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Baseball Capsules


September 9, 2015


WASHINGTON (AP) Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a tiebreaking, pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning off Jonathan Papelbon, and the resilient New York Mets rallied from a six-run deficit to beat the Washington Nationals 8-7 Tuesday night after Matt Harvey struggled on the mound.


The Mets' second straight comeback win over Washington extended their lead in the NL East to six games. New York will seek to complete a sweep on Wednesday.


Perhaps making one of his final starts of the regular season, Harvey gave up a career high-tying seven runs on eight hits in 5 1-3 innings and left with New York trailing 7-1.


The Mets erased the deficit with a six-run seventh inning fueled by six walks and a wild pitch. The big blow was a three-run double by Yoenis Cespedes, who one inning earlier committed an error in center field that allowed three runs to score.


Nieuwenhuis gave New York its first lead with a drive to right off Papelbon (3-2). It was Nieuwenhuis' fourth home run; the other three came in one game against Arizona on July 12.


Addison Reed (3-2) worked the seventh and Jeurys Familia got three outs for his 38th save. With two runners on, Familia got Yunel Escobar to ground into a game-ending double play.


CUBS 8, CARDINALS 5


ST. LOUIS (AP) - Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo homered and combined for seven RBIs and Chicago earned its fifth straight win, beating St. Louis 8-5 in the middle game of a three-game series.


The Cardinals have the best record in the majors at 87-51, but have dropped five of six. Their lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central slipped to 4 1/2 games. The Cubs are 6 1/2 back and are second in the NL wild card race behind the Pirates.


St. Louis was down 8-0 before pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk sparked a five-run seventh with a two-run homer estimated at 451 feet in the seventh.


Jason Hammel (8-6) allowed three runs in six-plus innings for Chicago, which has won five in a row.


Michael Wacha (15-5) gave up six runs in four innings, his shortest outing of the season and on 10 days' rest.


PIRATES 7, REDS 3


CINCINNATI (AP) - Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer and left-hander Francisco Liriano pitched six shutout innings as he finally beat Cincinnati on his 11th try, leading Pittsburgh to a victory.


The Pirates are 5-10 this season against the Reds, who have dominated their Ohio River rivalry over the last two years.


McCutchen connected in the third inning off rookie Raisel Iglesias (3-7), who lasted only three innings.


Liriano (10-7) came into the game 0-5 in 10 regular season starts against Cincinnati, the only team he had faced but hadn't beaten during his career. The left-hander allowed three hits, struck out 10 and didn't allow a runner beyond second base.


He also doubled and scored the Pirates' first run off Iglesias, who had his streak of seven consecutive quality starts snapped. It was the longest such streak by a rookie in the majors this season.


ROYALS 4, TWINS 2


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Eric Hosmer hit a three-run double, Kendrys Morales drove in another run and Kansas City hung tough through eight more innings for a victory over Minnesota that snapped a four-game skid.


Edinson Volquez (13-7) settled down after a shaky start to last seven innings, allowing six hits and two runs - consecutive RBI hits by the Twins' Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer.


Volquez had been hammered for at least six earned runs in three of his past five starts.


Kyle Gibson (9-10) also recovered from a brutal start to last eight innings, but the Twins' offense was unable to bail him out. The young right-hander allowed his first six batters to reach, and Hosmer and Morales staked Kansas City to an early 4-0 lead.


ORIOLES 2, YANKEES 1


NEW YORK (AP) - Chris Davis led off the ninth inning with his major league-leading 41st home run and Baltimore beat New York for just their fourth win in 19 games.


The Yankees began the day a half-game behind AL East-leading Toronto. They failed to take advantage of Masahiro Tanaka's 10-strikeout performance and Alex Rodriguez's 30th homer - A-Rod has reached the mark in 15 seasons, tying Hank Aaron's record.


Davis homered for the sixth time in seven games, lofting an opposite-field drive into the seats in left. He was the first batter Chasen Shreve (6-2) faced after Tanaka pitched eight innings.


Davis, like Rodriguez, is enjoying a resurgent season. The Orioles' slugger led the majors with 53 home runs in 2013, but hit just 26 last year and drew a drug suspension down the stretch.


BLUE JAYS 5, RED SOX 1


BOSTON (AP) - Troy Tulowitzki singled in the go-ahead run off Alexi Ogando to trigger a four-run 10th inning that lifted AL East-leading Toronto to a 5-1 victory over Boston.


With the win, Toronto increased its lead in the East to 1 1-2 games over the New York Yankees, who lost 2-1 to Baltimore. The Blue Jays won for the 13th time in 17 games.


Travis Shaw homered for Boston, which had its four-game winning streak stopped.


Josh Donaldson led off the 10th with a triple against Ogando (2-1), a towering fly ball that appeared to hit the top corner of the Green Monster and bounced back.


After a review upheld the call of the ball not crossing the red line at the top for a homer, the crew reviewed and confirmed Donaldson was safe at third.


Tulowitzki singled past third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Chris Colabello followed with an RBI single, Ogando balked in the next run and Kevin Pillar had a sacrifice fly.


