Gonzalez, Nationals surge past Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Anthony Rendon homered and Gio Gonzalez pitched the surging Washington Nationals past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Monday night in a rematch of last year’s tight playoff series.
Matt Wieters had a two-run single for Washington in the first meeting between the teams since the Dodgers edged the Nationals in five games during their NL Division Series last season.
Washington, which owns the National League’s best record at 36-20, has won six of seven and increased its lead in the NL East to 11 games.
Gonzalez (5-1) outpitched Hyun-Jin Ryu, holding Los Angeles to two runs and four hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out five.
Ryu (2-6) went a seasonhigh seven innings, but allowed four runs and seven hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out four.
• Astros 7, Royals 3 — At Kansas City, Mo.: Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer, Brian McCann had a two-run shot and the Houston Astros won their 11th consecutive game.
It’s the longest winning streak in the majors this season and one shy of the Astros’ record. They won 12 straight in 1999 and 2004.
Houston, with the best record in the majors at 42-16, has also won 11 road games in a row — a franchise record.
Gurriel homered in the ninth inning. He has gone deep in back-to-back games and has 10 RBIs during a sixgame hitting streak.
Astros starter Mike Fiers (3-2) was charged with two runs in five-plus innings. He is 6-0 in his past 10 road starts dating to Aug. 20.
Jorge Bonifacio homered for the Royals, but Ian Kennedy (0-6) gave up four runs and six hits over five innings. Kennedy, in the second season of a five-year, $70 million contract, is winless in 14 starts since a Sept. 11 victory.
Whit Merrifield went 0 for 5 to snap his 19-game hitting streak, longest in the majors this season.
• Cubs 3, Marlins 1 — At Chicago: Eddie Butler pitched three-hit ball into the sixth inning, Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer and Chicago topped Miami for its fourth straight victory.
Albert Almora Jr. added a solo shot as Chicago remained perfect on its 10-game homestand after going winless on a six-game West Coast trip. With closer Wade Davis on paternity leave, Mike Montgomery pitched 3 1/3 innings for his second save in his first appearance since May 28.
Miami had won three straight and seven of eight. Marcell Ozuna had two hits, but the Marlins’ lineup struggled for the most part on an unseasonably cool, breezy night at Wrigley Field.
Butler (3-1) was working on a shutout before Dee Gordon hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth, trimming Chicago’s lead to 31. Giancarlo Stanton followed with a two-out double, chasing Butler.
• Reds 4, Cardinals 2 — At Cincinnati: Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett hit consecutive two-run doubles in the seventh inning, and the Reds came from behind to beat the slumping Cardinals.
St. Louis starter Carlos Martinez (4-5) was dominant through six innings before wilting in the seventh as the Cardinals dropped their fourth straight and eighth in 11 games.
The Reds had lost two in a row and five of six going into the opener of this four-game series.
• Phillies 11, Braves 4 — At Atlanta: Odubel Herrera continued his power surge with a two-run homer and two doubles, Tommy Joseph homered and drove in three runs, and the Phillies beat the Braves.
Herrera became the first Philadelphia player to hit two doubles in three straight games, according to Phillies records dating back to 1913. He had three extra-base hits for the second straight game, with a homer in each one.
Aaron Altherr added a tworun shot off Eric O’Flaherty in the eighth.
Braves 44-year-old righthander Bartolo Colon endured another rocky start, allowing eight runs.