Kris Bryant connected twice for his first career multi-homer game as the Chicago Cubs beat Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Monday.
Bryant hit a two-run drive in the third inning and a solo shot in the eighth. Matt Szczur had a solo homer against Kershaw after being promoted from Triple-A Iowa before the game for his fourth stint of the season with Chicago.
The two homers off Kershaw (5-5) ran his total for the year to 11, two more than he allowed all of last season.
Photo: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY
The Cubs got terrific work from five relievers after Tsuyoshi Wada departed in the third due to cramping in his left shoulder. Center fielder Dexter Fowler was replaced in the fifth after he sprained his left ankle.
Travis Wood (4-3) pitched 3 1/3 innings for the win. Jason Motte allowed Joc Pederson’s 19th homer in the ninth before finishing for his second save on his 33rd birthday.
ROYALS 4, MARINERS 1
Joe Blanton allowed just two hits over six-plus innings and Alcides Escobar had three hits as the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 on Monday.
Blanton (2-0) struck out seven and worked into the seventh inning before being lifted after allowing a leadoff double.
Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland all pitched one inning of relief. Holland earned his 14th save in 15 opportunities.
Felix Hernandez (10-4) took the loss after allowing four runs, nine hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five.
Escobar had three singles, drove in a run and scored a run. Mike Moustakas had two hits, including an RBI double.
ANGELS 4, ASTROS 3
Albert Pujols homered twice and Erick Aybar scored the go-ahead run on a safety squeeze by Daniel Robertson in the eighth inning, leading Los Angeles to a victory over Houston.
The Angels (36-35) moved within 4.5 games of first-place Houston. Texas are three games behind the Astros, who have dropped three of four after winning five straight.
Aybar began the winning rally with a leadoff single against Chad Qualls (1-4) and advanced on a wild pitch. One out later, Joe Thatcher walked pinch-hitter Matt Joyce while Aybar stole third.
In came Will Harris, and Robertson bunted up the first base line. Chris Carter charged the ball and made an errant backhand flip past catcher Jason Castro as Aybar crossed the plate.
In other games, it was:
‧ Blue Jays 8, Rays 5
‧ Phillies 11, Yankees 8
‧ Tigers 8, Indians 5
‧ Twins 13, White Sox 2
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