Pirates closer Jason Grilli's run of invincibility came to an end Wednesday the Reds, as he blew his first save on his first home run allowed.  

Pitching with a small margin for error in a 1-0 game, Grilli allowed a one-out home run to Jay Bruce, the first he has allowed in 41 appearances dating back to Sept. 9 of last season. The Pirates would go on to lose the game, 2-1, in 13 innings.

Grilli's ERA rose to 1.10 in the game, and he still leads the National League with 25 saves. He has 54 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings of work, and has allowed just four runs overall.

Braves closer Craig Kimbrel became the third National League pitcher to reach 20 saves Wednesday, as he closed out a 5-3 win over the Mets.

Kimbrel tossed a quick ninth inning, setting the Mets down in order while racking up two strikeouts. He needed just 12 pitches to save his 10th game in a row.

Kimbrel has now allowed a run in 13 straight appearances, lowering his ERA to 1.65. He has 20 saves in 23 opportunities. 

Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon blew his second save in three days Wednesday, as he blew a 2-1 lead against the Nationals.

Papelbon allowed a leadoff single in the inning, but appeared to be on the verge of getting out of with a pair of quick outs. Unfortunately, he could not close the inning out, issuing a walk and then a game-tying single that sent the game into extra innings.

The Phillies would go on to lose, 6-2, in 11 innings. Papelbon has blown two opportunities for saves in 16 chances, with a 1.95 ERA. 

Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell pitched Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader against the Yankees, in his first appearance since serving a two-game suspension for his part in a fight.

Howell entered the game in the bottom of the seventh and recorded the first out, before giving up consecutive singles and being pulled from the game. Both runners came around to score, leaving him charged with two runs in one-third of an inning, in a 6-4 loss.

Howell has a 2.81 ERA on the season while pitching mostly in middle relief. 

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley homered twice Wednesday during a win over the Royals. Brantley went deep in the fifth and eighth innings. 

The light-hitting outfielder only now has four HRs on the year. Both homers were solo shots and he added a sacrifice fly RBI in the sixth inning in the 6-3 Cleveland win. 

Brantley finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and is batting .277. He was 0 for 10 in his previous three games before homering twice Wednesday. 

Mariners first baseman Michael Morse, who has been dealing with a nagging quad injury, returned to action Wednesday during a 1-0 loss in Anaheim. 

Morse went 0 for 2 with a strikeout in the defeat as C.J. Wilson allowed just two hits. He's batting .252. 

Morse is going to be playing some outfield going forward as soon as his quad can stand it. He'll also be splitting time at first base with Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales as Smoak cannot play all three games in a series, MLB.com reports. 

Angels closer Ernesto Frieri earned his 16h save Wednesday night against the Mariners. Frieri was perfect to close out a 1-0 ballgame. 

The closer went 1-2-3 in the ninth with one strikeout. He needed just 13 pitches and eight went for strikes. His ERA is now at 2.61 on the year. 

Frieri has not allowed a run, hit or walk over his last five appearances and has three saves over that span. He's 16 for 17 in save chances this season with 45 Ks over 31 innings. 

Dodgers infielder Juan Uribe was back in the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees, for the first game of a doubleheader. Uribe appeared in his first game since Saturday, due to soreness in his back.

Uribe went 0 for 3 in the game with a walk, in a 6-4 loss. He did not appear in the second game of the doubleheader. Uribe is batting .267 on the season.

Angels starter C.J. Wilson pitched a brilliant game at home Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners. Wilson won a 1-0 ballgame. 

Moving to 6-5 on the year with the win, Wilson gave up just two hits and two walks over seven shutout innings. He struck out three over 113 pitches. Wilson lowered his ERA to 3.61 in the process. 

The 32-year-old has given up just two runs over his last two starts, both wins, spanning 14 innings with seven Ks. He's had some poor starts this season, but seems to be on track right now. Wilson is scheduled to make his next starting appearance on Tuesday at Detroit. 

Seattle starter Joe Saunders went the distance for the Mariners in a losing effort Wednesday night in Anaheim. 

Saunders pitched eight strong innings and gave up only one earned run on six hits and two walks over 100 pitches in defeat. He fell to 5-7 on the year as the Mariners fell 1-0 to the Angels. 

The Seattle starter now has a 4.48 ERA. He's given up just two runs over his last two outings spanning 15 runs. Both of those starts came on the road, where he's had so much trouble for much of the season. He's allowed just seven runs over his last 34 2/3 innings and that is pretty impressive. Saunders makes his next start Tuesday against Pittsburgh.