Ryu Hyun-jin clinches ERA title in Dodgers’ record 150th win
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — While the Los Angeles Dodgers kept raising their win total, Ryu Hyun-jin continued to lower his ERA.
With one game left in the regular season, they’re both in good position.
Ryu secured the major league ERA title at 2.32 with seven sharp innings and the Dodgers matched a franchise record with their 105th victory, beating the San Francisco Giants 2-0 on Saturday for their sixth straight win.
The NL West champions tied the win mark of the 1953 “Boys of Summer” team based in Brooklyn that included Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider and other Hall of Famers.
“I’m very proud of that,” manager Dave Roberts said. “You don’t just show up and win 105 games against very good teams all year long. That’s a credit to everybody and just a continued focus each day to get better. It’s a really fun and good, talented group.”
The Dodgers began the day one game behind Houston for the best record in baseball and one game ahead of the Yankees. Los Angeles will begin the Division Series next Thursday at home against the NL wild-card winner.
Ryu (14-5) allowed five hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter for a third straight start. He also hit an RBI single in the fifth for the game’s first run.
Roberts is calling for his Korean left-hander to win the NL Cy Young Award — even if Ryu himself is giving the nod to reigning winner Jacob deGrom, who’s second in ERA at 2.43 for the Mets.
“There were so many good pitchers this season, it possibly might be a tough decision for you as well, but I honestly think Jacob deGrom deserves it and you should probably vote for him,” Ryu said through an interpreter and with a wry smile.
Kenta Maeda pitched the eighth. Kenley Jansen hit Evan Longoria to start the ninth and gave up Kevin Pillar’s single before striking out three for his 33rd save.
Max Muncy hit his 35th homer in the sixth off rookie Logan Webb (2-3). Webb singled in the fifth for his first major league hit.
Retiring Giants manager Bruce Bochy oversaw his 4,031st game, moving past Sparky Anderson for sole possession of seventh place on the all-time list while managing his second-to-last game with San Francisco. Bochy was honored on the field before the game by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who presented Bochy with a key to the city.
Webb, a top pitching prospect, allowed two runs on six hits in six innings, struck out five and walked one in his eighth career start.
“We faced a very good pitcher and we were just a hit away from getting things going, just like last night,” Bochy said.
Nationals 10, Indians 7
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals assured themselves of hosting the NL wild-card game by holding on to beat the already-eliminated Cleveland Indians 10-7 Saturday with the help of a grand slam in a nine-run second inning from Gerardo Parra.
Nationals Park will be the site of a win-or-go-home game Tuesday night between Washington, which will send three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer to the mound, and either the St. Louis Cardinals or Milwaukee Brewers. One of those clubs will be the NL Central champion; the other will be the league’s second wild-card entry.
Washington starter Patrick Corbin got hit around, giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings — on three homers. Daniel Hudson (3-0), the fifth of six Washington pitchers, struck out two in a perfect eighth.
Cleveland’s Adam Plutko (7-5) lasted 1 1/3 innings and was charged with eight runs and seven hits.
Jordan Luplow hit a solo homer, Franmil Reyes had a two-run drive and Eric Haase added a three-run shot for the Indians, who have lost four in a row. Luplow added another drive to left off Sean Doolittle with two outs in the ninth that allowed Cleveland to break the franchise record for homers in a season with 222.
Cubs 8, Cardinals 6
ST. LOUIS (AP) —St. Louis’ push for a division title will go down to the final day of the regular season following a loss to Chicago.
Adam Wainwright (14-10) allowed four homers for the first time in his career, but the Cardinals maintained a one-game lead over Milwaukee for the NL Central lead when the Brewers lost 3-2 in 10 innings at Colorado. If the teams are tied after Sunday’s regular season finales, they will play a tiebreaking Game 163 in St. Louis on Monday.
Steve Cishek (4-6) and four other relievers turned a lead over to Brandon Kintzler, who pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.
Adam Wainwright (14-10) allowed six runs on a career high-tying 12 hits.
Rockies 3, Brewers 2
DENVER (AP) — Milwaukee closer Josh Hader gave up a tying home run with two outs in the ninth inning and the Brewers lost to Colorado, preventing them from catching St. Louis atop the NL Central.
The Brewers will go into Sunday’s regular-season finale one game behind the Cardinals, who lost 8-6 to the Chicago Cubs. If the Cards and Brewers wind up tied, there would be a one-game tiebreaker Monday in St. Louis for the division title.
If the Brewers don’t overtake the Cardinals, they will play at Washington on Tuesday night in the NL wildcard game.
With a chance to tie for the division lead, Hader quickly retired the first two batters in the ninth. But rookie Sam Hilliard then stepped up as a pinch-hitter and launched an opposite-field drive to left field that made it 2-all.
Trevor Story led off the Colorado 10th with his 35th home run, connecting against Matt Albers (8-6).
Jairo Diaz (6-4) got the win.
Athletics 1, Mariners 0
SEATTLE (AP) — Ramon Laureano hit a solo home run in the third inning and Oakland beat Seattle to clinch home-field advantage for the American League wild-card game.
The A’s will host the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night. Tampa Bay lost 4-1 at Toronto earlier Saturday. Oakland has won three of its last four games and is 18-7 in September.
Oakland used Anderson (13-9) and three relievers for the victory. Anderson gave up three hits, struck out three and walked one in five innings, extending his career high for wins.