MLB capsules: Dodgers reignite spark, shut out Washington
Alex Wood struck out eight in six innings, Corey Seager hit a three-run homer during a five-run second and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the host Washington Nationals 7-0 on Friday.
Wood (15-3) allowed three hits and walked one. Los Angeles has won three in a row after losing 11 consecutive games and 16 of 17.
The teams entered the highly anticipated three-game series having clinched playoff berths and owning the top two records in the National League. The Dodgers lowered their magic number to clinch the N.L. West to six.
Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig homered in the Dodgers’ first Washington appearance since winning Game 5 of the N.L. Division Series last October.
Edwin Jackson (5-6) lasted just 2 1/3 innings. The NL East champion Nationals fell six games back of Los Angeles in the chase for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Royals 4, Indians 3: Cleveland can return to clinching their division and playoff preparations.
Their historic winning streak is, well, history.
Cleveland’s A.L.-record run was stopped at 22 straight games by a loss to visiting Kansas City, which became the first team to conquer the defending league champions since Aug. 23.
Jason Vargas (16-10) pitched into the sixth and Brandon Moss homered off Trevor Bauer (16-9) as the Royals ended baseball’s longest win streak in 101 years.
With one last chance in the ninth, the Indians put the tying run on base before Mike Minor struck out the side for his first pro save, fanning Francisco Lindor on a pitch in the dirt for the final out.
Red Sox 13, Rays 6 (15): Xander Bogaerts had two hits in a seven-run 15th inning and Boston beat Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida, in a game that lasted 6 hours and 5 minutes.
Austin Pruitt (7-5) walked Jackie Bradley Jr. to lead off the top of the 15th. Bogaerts followed with a single. Dustin Pedroia hit a ground ball that was misplayed by second baseman Brad Miller, allowing Bradley to score the lead run.
Andrew Benintendi, Mitch Moreland, Deven Marraro and Bogaerts drove in extra runs for the Red Sox, who maintained their three-game lead over the New York Yankees in the A.L. East.
Bogaerts reached base five straight times.
Brandon Workman (1-1) got the win. Blaine Boyer, the 21st pitcher to appear in the game, pitched the 15th for Boston.
Nine Red Sox pitchers set a club record with 24 strikeouts.
Angels 7, Rangers 6: C.J. Cron hit a two-run homer to cap a five-run rally in the sixth, and Los Angeles trimmed its deficit in the A.L. wild-card race to two games with a victory over Texas in Anaheim, California.
Andrelton Simmons had two run-scoring singles for the Angels (75-72), who gained a game on the Minnesota Twins (77-70) with just their third win in eight games.
Los Angeles used seven pitchers in a bullpen start, with former closer Bud Norris getting the first six outs. Yusmeiro Petit (5-0) pitched two perfect innings, and Blake Parker earned a six-out save.
Shin-Soo Choo hit a two-run homer in the sixth for Texas (72-75). The Rangers have lost four straight and six of seven, their playoff hopes down to a flicker.
Diamondbacks 3, Giants 2: Robbie Ray won his fifth straight start and A.J. Pollack hit a two-run double as Arizona defeated host San Francisco.
Ray (14-5) struck out 10 and gave up two runs (one earned), six hits and no walks as the Diamondbacks won for the 19th time in 24 games and for the eighth straight time on the road.
Ray has a 1.39 ERA in his last five starts since coming off the disabled list with a concussion after getting hit by a line drive on July 28.
Arizona reduced its magic number for clinching its first postseason berth since 2011 to seven.
Brewers 10, Marlins 2: Neil Walker hit a grand slam during an eight-run eighth, and the Milwaukee beat Miami in the opening game of a series relocated from Miami to Milwaukee because of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
The Marlins were technically the home team and batted in the bottom of the innings. Milwaukee even used palm trees, fake flamingos and giant blue and pink sea shells to give Miller Park a South Florida feel.
Miami’s Dee Gordon went hitless in four at-bats to end his 17-game hitting streak. Brian Ellington (0-1) got the loss.
Jared Hughes (4-3) picked up the win after tossing a scoreless seventh inning.
Cubs 8, Cardinals 2: Kris Bryant had three hits, including his 27th homer, and host Chicago opened a big weekend series against St. Louis with its fourth consecutive win.
Bryant went deep in the fourth and singled twice in Chicago’s seven-run sixth.
The N.L. Central-leading Cubs stayed three games ahead of Milwaukee and increased their advantage over St. Louis to four games.
Chicago pitcher John Lackey and catcher Willson Contreras were thrown out for yelling at plate umpire Jordan Baker in the fifth. Carl Edwards Jr. (4-4) pitched a perfect sixth for the win.
