NATIONAL LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, LOS ANGELES
In Los Angeles, the Colorado Rockies blew a five-run lead and a golden opportunity to keep pace in the National League West race by losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 in 11 innings on Sunday.
A.J. Ellis delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th to spoil the day for the Rockies, who fell one-and-a-half games out of first-place.
Colorado closer Huston Street allowed the game-tying hit to Matt Kemp in the ninth after the visitors had earlier led 6-1.
Dodgers outfielder Kemp finished 3-for-5 with a solo homer in the seventh to continue the Los Angeles rally that began with three runs in the fourth.
The red-hot Rockies (82-67) had won 20 of their last 26 to storm into playoff contention, but could not complete a three-game sweep over the Dodgers (73-77).
San Francisco (84-66), who defeated Milwaukee 9-2, leads the NL West with San Diego a half-game back.
The Rockies looked to make a move toward both teams when they took a 3-0 advantage over the Dodgers on a bases-clearing double from Jason Giambi in the first.
NL batting leader Carlos Gonzalez had an RBI single in the second where Colorado posted three more runs against starter Clayton Kershaw, who allowed six runs in four innings.
Los Angeles used five relievers to keep the Rockies scoreless for the rest of the game.
Colorado’s streaking slugger Troy Tulowitzki was hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts to cool his sensational power surge.
One day earlier, Tulowitzki became just the third player since 1900 to swat 14 homers in a 15-game stretch, joining Albert Belle in 1995 and Barry Bonds in 2001.
In other NL action, it was:
• Cubs 13, Marlins 3
• Giants 9, Brewers 2
• Phillies 7, Nationals 6
• Braves 6, Mets 3
• Cardinals 4, Padres 1
• Astros 4, Reds 3
• Pirates 4, Giants 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, CHICAGO
In Chicago, Gerald Laird hit a tiebreaking single in the 11th inning and escaped with a 9-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday night when Manny Ramirez was caught looking at strike three with bases loaded for the final out.
Jim Leyland became the 18th manager to work 3,000 games. He watched the Tigers score six in the seventh to take a 7-3 lead only to have the bullpen give it away in the ninth and barely escape at the finish.
The winning rally started when Brandon Inge struck out on a wild pitch from Sergio Santos and advanced all the way to third when catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s low throw to first bounced to the tarp along the right-field line. Brennan Boesch was intentionally walked before Laird delivered the go-ahead single to left, his second hit.
Austin Jackson then followed with a double to left, driving in Boesch to make it 9-7, and a bullpen that gave away a four-run lead in the ninth finally finished it in the bottom half.
Alexei Ramirez had led off the 11th against Eddie Bonine with a single and Alex Rios walked. Paul Konerko nearly won it, just missing a three-run homer when his shot down the left-field line landed a few feet foul before he struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch.
The Tigers then brought in Daniel Schlereth, who got A.J. Pierzynski to ground into a force before walking Carlos Quentin to load the bases.
That brought up Manny Ramirez, who looked at a 2-2 breaking ball for the third strike, giving Schlereth his first career save and the Tigers the weekend sweep.
In other AL action, it was:
• Orioles 4, Yankees 3
• Angels 6, Rays 3
• Athletics 6, Twins 2
• Mariners 2, Rangers 1
• Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 0
• Royals 6, Indians 4
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