Clayton Kershaw pitched the big-money Dodgers to their third straight NL West title, tossing a one-hitter as Los Angeles beat the San Francisco Giants 8-0 on Tuesday night.
Kershaw allowed just one third-inning single and struck out 13 to help the Dodgers (88-69) advance to face NL East champions the New York Mets in the best-of-five NL Division Series.
Kershaw (16-7) finally got the best of his nemesis this year in their fourth matchup of the year, striking out the side in order three times and retiring the final 19 batters as the Dodgers snapped a four-game losing streak.
Photo: AP
Don Mattingly’s Dodgers earned a third straight playoff berth for the first time in franchise history, and did so by snapping a seven-game losing streak at AT&T Park this year. It is also their sixth post-season berth in 10 years.
Justin Ruggiano and A.J. Ellis hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth to chase World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner (18-9), denying the Giants their first 19-game winner in 18 years.
ANGELS 8, ATHLETICS 1
Photo: AP
In Anaheim, California, Albert Pujols had an RBI double among his three hits and Erick Aybar drove in three runs as the Los Angeles Angels took over the lead for the second AL wild-card playoff spot with their seventh consecutive victory.
A few minutes after matching their longest winning streak of the season, the Angels (83-74) moved a half-game ahead of the Astros (83-75) when Houston lost 6-4 at Seattle.
Nick Tropeano (3-2) struck out 11 over 6-2/3 innings of three-hit ball for the Angels, who have won 10 of 12 overall during their majors-best 18-8 run through last month.
The Angels remained two games behind the AL West-leading Texas Rangers (85-72), who beat Detroit. The Minnesota Twins (81-75) were rained out in Cleveland, dropping them one-and-a-half games behind Los Angeles in the wild-card race.
With four games in Texas to close the season, the Angels are in control of their playoff destiny no matter the result of the wild-card race. Rebounding splendidly from an awful August, the Angels have chased down the AL leaders with five games to play.
MARINERS 6, ASTROS 4
In Seattle, Shawn O’Malley damaged Houston’s playoff hopes with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the eighth inning that gave Seattle a comeback victory.
The Astros, who are still involved in two post-season races, were displaced in the AL wild-card chase by the Los Angeles Angels.
In the AL West race, division-leading Texas beat Detroit 7-6, and have a two-game lead over the Angels and two-and-a-half games over the Astros.
The victory broke the Mariners’ six-game losing streak.
Robinson Cano hit his 20th home run, a two-run shot in the sixth off Mike Fiers that tied the game at 4-4.
RANGERS 7, TIGERS 6
In Arlington, Texas, Cole Hamels won his sixth consecutive decision, overcoming a shaky start to strike out eight in six innings as AL West-leading Texas snapped a three-game skid.
Texas’ lead in the division stretched to two games. The Los Angeles Angels today start a four-game series in Texas to end the regular season.
Adrian Beltre had three hits and drove in two runs, including Choo Shin-soo, when they had consecutive doubles in the fourth to break a 6-6 tie. Choo also had a two-run homer in the first.
Hamels is 6-1 in 11 starts since getting traded from Philadelphia at the end of July, and the Rangers have won his last nine starts after losing the first two. The lefty surpassed 200 innings for the seventh time in his career and 200 strikeouts for the fourth time.
Buck Farmer (0-4), the second of six Detroit pitchers, retired the first six batters he faced.
CUBS 4, REDS 1
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Miguel Montero doubled home a pair of runs during Chicago’s four-run first inning and Dan Haren pitched into the eighth following a long rain delay.
The Cubs have already clinched a spot in the NL wild-card game for their first playoff berth since 2008. They trail Pittsburgh by three games for home-field advantage. The Pirates’ game against first-place St Louis was rained out on Tuesday.
The Reds lost their season-high 10th in a row, their longest slump since they dropped 11 straight in 1998.
RED SOX 10, YANKEES 4
In New York, Michael Pineda was hit hard at the start and New York’s playoff push was delayed once again by their longtime rivals as Boston got two homers and five RBIs from rookie catcher Blake Swihart.
Rick Porcello (9-14) recovered neatly from a rocky first inning, and the Red Sox won their season-best fifth straight game to pass the Orioles for third place in the AL East.
New York is running second in the division and was spared the possibility of the Blue Jays clinching the crown when they were rained out in Baltimore. Toronto yesterday was to play a doubleheader against the Orioles and need only one win — or another Yankees loss — to wrap up its first AL East title in 22 years.
Pineda (12-9) and the Yankees began the day looking to lock up at least a wild card, but that chance was washed away when Minnesota were rained out in Cleveland.
New York need two wins in their final five games — or some help — to reach the post-season for the first time since 2012.
WHITE SOX 4, ROYALS 2
In Chicago, Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales homered and Johnny Cueto threw six quality innings, but Kansas City lost to Chicago.
The Royals, who have lost four of their last five, fell behind 3-0 after Adam Eaton drove a two-run homer into the bullpen in right field off Cueto (10-13) in the fifth inning.
Cueto lost for the third time in his four outings last month and gave up three runs and eight hits over six innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Kansas City got within 3-2 in the sixth when Hosmer and Morales hit back-to-back homers off Chicago starter Jeff Samardzija (11-13), who won for the second straight time after losing nine of his 10 previous outings.
The runs were the first the Royals scored in 17 innings during a three-game stretch that included Kansas City being shut out 1-0 in 11 innings by the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
In other results, it was:
‧ Phillies 4, Mets 3
‧ Braves 2, Nationals 1
‧ Rays 4, Marlins 2
‧ Diamondbacks 4, Rockies 3
‧ Brewers 4, Padres 3
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