LA overpowers fast-fading Rockies at Coors
Reds continue late surge, whip ChiSox
DENVER — Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers set a season high for runs, romping past the Colorado Rockies 15-6 Friday night to move closer to clinching their eighth straight NL West title.
The Dodgers’ magic number for wrapping up the division dropped to four. They were already the first team to secure a playoff spot this season.
Bellinger had three of LA’s season-high 17 hits, including his first homer since Aug. 30 and a double. He also added an RBI single as part of a five-run fifth inning that broke open the game.
Betts delivered a solo homer in the sixth to increase the Dodgers’ major league-leading total to 98, and added a two-run triple in the seventh. Every starter in the lineup had a hit and all but AJ Pollock scored a run.
It was a bullpen game for the Dodgers, who started with Alex Wood and then used six relievers. Mitch White, who was recalled Friday, pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first big league win.
Josh Fuentes had a three-run homer for Colorado as part of his three-hit night. David Dahl added a two-run triple.
Ryan Castellani (1-3) struggled with his command in allowing eight runs, seven earned, over 4 1/3 innings. He walked three and hit Austin Barnes in the back/ neck area.
Colorado fell to 11-17 at Coors Field this season. With two games left, the team will finish below .500 at home for the ninth time in franchise history.
REDS 7, WHITE SOX 1: In Cincinnati, Jesse Winker hit a threerun homer — one of four off White Sox starter Jonathan Stiever — and Cincinnati extended its surge into playoff contention with its season-high sixth victory in a row.
The Reds moved to .500 (26-26) for the first time since Aug. 3. Their winning streak has them in playoff position, in second place in the NL Central behind the Cubs.
The AL Central-leading White Sox clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 with a win over the Twins on Thursday night.
DIAMONDBACKS 6, ASTROS 3: In Houston, Kole Calhoun hit two home runs to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks over former teammate Zack Greinke and the Houston Astros 6-3 on Friday night.
Calhoun connected on Greinke’s fastball in the fourth inning for an upper-deck shot to right. The three-run homer put Arizona ahead 3-2.
His second drive narrowly sneaked by the glove of leaping right fielder Josh Reddick. The solo shot off Blake Taylor in the eight made it 6-3. Calhoun has 14 homers following his second multihomer effort this week..
Tyler Mahle (2-2) got his first win since Aug. 28, allowing four hits and fanning eight in 5 2/3 innings.
CARDINALS 6-7, PIRATES 5-2: In Pittsburgh, Cardinals rookie Dylan Carlson’s three-run homer capped a six-run outburst in the sixth inning against Pittsburgh, helping St. Louis to a doubleheader sweep.
The Cardinals took the opener behind home runs from Kolten Wong and Tyler O’Neill and just enough pitching to overcome four errors.
PHILLIES 7-8, BLUE JAYS 0-7: In Philadelphia, Bryce Harper hit a tying, two-run double and scored the go-ahead run on an error following Alec Bohm’s infield single, helping Philadelphia rally to beat Toronto.
Zach Eflin struck out nine in a four-hitter and Harper went deep in Philadelphia’s win in the opener.
Philadelphia hadn’t swept a doubleheader since Sept. 9, 2012, against Colorado, going 0-12-9 before rallying for the sweep.
NATIONALS 5-3, MARLINS
0-14: In Miami, Brian Anderson tied a franchise record with three homers and drove in seven runs to help Miami earn a doubleheader split with Washington.
Anderson’s third homer was a three-run shot in the sixth inning against infielder-outfielder Brock Holt, pitching in a mop-up role. Anderson also homered leading off the second and hit a three-run shot in the fifth, increasing his season total to nine homers.
The Marlins matched their season-high run total after they were shut out in the opener. Erick Fedde allowed one hit in six innings as Washington beat highly touted rookie Sixto Sanchez (3-2).
RAYS 2, ORIOLES 1: In Baltimore, Tyler Glasnow struck out 10 over five innings to help Tampa Bay beat Alex Cobb and Baltimore.
Glasnow (4-1) allowed one run, four hits and a pair of walks.
INDIANS 1, TIGERS 0: In Detroit, Zach Plesac pitched impressively into the eighth inning, and Brad Hand worked out of a jam in the ninth to send Cleveland past Detroit.
Francisco Lindor drove in the game’s only run with a fifthinning sacrifice fly, and Plesac (4-2) yielded five hits in 7 2/3 innings, lowering his ERA to 1.85.
YANKEES 6, RED SOX 5 (12): In Boston, Gary Sanchez hit a tying home run with two outs in the ninth inning and DJ LeMahieu had a go-ahead double in the 12th as New York rallied past Boston for its ninth straight win.
Dating to last year, the Yankees have won 11 in a row over the Red Sox.
BRAVES 15, METS 2: In New York, Freddie Freeman added three more hits to his burgeoning MVP campaign and Ozzie Albies hit two of Atlanta’s six homers as the Braves battered the Mets.
Max Fried (7-0) breezed through five innings.
CUBS 1, TWINS 0: In Chicago, Kyle Hendricks (6-4) tossed eight innings of three-hit, shutout ball to outduel Rich Hill, and the Cubs edged Minnesota for their fifth straight win.
BREWERS 9, ROYALS 5: In Milwaukee, Jacob Nottingham hit a grand slam and Orlando Arcia added a three-run shot as Milwaukee rallied from an early four-run deficit to beat Kansas City.
ANGELS 6, RANGERS 2: In Anaheim, Calif., Angels slugger Albert Pujols homered twice to pass Willie Mays for fifth place on the career home run list in LA’s win over Texas.