Dodgers sweep Mets behind seven homers
Watching from the visitor’s dugout, Justin Turner saw his teammates spray Citi Field with home runs and figured the Los Angeles Dodgers wouldn’t need any from him.
His power proved to be the difference. Turner hit the Dodgers’ seventh homer of the game, a go-ahead drive in the 11th inning that led Los Angeles over the New York Mets 8-7 Sunday.
“I was hoping we didn’t need one,” said Turner, who went 1-for-9 in the first two games of the series before getting the day off. “But it kind of worked out.”
Cody Bellinger and Kike Hernandez each homered twice as the Dodgers beat the Mets for the 12th straight time. Max Muncy and Joc Pederson also connected for Los Angeles.
The Dodgers’ team record for home runs in a game is eight, set in 2002 against Milwaukee.
The Mets were forced to start longtime reliever Jerry Blevins in place of Jason Vargas, who went on the 10-day disabled list due to a strained right calf.
“I showed up to the ballpark today and they were like, ‘Hey, how do you feel about starting?’ ” said Blevins, with the A’s from 2007 to 2013.
Making his first majorleague start in 533 games, Blevins gave up back-toback homers by Hernandez and Muncy to begin the game. It was the second time since 1900 that a pitcher had allowed two home runs to begin his first start in the majors, the Elias Sports Bureau said; Don Hendrickson did it with the 1945 Boston Braves.
Reds 8, Cubs 6: Pitcher Michael Lorenzen and Jesse Winker connected for pinch-hit homers and Cincinnati used a seven-run seventh inning to complete a four-game sweep and extend its winning streak to seven games. Indians 12, Tigers 2: Edwin Encarnacion hit an eighthinning grand slam, helping host Cleveland to its seasonhigh seventh straight win. Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez and Jason Kipnis also connected for the Indians, who outscored Detroit 26-3 in the three-game sweep.
Red Sox 5, Mariners 0: Chris Sale struck out 13 over seven dazzling innings and Mitch Moreland hit a two-run homer for host Boston.
Rays 7, Yankees 6: Rookie Jake Bauers led off the 12th inning with a home run, finishing off host Tampa Bay’s three-game sweep.
Braves 7, Orioles 3: Freddie Freeman hit a two-run single in the first, pinch-hitter Dansby Swanson belted a two-run homer in the eighth and host Atlanta earned its first win over Baltimore in six years.
Cardinals 8, Brewers 2: Luke Weaver won for the first time in eight starts and Jose Martinez hit a three-run homer for visiting St. Louis.
Astros 11, Royals 3: Yuli Gurriel hit a grand slam in host Houston’s eight-run second inning as the Astros won for the 15th time in 17 games. Nationals 8, Phillies 6: Host Washington rallied for three runs in the eighth, keyed by Daniel Murphy’s go-ahead two-run single, to beat Philadelphia’s beleaguered bullpen. Bryce Harper had three doubles for the Nationals. Rhys Hoskins had a homer, two runs and two RBIs for the Phillies.
Twins 2, Rangers 0: Jose Berrios struck out a careerbest 12 in seven innings as host Minnesota beat Texas to snap a three-game skid. Texas had won seven in a row.
D’backs 3, Pirates 0: Clay Buchholz pitched five solid innings before leaving with tightness in his left side after just 53 pitches, and visiting Arizona completed a fourgame sweep.
Marlins 8, Rockies 5: Derek Dietrich homered for the third straight game and tied a career high with four hits, leading visiting Miami.
Blue Jays 7, Angels 6: Kendrys Morales connected for a pinch-hit homer in the 10th inning, lifting visiting Toronto. Morales hit a two-out drive to right off Hansel Robles, who was making his Angels debut after he was claimed off waivers from the Mets.