Pujols goes deep to help Dodgers beat the Angels
Albert Pujols hit his first home run against the Los Angeles Angels since they released him in May, sending Walker Buehler and the Dodgers to an 8-2 win Sunday.
Cody Bellinger, the former NL MVP who has struggled mightily this season, homered for the second straight game, helping the World Series champions take two of three at Dodger Stadium in the Freeway Series.
Pujols hit a two-run homer off rookie Reid Detmers in the second inning, connecting as a pinch-hitter for Justin Turner, who exited with left groin discomfort.
It was the third pinch-hit homer of Pujols’ career, the 14th home run of the season — nine as a Dodger — and 676th in his career.
Buehler (12-2) pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out eight.
PHILLIES 3, METS 0 >> Zack Wheeler pitched a two-hitter and struck out 11, Bryce Harper homered and first-place Philadelphia finished off a three-game sweep of New York for its eighth straight victory.
Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto also homered to help the Phillies move 21/2 games ahead of the Mets in the NL East. The Mets lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Wheeler (10-6) gave up a double to Brandon Nimmo to start the game and then retired 22 consecutive batters until Michael Conforto walked in the eighth. Nimmo singled with one out in the ninth and Wheeler soon struck out Pete Alonso for his third career shutout.
MARINERS 2, YANKEES 0 >> Yusei Kikuchi and the Seattle bullpen combined on a six-hitter, Kyle Seager doubled to break a scoreless tie in the eighth inning and the Mariners avoided a four-game sweep, beating New York.
The Yankees had won five in a row. New York rookie Luis Gil pitched two-hit ball for five shutout innings, striking out eight.
• Prior to the game it was announced that first baseman Anthony Rizzo has become the latest Yankees player to test positive for the coronavirus. He is the fourth New York player within the past week to be sidelined by COVID-19, joining starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery and catcher Gary Sánchez.
PADRES 2, DIAMONDBACKS 0 >> Blake Snell (6-4) struck out 13 over seven innings, Jake Cronenworth homered and drove in both runs and San Diego beat Madison Bumgarner and Arizona.
BLUE JAYS 9, RED SOX 8 >> George Springer hit a go-ahead three-run home run off Matt Barnes in the eighth inning and Toronto overcame a five-run deficit to beat Boston. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added a two-run drive to help Toronto finish 9-2 on its first homestand in Canada since September 2019.
WHITE SOX 9, CUBS 3 >> Eloy Jiménez drove in five runs with two homers and a double, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cubs 9-3 for their first sweep of a three-game series at Wrigley Field since May 2012. Jiménez and Andrew Vaughn hit two-run shots after Tim Anderson led off the game with a solo drive as the White Sox hit Zach Davies hard in a five-run first inning.
RAYS 9, ORIOLES 6 >> Brett Phillips capped his first career two-homer game with a tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth for Tampa Bay.
TWINS 7, ASTROS 5 >> Jorge Polanco homered twice and drove in four runs, Miguel Sanó also hit a home run and Minnesota beat Houston.