PHILLIES 5, BRAVES 0


PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Rookie Aaron Nola pitched seven innings and Odubel Herrera hit a three-run homer to lead Philadelphia over Atlanta.


Nola (6-2) rebounded from the worst start of his career, allowing six hits with a career-high seven strikeouts and one walk, to help Philadelphia snap a five-game losing streak. The right-hander gave up six runs and nine hits in four innings of a 9-4 loss at the New York Mets last Wednesday.


Cesar Hernandez had two hits and Brian Bogusevic had an RBI for Philadelphia.


A day after snapping their 12-game losing streak and 13-game road skid, Atlanta managed just seven hits against three Phillies pitchers while losing its 20th game in the last 22.


MARLINS 6, BREWERS 4


MIAMI (AP) - J.T. Realmuto hit two home runs, including an inside-the-parker, to help lead Miami over Milwaukee.


Justin Bour drove in two runs. Dee Gordon recorded his 49th multihit game with two knocks and also stole two bases, giving him 50 on the season.


Kyle Barraclough (2-0) picked up the win after retiring all five batters he faced, striking out the last four.


A.J. Ramos got the final four outs for his 24th save in 30 opportunities. Ramos entered in the eighth and struck out Jason Rogers with two runners on to end the inning and preserve a two-run lead.


Brewers starter Taylor Jungmann (9-6) lasted just 3 2-3 innings, allowing six runs and seven hits.


TIGERS 8, RAYS 7, 13 innings


DETROIT (AP) - Rajai Davis' sacrifice fly gave the Tigers the win in a game that was tied four times, the last at 7-7.


James McCann led off the 13th with an infield single, and Andrew Bellatti (0-1) couldn't pick up Jefry Marte's bunt attempt, putting runners on first and second. Andrew Romine laid down a successful bunt putting runners at second and third.


Davis hit a fly ball to shallow left-center, but McCann broke for the plate and Grady Sizemore's throw home was weak and offline.


Kyle Ryan (2-3) picked up the win.


J.D. Martinez put the Tigers up 7-6 with an eighth-inning homer. In the ninth, Tigers closer Bruce Rondon loaded the bases with two walks and a single. Evan Longoria lifted a routine fly ball to deep left. Davis dropped the ball, allowing Kiermaier to score the tying run.


The teams combined to use 29 position players and 16 pitchers, 10 for Detroit, matching the franchise record set in 1998.


WHITE SOX 7, INDIANS 4


CHICAGO (AP) - Rob Brantly smacked a three-run homer for his first American League hit, and rookie Carlos Rodon allowed one run through seven innings to lead Chicago.


Jose Abreu went 3 for 4 - including his 26th homer and a double - to drive in two runs and help the White Sox win for the fifth time in six games. Trayce Thompson also had two RBIs.


Rodon (7-6) scattered five hits, struck out eight and walked one in his sixth straight quality start. He is 3-2 in that span while yielding eight earned runs in his last 41 innings.


Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer off White Sox reliever Nate Jones in the eighth and pinch-hitter Jose Ramirez added a solo shot off Zach Duke in the ninth. Mike Aviles had three hits and drove in the Indians' other run.


Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco (12-10) lasted 2 2-3 innings, allowing four runs, four hits and three walks in his first start since Aug. 21. He was on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.


GIANTS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 2


PHOENIX (AP) - Tim Hudson pitched six effective innings in his return to the rotation and hit his first homer in two seasons for San Francisco.


Hudson (7-8) was sharp while subbing for Ryan Vogelsong, who pitched in relief the night before. Hudson allowed a run and four hits in his first start since July 26.


He hit a solo homer in San Francisco's five-run third inning off Chase Anderson (6-6) and later added a single.


Gregor Blanco and Joe Panik also homered in the third for the Giants, who won for the third time in 11 games as they try to make up ground on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.


Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered for the Diamondbacks.


ATHLETICS 4, ASTROS 0


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Sonny Gray outpitched close friend Scott Kazmir, and the Athletics spoiled the former Oakland lefty's return to the Coliseum.


Mark Canha hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning after Billy Burns' earlier solo shot to back Gray (13-7). The All-Star right-hander ended a four-start winless stretch and got the best of mentor Kazmir, traded by the A's to his hometown Astros on July 23.


Kazmir had been back to the Bay Area with Houston but didn't pitch against his old team during that trip in early August. He faced A's for the first time since Aug. 18, 2013, with the Indians.


Gray allowed five hits, struck out four and walked two in seven innings.


Kazmir (7-10) lost his second consecutive decision. He was tagged for four runs and seven hits in six innings.


DODGERS 6, ANGELS 4


ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Clayton Kershaw gave up four hits and two runs over seven innings to win his eighth consecutive decision, and Justin Ruggiano hit a leadoff homer for the Dodgers in their 13th victory in 15 games.


Corey Seager had a run-scoring double during the Dodgers' four-run sixth inning in their eighth consecutive win over their Freeway Series rivals.


Ruggiano and Seager had two hits apiece as the Dodgers (80-58) moved to a season-best 22 games over .500 and maintained their healthy 8 1-2 game lead over San Francisco in the NL West.


