Behind rookie starter Allen Webster and 18 hits from the Boston lineup, the Red Sox cruised to an 8-2 win to complete a three-game sweep over the Padres and an 8-1 homestand, the club’s best stretch at home since June 2010.

The Phillies, behind lefty Cole Hamels, downed the Pirates, 6-4, on Thursday afternoon in front of a crowd of 35,328 at PNC Park. Ben Revere and Carlos Ruiz both backed their pitcher with a pair of RBIs.

Adam Dunn smacked his 23rd homer of the year over the left-field wall, taking Baltimore reliever Tommy Hunter’s full-count breaking ball to the opposite field, as he redeemed himself for an eighth-inning error that forced the White Sox to bat — and win, 3-2 — in the bottom of the ninth at U.S. Cellular Field.

With two on and two out and the game tied in the seventh inning, Wilson Ramos crushed a three-run home run. He dropped his bat and watched the ball sail into the left-field seats, a fitting end to the Nationals’ 8-5 win over the Brewers on the Fourth of July at Nationals Park. It was the catcher’s first game back after a 44-game stint on the disabled list.

It was at Nationals Park where Neil Diamond gave the first live performance of his new single “Freedom Song (They’ll Never Take us Down).” Diamond performed the song from the Lexus Presidents Club behind home plate after the bottom of the third inning of the Nationals’ game against the Brewers on Thursday, the earliest Major League contest on the Fourth of July.

With trade rumors continually swirling around him, Matt Garza continues to dominate on the mound. He won his third straight start Wednesday in Oakland, allowing one run on four hits in eight innings as the Cubs beat the A’s, 3-1.

CC Sabathia joined the 200-wins club in his second crack at the milestone, turning in seven innings of strong ball on Wednesday and keeping the Yankees’ recent roll alive as they posted a 3-2 victory over the Twins at Target Field.

The Tigers breathed a sigh of relief when they found out Omar Infante sustained only a bruised shin in Wednesday’s 6-2 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. They were still breathing fire about the slide that caused it.

Chris Carter drove in four on two massive home runs, and Houston rode Bud Norris the rest of the way to a 4-1 victory over Tampa Bay on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.

Jonny Gomes belted another walk-off homer on Wednesday night at Fenway Park, leading the Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Padres.

Randall Delgado outdueled Matt Harvey as the D-backs beat the Mets to snap Arizona’s five-game losing streak. Delgado (1-2) picked up the first win by a D-backs starting pitcher since June 5, a span of 24 starts.

Chris Davis hit his Major League leading 32nd homer and drove in three, including a tie-breaking two-run double in the eighth as the Orioles won Scott Feldman’s debut, 4-2, over the White Sox on Wednesday.

Duplicating the excitement that surrounded Homer Bailey’s no-hitter the night before would have been nearly impossible Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. But by beating the Giants, 3-2, on a Shin-Soo Choo walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th, the Reds sure did try.

After scoring five total runs in the last three games and none through four innings Wednesday, Pedro Alvarez, the man who can change all that with one swing, hit a three-run homer in the fifth to help lift the Pirates past the Phillies, 6-5, at PNC Park.

The Dodgers overcame an injury to Yasiel Puig and a seven-walk start from Zack Greinke Wednesday night to outlast the Rockies, 10-8, for their 10th win in 11 games and tie Colorado for second place in the NL West.

With rumors swirling that he will soon be traded, Ricky Nolasco instead remained focused on the moment and reached a milestone in the process. Nolasco struck out seven and gave up two runs in seven innings on Wednesday night, and the Marlins rallied to beat the Braves, 6-3, at a rain-soaked Turner Field.

Felix Hernandez held the Rangers in check for seven innings Wednesday and Kyle Seager put the Mariners over the top with a two-run homer in the 10th inning as Seattle won its second straight over Texas, 4-2.