San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
ASTROS STUN L.A. IN NINTH
Braves 2, Nationals 1: Rookie Ian Anderson (3-0) allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings and NL East-leading Atlanta held on to win at Washington after closer Mark Melancon escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth.
Phillies 12, Marlins 6: Bryce Harper homered, doubled and reached base five times, leading Philadelphia to a win at Miami.
Cubs 4, Brewers 2: Jason Heyward hit a three-run homer off Josh Hader (1-2) in the ninth inning, and Chicago topped host Milwaukee.
Cardinals 7, Reds 1: Dakota Hudson (3-2) gave up one run in six innings to beat visiting Cincinnati.
(IL) Mariners 7, Diamondbacks 3: Ty France and Jose Marmolejos hit homers to help Seattle snap a three-game losing streak by winning at Arizona.
(IL) Angels 5, Rockies 2 (11): Jared Walsh hit a two-out, threerun homer in the 11th inning and Los Angeles beat Colorado at Coors Field.
(IL) Mariners at Diamondbacks: Caleb Smith threw three solid innings in his first outing with Arizona, and long reliever Alex Young (2-3) worked into the ninth to help beat visiting Seattle.
The Astros were whooping it up on the Dodgers’ field again, just like they did after winning Game 7 of the 2017 World Series.
In Houston’s first visit since that infamous championship, the Astros rallied with five runs for a 7-5 victory under smoky skies on Saturday night as the Dodgers blew a three-run lead in the ninth.
“That was the win of the year,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “Hopefully, we look back on this as the turning point of our season.”
The Dodgers own the best record in baseball at 32-13. The Astros, on the other hand, are 7-17 on the road after coming in with losses in eight of their previous nine games.
“Things have been very tough, like we haven’t had a whole bunch of breaks. We kind of made our breaks today,” Baker said. “If we win these two games, the rest of the road trip seems like it doesn’t matter.”
The Astros knocked closer Kenley Jansen (3-1) around, getting to him on four consecutive hits without an out.
“Just a nightmare, man. This feels terrible,” Jansen said. “I’m ahead of the count
Astros 7, Dodgers 5
on everyone and I just didn’t execute well.”
Carlos Correa and Aledmys Diaz singled, Josh Reddick hit a two-run double and Martin Maldonado added another single. George Springer then grounded into a fielder’s choice to third baseman Max Muncy, who committed an error while Reddick scored to tie the game at 5.
Alex Bregman followed with a single to center that made it 6-5. Bregman scored on Yuri Gurriel’s sacrifice fly to center off Adam Kolarek for a 7-5 lead.
“For us to be down to the best team in baseball, but for us to string together some atbats, to come back, to not only actually tie the game, but take the lead and hold it off, was huge for us,” Springer said, “especially after a tough trip.”
Josh James (1-0) got the victory with 11⁄3 innings of relief. Ryan Pressly earned his ninth save.
The game lacked the fiery emotion of the teams’ matchup on July 29. But there were multiple reminders that Dodger fans haven’t forgotten the Astros’ cheating scandal from their 2017 championship.
A plane towed a banner reading “Houston Cheats Bang Bang” over the stadium. Fans aren’t allowed inside this season because of the coronavirus, but a group of Dodger supporters greeted the Astros’ bus as it pulled in. They shook large plastic and metal garbage cans in the air, a reference to Houston’s signstealing scheme that involved signaling pitches by banging on garbage cans.
“I loved it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “They have every right to do whatever they feel to express their feelings. Just shows the passion that Dodger fans have.”
Pitcher Joe Kelly honked in support as he drove his black Porsche into the stadium.
A’s Chapman out
Oakland All-star third baseman Matt Chapman is expected to miss the rest of the season because of a strained right hip.
Chapman was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, two days before he is scheduled to undergo surgery in Vail, Colo.
The A’s made the announcement before their doubleheader at Texas. Oakland
went into the day at 28-15, its .651 winning percentage the best in the American League.
Chapman hasn’t played since leaving hurt in the fifth inning of Oakland’s game last Sunday against the Padres. He was a first-time All-star last season, when he won a Gold Glove for the second year in a row.
In 37 games overall this season, Chapman hit .232 with 10 home runs with 25 RBIS.
Notable
The Dodgers activated Pedro Baez (groin) from the injured list and optioned Dustin May. Roberts said “early next week” is the earliest Justin Turner (hamstring) will come off the IL. The Dodgers will go with a bullpen game in today’s finale of the two-game set against Houston. Tony Gonsolin will start Tuesday against the Padres.
Twins reliever Sergio Romo was suspended for one game by Major League Baseball for jawing with Indians star Francisco Lindor. Romo and Lindor also were fined for the incident, which occurred during Minnesota’s victory Friday.