Kole Calhoun hit a leadoff homer for the Angels (69-69), who dropped back to .500 with their 12th loss in 18 games. Rookie Andrew Heaney (6-3) couldn't match Kershaw, yielding six hits and five runs.


Kershaw (13-6) is unbeaten since June 27 after striking out eight and allowing one earned run. The reigning NL MVP is 8-0 in his last 11 starts with a 0.93 ERA and 112 strikeouts.


Reigning AL MVP Mike Trout flied out, struck out and walked against the Dodgers' dominant left-hander. Trout is 0 for 16 with eight strikeouts in his last four games against the Dodgers overall.


PADRES 2, ROCKIES 1


SAN DIEGO (AP) - Brett Wallace's fielder's choice grounder drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for San Diego.


Corey Spangenberg doubled to lead off the ninth against Boone Logan (0-3) and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by pinch-hitter Clint Barmes.


Wallace followed with a ground ball to shortstop Jose Reyes, who threw home but Spangenberg beat the throw.


The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Padres.


Colorado's Nolan Arenado tied the game in the ninth with a two-out, solo home run to left off Craig Kimbrel (2-2). The blown save is Kimbrel's third of the year.


San Diego pitchers had retired 16 straight before Arenado's league-leading 37th home run.


RANGERS 9, MARINERS 6


SEATTLE (AP) - Cole Hamels shook off a line drive that hit him in the left shoulder, and Texas hit four home runs.


Hamels pitched seven innings to help the Rangers move within one game of first-place Houston in the AL West.


Mitch Moreland, Shin-Soo Choo and Rougned Odor connected off Mariners starter Taijuan Walker, who lasted three innings. Joey Gallo went deep in the eighth.


With two runners aboard in the third, Jesus Sucre lined a 1-0 pitch straight back to the pitcher's mound. Hamels (3-1) managed to deflect the ball with his glove before it slammed into his shoulder, causing the left-hander to stumble and fall to the ground. He remained in the game and got out of the jam with just one run allowed on a fielder's choice by Kyle Seager.


Hamels, acquired from Philadelphia in late July, gave up four runs and eight hits. Shawn Tolleson earned his 31st save.


Walker (10-8) yielded six runs, five earned, and six hits.

LEADING OFF: Mets try to sweep Nats; Kelly rides win streak


September 9, 2015


A look at what's happening all around the major leagues Wednesday:


UNTIL OCTOBER


The first-place Mets go for a three-game sweep in Washington, the last meeting between the NL East rivals until a season-ending series starting Oct. 2 in New York. Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg (8-6, 4.35 ERA) makes his first appearance since being pulled from his last start with back tightness. He threw just 60 pitches Aug. 30 in a win over Miami, ending a strong run of starts since he came off the disabled list following an oblique strain. Jacob deGrom (12-7, 2.40) goes for the Mets, who have a six-game lead over Washington.


STREAKING JOE


Boston right-hander Joe Kelly (9-6) tries to win his eighth straight start when the Red Sox host Toronto in the series finale at Fenway Park. Kelly's run is the longest by a Red Sox pitcher since Josh Beckett won seven consecutive starts in 2007. Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez's streak of nine in 1999 is next on the list.


THE YOUNG AND THE RESTED


The Cardinals are hoping to get back Kolten Wong after the second baseman missed the first two games of a three-game series against the Cubs with calf tightness. The 24-year-old is having his best offensive season to date, hitting .264 with 11 homers and 15 stolen bases. He's struggled lately, though, batting .224 without a homer since Aug. 1.


BIG MAN'S BACK


CC Sabathia (4-9, 5.27 ERA) comes off the disabled list and returns to the Yankees' rotation when they host Baltimore in the finale of a three-game series. The big left-hander has been sidelined with inflammation in his arthritic right knee and plans to pitch with a brace. He is 18-7 lifetime against the Orioles, who hope to have All-Star center fielder Adam Jones back in the lineup. Jones didn't start Tuesday night because of a sore right shoulder.


KEEP IT GOING


J.A. Happ (8-7, 3.90 ERA) tries to add to his stretch of solid starts when the Pirates face the Reds. Since a rocky first outing after Pittsburgh acquired him from Seattle in July, the left-hander has allowed only two runs in his last five starts. He's 1-3 in six career starts against Cincinnati.


PICK A DIFFERENT CARD


The Angels' lineup gets a break after facing aces Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw on consecutive days as the Dodgers send out struggling Mat Latos (4-9, 4.92). The right-hander is 0-2 with a 6.56 ERA in five starts since being acquired from Miami. Garrett Richards (13-10, 3.77) pitches for the Angels.

Preview: Cubs (80-57) at Cardinals (87-51)
Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: September 09, 2015 1:45 PM EDT

The Chicago Cubs had no trouble scoring runs to secure a series win in St. Louis, and they could have a key bat back as they try for the sweep.


Kyle Schwarber may return to the starting lineup from a six-game absence Wednesday as the streaking Cubs try to put up big numbers for Jon Lester in a second straight start.