Tommy Pham homered for St. Louis. Carlos Martinez (11-11) was charged with seven runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Yankees 8, Orioles 2: Didi Gregorius hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and drove in four runs, leading host New York past Baltimore for its fifth win in six games.
Luis Severino (13-6) allowed three hits in eight innings. He made one big mistake, Welington Castillo’s opposite-field, two-run homer to right that put the Orioles ahead 2-1 in the second. Severino is 8-2 with a 2.09 ERA in 12 starts since the All-Star break.
Gregorius hit a sacrifice fly in the first, homered against Miguel Castro for a 4-2 lead in the fifth and added another sacrifice fly in a three-run seventh.
Baltimore lost for the eighth time in nine games. Gabriel Ynoa (1-2) allowed three runs – two earned – and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Astros 5, Mariners 2: Carlos Correa and Evan Gattis had two hits apiece and each drove in a run, and host Houston defeated Seattle to move closer to clinching the A.L. West title.
Houston’s magic number dropped to two, meaning the Astros could secure their first division championship since 2001 with a win on Saturday if the Angels lose Friday or Saturday.
The Astros led 3-0 after one inning as James Paxton (12-4) struggled in his return from the disabled list after sitting out since Aug. 10 with a strained pectoral muscle. He allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings to snap a seven-game winning streak.
Charlie Morton (12-7) pitched six strong innings for Houston. Ken Giles tossed a scoreless ninth for his 31st save.
Blue Jays 4, Twins 3: Josh Donaldson homered and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh with an infield single that ricocheted off the mound, sending Toronto past Minnesota in Minneapolis.
J.A. Happ (9-10) pitched into the seventh inning in his third straight win, and Roberto Osuna got three outs for his 36th save in 46 opportunities.
The Twins had a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels for the second A.L. wild card going into the night, with the Seattle Mariners 3 1/2 games back. The New York Yankees hold the first wild card with a four-game edge on the Twins.
Twins starter Bartolo Colon (6-13) was charged with four runs in six-plus innings on “Big Sexy Night.” The Twins had souvenir T-shirts for fans who bought a special ticket package in honor of the burly right-hander, who joined the Twins two months ago and has more than held his own despite his decreased velocity.
Rockies 6, Padres 1: Tyler Chatwood pitched into the sixth and drove in his first runs of the season, helping Colorado past San Diego in Denver.
Nolan Arenado homered as Colorado remained 2 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee and moved 3 1/2 games ahead of St. Louis for the second N.L. wild card.
Chatwood (8-12) tossed 5 2/3 innings and left after Wil Myers’ 28th homer. It was Chatwood’s third start after six relief appearances.
San Diego’s Clayton Richard (7-14) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.
Reds 4, Pirates 2: Zack Cozart hit two of his team’s four solo home runs, powering last-place Cincinnati over visiting Pittsburgh.
Joey Votto and Scott Schebler also connected, sending the Pirates to their third straight loss and eighth in the last nine games.
Homer Bailey (5-8) allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings for his first win in six starts since Aug. 11. Raisel Iglesias got five outs for his 27th save.
Chad Kuhl (7-11) gave up all four home runs, a single-game career high for the second-year right-hander.
Athletics 4, Phillies 0: Daniel Mengden pitched a two-hitter for Oakland, and Matt Olson and Matt Joyce each hit a two-run homer to defeat host Philadelphia.
Mengden (1-1) struck out seven and walked none in his first career shutout in his 18th start. J.P Crawford had both hits off Mengden.
Phillies starter Mark Leiter Jr. (3-6) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.
Mengden also got his first career hit, a single off Crawford’s glove in the shortstop hole before Joyce connected in the second.
Tigers 3, White Sox 2: Mikie Mahtook hit a game-ending RBI single with two outs in the ninth, helping host Detroit stop a six-game skid with a win over Chicago.
Former Tigers reliever Al Alburquerque (0-2) walked Jeimer Candelario with one out in the ninth, and Aaron Bummer walked Tyler Collins with two outs. White Sox manager Rick Renteria brought in Juan Minaya, who uncorked a wild pitch to move the runners to second and third.
Mahtook then hit a 3-2 pitch up the middle for his first career game-ending hit.
Shane Greene (4-3) got four outs for the win.
Braves 3, Mets 2: Sean Newcomb struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings, and the host Atlanta handed New York its fifth straight loss.
Newcomb (3-8) gave up two runs and six hits. Arodys Vizcaino pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 13 opportunities.
Rafael Montero (5-10) became the fourth straight Mets starter pitcher to fail to complete five innings. He was lifted with two outs in the fifth after throwing 108 pitches and allowing three runs and seven hits.