Dodgers lose game, ground to Giants
Tyler O’Neill hit a tiebreaking homer and four relievers combined for five scoreless innings as the Cardinals salvaged a split of a four-game series against the Dodgers by beating Los Angeles 2-1 in St. Louis on Thursday.
The loss dropped second-place L.A. 21⁄2 games behind the Giants in the NL West. The Cardinals are three games behind San Diego for the final NL wild-card spot.
“Two-and-a-half games is not very much,” Dodgers infielder Trea Turner said. “A lot of things can happen in the last 20 games and I don’t try to watch the scoreboard or pay attention to that stuff. You try to control what’s in front of you.”
O’Neill’s fifth-inning drive off Phil Bickford (3-2), his 25th homer this season, barely cleared the wall, inching past the outstretched glove of left fielder Steven Souza Jr.
“He’s really grown into the consistent player that he really wanted to be and is capable of,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said. “He’s prepared for every at-bat. This is a sharp kid. He does his homework.”
The Dodgers mustered just four hits against five St. Louis pitchers.
“Just that time where results matter,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And so, the process has been good and we’ve still got to just keep grinding and expect good things happen.”
Rockies 4, Phillies 3:
Ryan McMahon hit a go-ahead two-run pinch homer in the ninth as Colorado won in Philadelphia.
Braves 7, Nationals 6: Joc Pederson’s RBI single in the 10th gave host Atlanta the win.
Marlins 3, Mets 2: Jazz Chisholm’s tie-breaking homer in the eighth inning helped host Miami beat New York. Chisholm also had an RBI grounder in the sixth.
Jays 6, Yankees 4: Bo Bichette, Randal Grichuk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered as Toronto completed a four-game sweep in New York to extend its winning streak to eight.
The Blue Jays, who did not trail in the series, moved to 11⁄2 games behind Boston for the AL’s top wild-card spot and are a half-game behind New York for the second spot.
Royals 6, Orioles 0: Carlos Hernandez pitched six innings and Nicky Lopez and Hunter Dozier homered for visiting Kansas City.
Indians 4, Twins 1: Franmil Reyes, Oscar Mercado and Jose Ramirez homered for host Cleveland.