Schwarber has been sidelined with a sore rib cage, but Chicago (80-57) has been alright without him, winning five straight with 7.8 runs per game. It got to 80 wins for the first time since 2009 and a season-best 23 games over .500 for just the second time since 1989.


In Tuesday's 8-5 win, the team homered at least once in a season-high ninth straight game for the second time in its last 22. The Cubs' 42 homers in that time lead baseball after ranking 13th through Aug. 15.


Anthony Rizzo hit one for the third time in six games, Austin Jackson went 2 for 5 to bump his average to .404 in his last 16 contests, and Starlin Castro had his third straight two-hit game to give him a .478 mark in his last eight as he deals with not playing every day.


"Starlin's been so professional," manager Joe Maddon said. "I think he's rested right now, too. He looks fresh out there."


They haven't swept the Cardinals (87-51) since taking three in St. Louis in September 2010, going 14-32 at Busch Stadium since.


St. Louis has dropped three straight and five of six to allow Pittsburgh within 4 1/2 of the NL Central lead. Chicago can trim its division deficit to 5 1/2 games or less for the first time since June 1.


The Cardinals dropped four straight for the only time June 30-July 3, which also came at home. The best pitching staff in baseball has allowed 24 runs with a .324 opponent average in the three straight losses.


Since the All-Star break, Lester (9-10, 3.59 ERA) has been more fortunate with a 5.62 run support average to help him to a 5-2 record with a 3.59 ERA. Much of that support came in Friday's 14-5 win over Arizona as the left-hander gave up two runs and five hits and wasn't needed to go beyond five innings.


Lester has gotten gradually better in his three starts against the Cardinals this season, going 1-2 with a 1.96 ERA. He's won his two career starts at Busch Stadium with a 1.23 mark, which includes a 2013 World Series win while with Boston.


Jason Heyward is 8 for 18 against Lester, but Matt Carpenter and Yadier Molina are 3 for 15.


Lester is up against Carlos Martinez, who has fallen off after a great start to his first full season in the rotation.


Martinez (13-7, 3.04) has given up at least three runs in seven straight starts with a 2-3 record and 5.13 ERA after allowing three in three of his first 18 starts while going 11-3 with a 2.36 mark. His 159 2-3 innings pitched are 51 2-3 more than his previous professional high in 2013. Some rest in the final weeks of the season could be in order for the right-hander.


"We know giving him extra rest anytime we can is the right thing to do," manager Mike Matheny said. "If the results don't look right in the back end, so be it. That's what we have to do to keep these guys healthy and hopefully strong."


Martinez is 1-0 with a 7.45 ERA in two starts this season against the Cubs with both coming at home. Castro is 1 for 11 with five strikeouts against him.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Cardinals
Mon, Sep 7 Final 9 to 0
Boxscores


GAME 2
Cubs at Cardinals
Tue, Sep 8 Final 8 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cubs at Cardinals
Wed, Sep 9 - 1:45PM EDT

Preview: Rays (67-71) at Tigers (64-74)
Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:08 PM EDT

Pitching continues to fail the Tampa Bay Rays when they need it most, and Jake Odorizzi has contributed to that problem for longer than the club's six-game slide.


Another loss Wednesday night in Detroit would complete a three-game sweep, but the Tigers' starter has been even less effective than Odorizzi.


Detroit (64-74) won 8-7 Tuesday in 13 innings to send the Rays (67-71) to their third straight loss and fifth in six games. Tampa Bay's starting staff, which ranks third in the AL with a 3.68 ERA, has a 6.54 mark in the last six to drop the club 6 1/2 games back of Texas for the second wild card.


The poor pitching has wasted Evan Longoria's .409 average with four home runs and nine RBIs in those games, while J.P. Arencibia is at .440 in his last eight.


Detroit's arms have actually been worse with a 6.97 team ERA in 15 games, which helps explain why it won consecutive games for the only time over a 5-13 span.


The Tigers are now seeking a third straight home win for the first time since May 20-22, as well as a 4-2 homestand to give them their first stay over .500 since going 4-3 against the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland and Cincinnati from June 9-16.


Victor Martinez was out of the lineup for a second straight game with flu-like symptoms, but Rajai Davis homered for the third time in the series and J.D. Martinez also connected for his 36th. Dating to 1969, only Miguel Cabrera (four times), Cecil Fielder (twice), Dean Palmer, Darrell Evans and Martinez have surpassed 35 homers for the Tigers.


It was Davis who was the center of attention with the homer, a walk-off sacrifice fly, three strikeouts, a dropped routine fly ball with the bases loaded and being a part of four replay reviews.


"Everything is just blurry right now," Davis said. "I can't say that I've ever been a part of anything like that before, or even seen anything like that before."


Odorizzi (6-8, 3.35 ERA) hasn't won since July, going 0-2 with a 4.71 ERA in his last seven starts. The losses have come in his last two, and he gave up five runs and three hits - all home runs - with two walks in 6 2-3 innings of Friday's 5-2 defeat at the New York Yankees.


"Three hits, five runners, and they all scored," Odorizzi told MLB's official website. "That was the storyline. Just an odd night, but we'll move on."


