NATIONAL LEAGUE
The Arizona Diamondbacks took a major step toward securing the NL West title by beating closest rivals San Francisco 7-2 on Saturday and extending their divisional lead over the Giants to six games.
Ian Kennedy (18-4) became the NL’s first 18-game winner this season and has won his past three starts. He allowed one run in seven innings, striking out six.
Paul Goldschmidt homered and singled in a run, while Aaron Hill and Gerardo Parra each hit RBI doubles for the Diamondbacks.
The reigning World Series champion Giants must win the series finale to keep alive any realistic chance of defending their division crown.
The Giants managed only a pair of sacrifice flies, not enough to support starter Tim Lincecum (12-12).
NATIONALS 8, METS 7
In Washington, Ryan Zimmerman’s short fly ball in the ninth dropped into right field for a single, driving in two runs and giving Washington the victory over New York.
With the Nationals trailing 7-6 in the ninth, Jesus Flores got a leadoff single for his third hit of the game. Brian Bixler then came in to run and Bobby Parnell (3-5) walked Jonny Gomes to put runners on first and second.
Bixler and Gomes advanced on Ian Desmond’s sacrifice before Roger Bernadina was walked intentionally. Zimmerman then came up the game-ending hit.
Nationals reliever Sean Burnett (5-5) the victory.
Nationals starter Tom Milone hit a three-run homer in the second inning. According to STATS LLC and the SABR Home Run Log, Milone is the eighth pitcher to homer on the first pitch he saw in the majors.
DODGERS 2, BRAVES 1, 10 INNINGS
In Atlanta, Georgia, Dee Gordon scored the go-ahead run on Juan Rivera’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning as Los Angeles beat Atlanta and extended their winning streak to a season-best six games.
Gordon, who entered as a pinch runner in the eighth, doubled off Anthony Varvaro (0-1) to begin the 10th, advanced to third on James Loney’s sacrifice and scored on Rivera’s fly ball to center.
Javy Guerra, the fifth Los Angles reliever, retired the three batters in order in the bottom of the 10th.
A.J. Ellis hit a homer in the second inning for Los Angeles. Mike MacDougal (2-1) got the win.
In other NL games, it was:
‧ Marlins 8, Phillies 4
‧ Cardinals 6, Reds 4
‧ Brewers 8, Astros 2
‧ Rockies 5, Padres 4
‧ Pirates 7, Cubs 5
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, BOSTON
Boston’s Carl Crawford hit a Grand Slam as the Red Sox scored eight runs in the fourth inning to set up a 12-7 win over the Texas Rangers in the American League on Saturday.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a two-run homer during the big inning, that featured eight hits as the Red Sox sent 13 batters to the plate.
Josh Reddick had four hits, while Dustin Pedroia barely missed a Grand Slam, hitting a shot high off the center-field wall with the bases loaded in the sixth as the Red Sox tagged six Texas pitchers for 16 hits.
Red Sox starter Erik Bedard (5-9) earned his first win since joining Boston in a trade with Seattle.
Rangers starter Colby Lewis (11-10) lasted only 3-1/3 innings, allowing four runs.
YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 4
In New York, Robinson Cano hit a two-run double in the seventh inning to exceed 100 RBIs for the season and put New York ahead to stay against Toronto.
Cano lined a shot to the wall in center field to score Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez, back in the lineup after missing a week with a sprained left thumb.
Francisco Cervelli earlier hit a two-run homer off Toronto pitcher Ricky Romero (13-10). The Yankees improved to a major league-best 36-9 in day games and ended Romero’s winning streak at six straight decisions.
TIGERS 9, WHITE SOX 8
In Detroit, Michigan, Miguel Cabrera hit a game-ending solo homer in the ninth inning, capping a stirring Detroit rally against Chicago.
The first-place Tigers trailed 8-1 in the fifth and 8-6 heading into the ninth, but Ryan Raburn tied it with a two-run shot off Sergio Santos (3-4). Cabrera won it one out later with his 25th homer of the year.
Austin Jackson tripled twice and Luis Marte (1-0) earned his first big league win with a perfect ninth.
The Tigers began their comeback with three runs in the fifth on an RBI triple by Jackson and a two-run homer by Delmon Young. Wilson Betemit’s solo shot in the seventh made it 8-5.
ANGELS 10, TWINS 6
In Anaheim, California, Vernon Wells hit a tiebreaking solo homer as Los Angeles big bats rumbled in the win over Minnesota.
Mark Trumbo hit his first career Grand Slam, while Peter Bourjos also went deep for the Angels, who moved within three-and-a-half games of Texas in the race for the AL West. There are 23 games remaining, including a three-game series between the two teams, in Texas.
Los Angeles pitcher Jered Weaver (16-7) tied a career high for wins, despite allowing eight hits over five innings and throwing 111 pitches.
In other AL games, it was:
‧ Royals 5, Indians 1
‧ Athletics 3, Mariners 0
‧ Rays 6, Orioles 3
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