AROUND THE HORN
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw pitched five sharp innings for his first win since June 27, Gavin Lux and Corey Seager each hit two-run HRs and the streaking Dodgers beat the sliding Reds 8-5 on Sunday in Cincinnati. Will Smith also homered as the Dodgers won for the eighth time in nine games and moved within a game of the NL West-leading Giants, who later lost to the Braves 3-0. The Reds lost their eighth straight series and fell behind three games back of the Cardinals in the race for the second NL wildcard spot. Kershaw (10-7) allowed one run and three hits, striking out eight without a walk. The threetime NL Cy Young Award winner missed more than two months with inflammation in his left elbow, then returned Monday and threw 4 solid innings against the Diamondbacks.
Cardinals: Padres OF Fernando Tatis Jr. dropped Nolan Arenado’s basesloaded popup and heaved the ball home, leading to a five-run first, and the Cardinals went on to earn an 8-7 victory. It was the Cards’ eighth win in a row. Padres starter Jake Arrieta left soon after the Tatis error with a groin injury. The Padres, who trailed 8-4 in the eighth, has lost eight of 11 and are 3 games back of the Cards.
Red Sox: Kiké Hernández’s game-tying RBI single caromed off the second base bag and into shallow center field, sparking a three-run, seventh-inning rally that carried the AL wild-card leading Red Sox to an 8-6 victory over the visiting Orioles and a sweep of the three-game series. It was the fifth straight win for the Red Sox, who lead the Blue Jays by one game and the Yankees by 2 in the playoff chase. The Jays beat the Twins 5-3 and the Yankees lost to the Indians 11-1. Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi struck out eight over five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk. The Red Sox have won his last six starts.
White Sox: José Abreu matched the major league RBI lead, Yasmani Grandal homered for the second game in a row and the White Sox moved closer to their first AL Central title since 2008 with a 7-2 road win over the Rangers. Abreu’s two-run single capped a fiverun fourth for the White Sox and pushed his RBI total to 113, tying Royals C Salvador Perez. Abreu is trying to join Cecil Fielder (199092) as the only AL players to lead the league in RBIs in three consecutive seasons. The magic number is four for the White Sox (85-64) to win the division title. Lucas Giolito (9-10) struck out four while allowing one run over 5 innings. It was the RHP’s second start since missing two weeks because of a strained left hamstring.
Extra innings: The Blue Jays placed LHP Hyun Jin Ryu on the 10-day injured list with neck tightness. GM Ross Atkins said the team is hopeful that Ryu misses just one start. Ryu (13-9) is tied for the team lead in victories but has has an 8.10 ERA over his last eight starts . ... Nationals C Alex Avila will retire after the season, the veteran said before a 3-0 victory over the Rockies. The 34-yearold veteran, an All-Star in 2011, is a son of Tigers GM Al Avila. He has played in the majors for parts of 13 seasons, and is hitting .179 with seven RBIs this year. Avila said he expects to continue in baseball next season in a non-playing role. He said he hasn’t spoken with his father about a position. Al Avila once traded his son.