That last victory July 28 came at home against Detroit as Odorizzi surrendered a run and six hits with eight strikeouts in six innings to get to 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in two career starts in the series. J.D. Martinez is 3 for 6 against him, but Alex Aliva is 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.


Kyle Lobstein returned from the 60-day disabled list in Friday's 8-1 home loss to Cleveland and gave up six runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings for his fourth loss in as many starts. Lobstein (3-6, 5.02) hadn't pitched since May 23 due to left shoulder soreness and has an 8.53 ERA and .358 opponent batting average on the losing streak.


"Not very good," Lobstein said. "I fell behind too many hitters and gave them too many pitches to hit behind in the count."


The last four starts have all come at home, dropping the left-hander to 2-7 with a 5.37 ERA in 11 career starts at Comerica Park.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Tigers
Mon, Sep 7 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Tigers
Tue, Sep 8 Final 7 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Rays at Tigers
Wed, Sep 9 - 7:08PM EDT

Preview: Orioles (66-72) at Yankees (77-60)
Game: 3
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: September 09, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

It appeared CC Sabathia could be done for the season after landing on the disabled list last month with a knee injury. Given his struggles, that may not have seemed like much of a blow to the New York Yankees


Another injury to a starting pitcher, though, makes his quick return very welcome.


Sabathia will try to prevent the Yankees from losing a home series to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night in his first appearance in over two weeks.


Hampered by his arthritic right knee the past few seasons and coming off surgery last year, Sabathia has been unable to recapture the form that made him one of the game's best pitchers for more than a decade.


He posted double-digit wins each of his first 13 seasons before going 3-4 with a 5.28 ERA in eight starts in 2014. This year has brought more of the same, with the big left-hander 4-9 with a 5.27 ERA in 24 starts.


Sabathia had the knee drained twice and recently received a pain-killing shot, but he was placed on the DL Aug. 24, one day after lasting 2 2-3 innings against Cleveland.


He tested his knee while throwing about 60 pitches Friday and reported feeling normal. Sabathia, who will pitch with a brace, indicated he's ready to return to the mound without any concerns.


"I've been testing it pretty good in the bullpens," he said. "Even playing catch on the side, I was letting it go. I was confident that I wouldn't feel anything and I would be ready to go."


New York's rotation took a hit Monday with the news that 14-game winner Nathan Eovaldi will miss the rest of the regular season with elbow inflammation.


Returning against the Orioles makes sense for Sabathia, who is 18-7 with a 3.48 ERA in 32 matchups. However, he's 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two this season.


Adam Jones is batting .311 with four homers, four doubles and a triple in 61 at-bats against Sabathia, but he sat out Tuesday's 2-1 win with a sore right shoulder.


'Hopefully, he'll be back tomorrow,' manager Buck Showalter said.


Alex Rodriguez accounted for all of the Yankees offense with his 30th home run, reaching that total for the 15th season to tie Hank Aaron's major league record. Rodriguez has hit six of those home runs this season against the Orioles.


New York (77-60) dropped to 8-3 in its last 11 and fell 1 1/2 games behind East-leading Toronto.


"We just didn't come up with the big hit tonight,' manager Joe Girardi said.


Ryan Flaherty homered and Chris Davis snapped a tie in the ninth with his major league-leading 41st, lifting Baltimore (66-72) to its fourth win in 19 games.


'I thought we did a good job hanging in there,' said Davis, who is 10 for 25 with six home runs and 10 RBIs in seven games this month.


Ubaldo Jimenez (10-9, 4.24) looks to reverse some miserable results against the Yankees. He is 3-5 with a 6.60 ERA in nine matchups, splitting four decisions with a 6.75 ERA in five since joining the Orioles in 2014.


The right-hander notched his first win in five starts Friday at Toronto, working around a career high-tying six walks to allow two runs over 5 2-3 innings in a 10-2 victory. However, he failed to complete six innings for the fifth straight start.


Jacoby Ellsbury is 5 for 7 with a homer the last two seasons against Jimenez while Carlos Beltran is 7 for 20 with two home runs and two doubles lifetime in the matchup.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Orioles at Yankees
Mon, Sep 7 Final 6 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Orioles at Yankees
Tue, Sep 8 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores

GAME 3
Orioles at Yankees
Wed, Sep 9 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Mets (77-61) at Nationals (71-67)
Game: 3
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

The NL East-leading New York Mets continue allaying any fears of another epic late-season collapse.


After rallying to build a six-game division lead over Washington, the Mets go for their longest winning streak against the Nationals in 24 years Wednesday night.


Although New York (77-61) appears comfortably in front of Washington (71-67) with 24 games left in the regular season, the position is eerily similar to the 7 1/2-game lead the Mets had with 17 to go in 2007 before they missed the playoffs on the final day.


The club again fell apart a year later by squandering a 3 1/2-game advantage.


The Mets, who have won 13 of 18, continued to silence any talk of another letdown by erasing a six-run deficit in Tuesday's 8-7 win at Washington.


"We're playing like we don't have anything to lose, and that's what we need to do," said Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who had a go-ahead, pinch-hit homer in the eighth after the Mets scored six in the seventh. "I'm just going to enjoy the ride."


