Each night we'll provide you with the nine top story lines from the day's action, beginning with the stars of the day, and look ahead to the next day's matchups.

Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez tied Babe Ruthforfourth alltime on the careerRBI list with No. 1,992 thanks to hishisseventh-inning single that scored Slade Heathcott.

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A quarter of the way through theseason and it's a two-man race for the MLB home run crown between the Mariners' Nelson Cruz and Nationals outfielderBryce Harper.

Harper blasted his11th long ball in his last14 games and now has 16on the year, while Cruz rocketed a solo shot for his MLB-leading 17th homer. The duo remains well in front of the closest competitor: theYankees'Mark Teixeira, who has13.

Speaking of 13, Nick Ahmed's walk-off single in the bottom of the 13th inning against the Cubs gave Arizona its fifth straight victory. Ahmed's single followed Tuffy Gosewisch's one-out double and capped a 3-for-6 night for Ahmed, who hit his first homer of the season earlier in the game.

Here are more highlights from Friday's games:

Impact players

C Caleb Joseph Chris Wormley Jerseys , Orioles:Joseph was 3 for 4 with two RBIs,tworuns scored and a walk.

1B Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks:Goldy was 3 for 5 with a game-tying two-run homer in the 10th to goalong with two stolen bases.He's the first player in D-backs history with a two-out, game-tying shotin

2B Dee Gordon, Marlins: Gordon pa sed Jose Altuve onMLB's stolen base leaderboard with fourswipes on the night. He finished 2for 5with a run scored.

SS Alexei Ramirez, White Sox:Ramirez was 3 for 4 with a stolen base and raisedhis average to .250.

3B Evan Longoria, Rays: Longo was long gone with his estimated 410-foot, three-run homer in the fifth. He finished 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.

OF Ryan Braun, Brewers: The former NL MVP was 3 for 3 with a two-run homer and a two-run double in Milwaukee's 11-0 win at Atlanta.

DH Kendrys Morales, Royals:Morales went yard twice, a three-run homer in the first and a two-run James Washington Jerseys longball in the third. He added a single and a walk to finish 3 for 4.

SP Gerrit Cole, Pirates: Cole pitched into the ninth, allowing just one unearned runon six hitswhile striking out 10 to collect his sixth win of the season.

Key injuries

Red Sox outfielder Hanley Ramirez was removed due to after being hit by a pitch in the fourth inning byAngels starter Garrett Richards.

Braves pitcherAlex Wooddid not make his scheduled start because of a

A's outfielderCoco Crisp will not undergo surgery to repair his nagging neck injury, but on the15-day disabled list.

Brewers starter Wily Peralta was removed due to tightne s in after four innings of one-hit ball.

The Marlins placed starter Mat Latos on the 15-day disabled list with left knee inflammation.

Mets pitcher Dillon Gee (groin)will return to the Mets rotation Saturday butthe organization willreportedlymaintain

Surprise performers

Good: Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez got revenge on his former team with a 2-for-3 performance against the Astros that included athree-run homer.

Bad:Eric Stults, who filled in for Wood, gave up seven runs on three hits in just 3 2/3 innings pitched. He walked five and now owns a dismal6.34 ERA.

Web gems

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado showed off his Gold Glove with a fantastic diving stop and throwto get Giants'Matt Duffy out at first.

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Royals shortstopAlcides Escobar doesn't see where he is throwing the ball, but it doesn't matter.

But ... what? How?

MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs)

Reverse web gem? Angels All-Star Mike Trout proved he was as slippery as a fish as he evaded a tag from Red Sox third baseman Brock Holt.

Facts Rod Woodson Jerseys of the day

According to the , this is first time the Royals (27-14) have had baseball's best record at least 40 games into a season since Sept. 9, 1980.

Marlins outfielderIchiro Suzukipa sed Ruth on the all-time hits list with hitNo. 2,874.

With his sixth-inning homer,Giants first baseman Brandon Beltnow has in his last sixgames after having none in his first 30. Friday's homer was also the longest of his career. He finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs.

Rangers sluggerPrince Fielder had two homersFriday against the Yankees, his firstmulti-home rungame since April 5, 2013. was also against the Yankees.

Reactions

"See it and hit," Harper said about his home run (). "Plain and simple. Just trying to see and hit the ball, and I wasn't really thinking too much."

Dodgers broadcasterVin Scully can describe anything. Casein point:He during Friday's game against thePadres.

Off the field

Red Sox have recalled outfielder Rusney Castillo from Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned outfielderJackie Bradley Jr.to make room for Castillo.

Brewers reliever Will Smith wassuspended afterbeing ejected from Thursday's gamebecause a was found on his arm.

Even though the Giants and Rockies game at Coors Field was in a rain delay, that didn't stop the home team from postponingthe

Scores

American League

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A look ahead

Saturday's three best games (all times Eastern):

Phillies (18-26) at Nationals (25-17),4:05 p.m.: Stephen Strasburg (3-4, 5.98 ERA) has been roughed up this seasonafter a stellar 242-strikeout,3.14-ERA season last year. If the Phillies can score three or more runs off him, then starter Cole Hamels (4-3, 3.24 ERA) has a great shot at getting the win. Hamels is 11-0 in 17 starts since last season when he gets three or more runs in support.

Mets (24-19) at Pirates (19-22),4:05 p.m.: Matt Harvey (5-1, 1.98 ERA) and the Mets take on A.J. Burnett (3-1, 1.38 ERA) and the Pirates in the only pitching matchup of the day where both starters are below a 2.00 ERA. While Burnett, 38, has yet to allow more than two runs in a start this year, Harvey has been better as of late with an active 16-inning scorele s streak.

Brewers (16-27) at Braves (20-21) 4:10 p.m.: Braves starter Shelby Miller (5-1, 1.33 ERA) has allowed just one run while striking out 20 in his last three starts. Mike Fiers (1-4, 4.75 ERA) will take Tony Dungy Jerseys the mound for the Brewers as they try to win their second consecutive series.