Nola shuts down Dodgers as Phillies spoil Kershaw’s return, Cards down Pirates
>> LOS ANGELES: Aaron Nola allowed just one run over seven innings on Thursday, and Jorge Alfaro drove in two runs as the visiting Philadelphia Phillies held on for a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw went five innings in his first start in nearly a month, giving up one run on four hits before leaving due to back tightness. The lefty was due to undergo an MRI exam on his back.
Kershaw last pitched on May 1, spending time on the disabled list with left biceps tendinitis. He walked one and struck out five.
Nola (7-2) struck out seven, including six of the last eight batters he faced. He gave up one run for the second consecutive outing and finished May having allowed one earned run or less in five of his six starts. Seranthony Dominguez recorded the final six outs for his second save.
Yairo Munoz hit a walk-off, three-run homer to cap a five-run ninth inning and give St Louis a 10-8 win over visiting Pittsburgh.
The rookie shortstop doubled his career RBI total by knocking in five runs. Mike Mayers (2-0) pitched a perfect 1 1/3 innings for the win.
Josh Bell and Francisco Cervelli homered for the Pirates, who have lost 10 of their past 13.
Francisco Lindor went 4-for-5 with two homers and four RBIs, including the tie-breaking blast in the eighth inning, as Cleveland outscored Minnesota 9-8 in Minneapolis.
Jose Ramirez also went deep as the Indians recorded their sixth straight victory. Ramirez and Jason Kipnis each had two hits for Cleveland, and Melky Cabrera drove in two runs.
Miguel Sano slugged a tying three-run homer in the seventh inning for Minnesota, who recovered from an 8-0 deficit. Logan Morrison and Eduardo Escobar hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning, but the Twins still lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Nelson Cruz hit a home run and had three RBIs, and Wade LeBlanc pitched five solid innings for his first victory of the season as Seattle defeated visiting Texas 6-1.
Cruz’s two-run shot to left-centre field off left-hander Mike Minor with two outs in the third inning gave the Mariners a 3-0 lead. It was Cruz’s 10th homer of the season.
LeBlanc (1-0) allowed one run on four hits, walked two and struck out four. James Pazos, Juan Nicasio and Chasen Bradford combined for four scoreless innings of relief as the Mariners snapped a two-game losing streak and split the four-game series.