The Mets are trying to win a sixth straight matchup with the Nationals franchise for the first time since taking nine in a row against the then-Montreal Expos in 1991.


Jacob deGrom (12-7, 2.40 ERA) takes the ball after going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA over his last three starts. The right-hander battled through six innings Friday, allowing three runs and a season-high nine hits in six innings of a 6-5 loss in 11 at Miami.


"I feel like I threw the ball a little better than it showed," deGrom said. "I kept the ball down pretty good. I got a lot of groundballs. Some of them just went through the infield."


DeGrom is 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA over his last seven road outings, allowing two runs or fewer in five of them. That includes his only victory in five career starts against the Nationals. He gave up a two-run homer to Wilson Ramos while striking out eight in six innings of a 7-2 win at Washington on July 21.


DeGrom yielded two runs and fanned seven in six innings while not getting a decision in a 3-2 home victory against the Nationals on Aug. 1.


Washington entered this series on a five-game winning streak only to have the bullpen surrender 10 runs over 6 1-3 innings while being charged with both losses.


"This season is far from over," said closer Jonathan Papelbon, who gave up Nieuwenhuis' homer and took the loss Tuesday. "Everybody's got to pick up everybody in every count, in every situation. There's nothing else we can do. We've got to keep grinding, go out and win another ballgame (Wednesday)."


Stephen Strasburg (8-6, 4.35) returns to the rotation after tightness in his back forced him to exit after four innings Aug. 30. He gave up four runs and seven hits, including two homers, in a 7-4 win over the Marlins.


Strasburg, who won't be on a pitch count, was 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA over his four previous starts after returning from a left oblique strain that landed him on the disabled for over a month.


He has a 4.22 ERA while splitting two starts against the Mets this year. He surrendered six runs - three earned - in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-3 home loss April 9.


Bryce Harper is hitless in eight at-bats in this series, but Yunel Escobar is 5 for 9 with three runs to give him a .409 average over the past five meetings with New York. Harper is batting .214 with one homer in 15 season matchups.


They've both had success against deGrom, combining to go 10 for 23.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mets at Nationals
Mon, Sep 7 Final 8 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mets at Nationals
Tue, Sep 8 Final 8 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Mets at Nationals
Wed, Sep 9 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Braves (55-84) at Phillies (54-85)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:05 PM EDT

After avoiding their worst losing streak in nearly four decades this week, the Atlanta Braves now turn their attention to a pair of other lengthy droughts.


The Braves will go for their first series win in over three weeks and first on the road in two months Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies.


Atlanta (55-84) snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 7-2 win in Monday's series opener, falling a game shy of tying the franchise's worst skid since 1976. The Braves, who have dropped 20 of their last 22, were denied their first back-to-back wins since early August with a 5-0 loss in the middle game Tuesday.


The Braves still have a shot at their first series victory since taking two of three against Arizona from Aug. 14-16, and they haven't won a road series since winning two of three in Milwaukee from July 6-8.


The club's winningest pitcher will take the mound looking to end those slides. Julio Teheran was the only Atlanta pitcher to notch a win from Aug. 17-Sept. 6 and has earned two of the team's four victories since Aug. 9.


Teheran (9-7, 4.51 ERA) holds the only winning record on Atlanta's staff and has six quality starts over his last seven. He is 3-1 during that stretch with a 3.95 ERA that's inflated by the eight runs he gave up in a 20-6 loss to the New York Yankees on Aug. 30. Teheran has given up 30 hits and 11 runs over 39 innings in the other six.


The right-hander has been especially good against the Phillies this year, using a 1.29 ERA to pick up a pair of wins. Teheran is 5-3 with a 2.54 ERA in nine career starts against the Phillies.


He held Washington to five hits and one run in six innings during a 5-2 loss Friday.


"I feel really good," Teheran told MLB's official website. "I was just trying to make pitches and trying to show my team that I wanted to stay in there."


Philadelphia (54-85) was the last road team Atlanta beat before dropping 13 straight from Aug. 11-Sept. 6, a skid which also ended Monday. The Phillies have held their spot at the bottom of the NL East during Atlanta's plummet thanks to 11 losses in 15 games.


They'll counter Teheran with David Buchanan, who will make his first start in the majors since Aug. 11.


After finishing with a 2.62 ERA in his final six starts of 2014, Buchanan (2-7, 9.00) has drifted back-and-forth from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the Phillies in his second big-league season. He received his third promotion this week, becoming the sixth pitcher in Philadelphia's rotation in an attempt to manage the workload of four rookies ahead of him.


The right-hander had two of his better outings this season against the Braves, holding them to 10 hits and six runs over 14 innings.


Buchanan, though, was most recently sent down to the minors after imploding in a 13-1 loss against Arizona on Aug. 11. The Diamondbacks pounded him for career highs in hits (11) and runs (11) in a career-low 1 2-3 innings.


"Once the game started the ball was elevated, and that's when you get hurt," he said.


