Astros smash three homers in 14-0 blowout of Dodgers

LOS ANGELES: Marwin Gonzalez had a solo home run in the second inning and Josh Reddick added a three-run homer in a seven-run eighth as the visiting Houston Astros rolled to a 14-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night.

Jake Marisnick tacked on a ninth-inning homer, while Yulieski Gurriel and Martin Maldonado each had two-run doubles as Astros won the first two games of the 2017 World Series rematch. They were to try for a three-game sweep later yesterday.

The Dodgers have scored just one run with seven hits in the two games against the Astros, after collecting 21 runs with 18 hits in a victory on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers have not scored in 17 consecutive innings.

The Astros improved to a major leaguebest 39-17 on the road, while winning their fourth consecutive game following a fivegame losing streak. Astros starter Lance McCullers pitched well, but left after four innings following a visit from a member of the Houston medical staff. He was diagnosed with right elbow discomfort.

JD Martinez homered over the Green Monster, Nathan Eovaldi pitched eight scoreless innings and Boston survived a rough outing by closer Craig Kimbrel to hold on for a 4-1 victory over visiting New York.

The Red Sox won for the 22nd time in 27 games and moved a season-high 8 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees. They have outscored the Yankees 23-9 in winning the first three games of the series. The Yankees have lost a season-high four straight games.

Martinez hit his major league-leading 33rd homer in the fourth inning and gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead when he lifted a 1-1 fastball from Yankees rookie Chance Adams (0-1) over the left-field fence. Martinez’s latest homer upped his major league-leading RBI total to 91.

Zach Eflin pitched a season-high eight innings, and Philadelphia supported him with four home runs to defeat visiting Miami 8-3.

Eflin (8-3) gave up three runs, four hits and no walks while striking out six. Nick Williams hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Asdrubal Cabrera and Cesar Hernandez each added two-run blasts, and Carlos Santana chipped in with a solo shot in the Phillies’ fourth straight win.

Marlins starter Jose Urena (3-11) gave up six runs, eight hits and two walks.