Carlos Beltran forced the Orioles to throw the ball around the infield.

The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association hosted an Alumni Day at Petco Park prior to Monday’s game between the Rockies and Padres.

In what has been an ongoing pattern since the All-Star break, the resurgent Padres clipped Colorado, 4-3, on Monday and, once again, a batch of newcomers led the way.