Phillies slugger Ryan Howard went 0 for 4 on Tuesday to extend his hitless streak to 25 at-bats, while Cesar Hernandez singled and doubled to extend his hit streak to nine.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Phillies
Mon, Sep 7 Final 7 to 2
Boxscores


GAME 2
Braves at Phillies
Tue, Sep 8 Final 0 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Braves at Phillies
Wed, Sep 9 - 7:05PM EDT

Preview: Blue Jays (79-59) at Red Sox (65-73)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

The Toronto Blue Jays have gotten Drew Hutchison off the hook for a poor outing plenty of times this season, and that's especially been the case when he's faced the Boston Red Sox.


The right-hander looks to take most of the pressure off his offense this time around as the first-place Blue Jays try to win two of three at Fenway Park on Wednesday night.


Hutchison (13-3, 5.07 ERA) has an 8.14 run-support average that is nearly a full run higher than any other pitcher in baseball. Toronto (79-59) has won five times when he's allowed at least six runs, and if his ERA doesn't drop much more before the season ends, Hutchison would become the first pitcher since James Shields in 2010 to win at least 13 games with an ERA above 5.00.


He had a 2.45 ERA while winning his previous four starts, though, before allowing six runs and nine hits - three homers - in five-plus innings of Friday's 10-2 loss to Baltimore. The two runs of support Hutchison received marked the fewest in nine starts since July 3 when he didn't get any for the only time in his 26 outings.


Toronto has won each Hutchison's three starts against Boston this season despite his 11.91 ERA. Mookie Betts and Pablo Sandoval each are 5 for 7 with a homer and two doubles off him in 2015, while David Ortiz (4 for 7) and Xander Bogaerts (3 of 6) also have had success in their matchups.


The Blue Jays didn't get much going until the 10th on Tuesday, when Josh Donaldson led off with a triple and Troy Tulowitzki drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run inning to give them a 5-1 win over the Red Sox (65-73).


Toronto, 29-8 since July 29, moved 1 1/2 games ahead of New York atop the AL East after the Yankees fell 2-1 to the Orioles.


'We tried to just navigate through their lineup the best that we could, give ourselves the best opportunity to get through that inning,' Boston's interim manager Torey Lovullo said of the 10th. 'Obviously one of the best players in the American League comes up with a leadoff triple, you're just trying to preserve that run the best that you can.'


Boston had its four-game winning streak snapped despite Dustin Pedroia doubling in his first game since July 22 because of a hamstring injury. Betts is hitting .386 during a 14-game hitting streak after going 1 for 4.


The Red Sox now try to bounce back behind Joe Kelly (9-6, 4.84), who has won his last seven starts while posting a 2.72 ERA. He's allowed two or fewer runs in the past six after pitching six strong innings in Friday's 7-5 victory over Philadelphia.


'Something that I learned is that you can't just keep pounding fastballs, especially in this division with the hitters,' Kelly said. 'Like I said, you've got to keep all the hitters off-speed throughout the entire game.'


The right-hander's three starts against the Blue Jays all came before he figured that out. Kelly went 0-1 with a 7.64 ERA in those outings while walking 12 in 17 2-3 innings.


Donaldson, hitting .421 with two homers, two triples and four doubles over his last 10, is 5 for 9 against Kelly this season.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Mon, Sep 7 Final 4 to 11
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Tue, Sep 8 Final 5 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Blue Jays at Red Sox
Wed, Sep 9 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Brewers (61-77) at Marlins (58-81)
Game: 3
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

Though the status of two key contributors remains uncertain, the Miami Marlins seem poised to put a positive finish on a disappointing season.


The Marlins can win a third consecutive series Wednesday night against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.


While Miami (58-81) still isn't sure if slugger Giancarlo Stanton will return from a wrist injury suffered in late June, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (hamstring) believes he can play again this season but certainly will miss a sixth consecutive contest Wednesday.


Already with career highs of five home runs and 48 RBIs, Hechavarria has been one of the few bright spots for the underachieving Marlins.


"Right now, I'm around 70 percent," he told MLB's official website. "I think I'll be back before the season ends. But to rush back from a hamstring isn't easy."


Miami, though, won't worry about who is not on the field.


Instead, it will try to win for the seventh time in nine games after evening this three-game set with a 6-4 win Tuesday. J.T. Realmuto hit two homers, including an inside-the-parker, as the Marlins handed Milwaukee (61-77) its second loss in three games after winning six in a row.


"That's a thing of beauty," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said of Realmuto's accomplishment. "Very few catchers possess that type of speed and athleticism to be able to run off an inside-the-parker.


"A big night for him."


It was the first time since May 31, 1980, that a catcher - Montreal's Gary Carter - had a multihomer game that included an inside-the-parker.


Realmuto is batting .429 in his last seven games and could be back behind the plate to catch Tom Koehler (8-13, 4.08).


The right-hander is 0-7 with a 6.31 ERA in his last eight starts, but the Marlins snapped a seven-game skid with him on the mound in Friday's 6-5, 11-inning win over the New York Mets. For a second straight home start, Koehler allowed two runs in six innings but walked a season-high five after walking four in his previous outing at Marlins Mark.


Perhaps the right-hander's worst start during his winless stretch came Aug .19 when he gave up seven runs, nine hits and walked four in 4 1-3 innings of an 8-7 loss at Milwaukee. Khris Davis belted a two-run homer and a three-run shot off Koehler in that contest and is batting .350 in five career games at Marlins Park.


Scooter Gennett, who is 3 for 7 with a triple against Koehler, is batting .379 in his last 19 games.


Milwaukee's Ariel Pena (1-0, 6.00 ERA) makes his first career start after he earned the win despite allowing two runs in three innings of Saturday's 7-3 victory at Cincinnati in his major league debut. The right-hander, who is replacing the ineffective Matt Garza, doesn't appear to be on a specific pitch count.


"We're going to try to win the game, so however that works (in terms of pitch count), it works," manager Craig Counsell said. "We're trying to be really flexible here. I think that's the best way to do it when you have some options now."



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Brewers at Marlins
Mon, Sep 7 Final 9 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Brewers at Marlins
Tue, Sep 8 Final 4 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Brewers at Marlins
Wed, Sep 9 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Pirates (82-55) at Reds (57-80)
Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: September 09, 2015 7:10 PM EDT

J.A. Happ has gotten plenty of opportunities for a fresh start while pitching for five teams in as many years, but being thrown into the middle of a playoff race has seemed to bring out his best.


He'll look to win his fifth straight outing for the Pittsburgh Pirates when he faces the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park.


Happ (4-1, 1.57 ERA) has experienced mild success since coming up with Philadelphia in 2007 and has battled multiple injuries while also pitching for Houston, Toronto and Seattle after the Phillies dealt him in 2010.


The left-hander hasn't posted an ERA below 4.22 since that year and went 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA with the Mariners this season before being sent to the Pirates (82-55) at the trade deadline.


Happ gave up four runs in a loss to the Chicago Cubs in his Pittsburgh debut Aug. 4, but he's posted a 0.60 ERA in five outings since. His most impressive performance came Friday against MLB-best St. Louis, when he allowed three hits and struck out eight in seven scoreless innings of a 9-3 win.


'Sometimes a change of scenery can give a guy a shot in the arm,' manager Clint Hurdle said. 'You don't want to be a weak link and you re-acquire your focus knowing you're being counted on. He's showed up well.'


Happ had a rough outing the last time he pitched in Cincinnati on June 21, 2014, allowing eight runs and walking four in four innings while with Toronto.


Brandon Phillips is 7 for 14 with three homers and two doubles off Happ, and Joey Votto is 7 for 16 with three doubles.


Phillips had two hits Tuesday, but Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer, Jung Ho Kang had a solo shot and Starling Marte went 3 for 5 as the Pirates won 7-3.


Pittsburgh, which had lost six of eight, maintained its two-game lead over the Cubs for the NL's first wild card and pulled within 4 1/2 of the Cardinals in the Central.


'It is tangible evidence of us being in a better place,' Hurdle said after the Pirates clinched a third straight winning season. 'We had 20 consecutive losing seasons as an organization, and I was here for two of them. We talked about creating a new sense and direction of history. That's part of it.'


The last-place Reds (57-80) dropped to 10-5 against the Pirates this season and will look to bounce back behind rookie Keyvius Sampson (2-3, 6.68), who is in the midst of a major slump.


Sampson made his major league debut in relief against Pittsburgh on July 30, then made his first career start Aug. 2 against the Pirates and allowed three runs in five innings of a 3-0 loss.


The right-hander hasn't gotten past the fourth in any of his last four outings, though, going 0-2 with a 10.93 ERA while walking nine in 14 innings.


'It's just been a struggle for him to get ahead and stay ahead in the count,' manager Bryan Price said. 'That makes a big difference. When he was going good, he was clustering pitches in the zone. Now he's spraying them all around. That usually doesn't lead to success.'


Sampson has one walk and eight strikeouts in six innings against the Pirates and has fanned Pedro Alvarez both times he's faced him.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Pirates at Reds
Mon, Sep 7 Final 1 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Pirates at Reds
Tue, Sep 8 Final 7 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Pirates at Reds
Wed, Sep 9 - 7:10PM EDT

Preview: Indians (67-70) at White Sox (66-71)
Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: September 09, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Cleveland Indians were hoping Josh Tomlin's return would provide a spark to their fading playoff hopes.


They need him to do it again when he goes for the longest single-season winning streak of his career Wednesday night against the Chicago White Sox.


The Indians' chances of reaching the postseason dimmed further after losing 7-4 at Chicago on Tuesday after opening this three-game series with a 3-2 victory a day earlier.


Cleveland (67-70) is six games back of Texas for the AL's second wild-card spot, and giving the ball to Tomlin (4-1, 2.55 ERA) could at least help the Indians to a fourth win in six games.


The right-hander lost his first start after coming back from shoulder surgery but has won four straight since. He had a career-high six-game winning streak over seven starts bridging 2010 and '11.


More importantly, three of Tomlin's victories have come after Cleveland defeats, including a four-hitter in Friday's 8-1 win at Detroit after his scheduled start came a day early to replace injured ace Corey Kluber.


"We've known all year that we had a chance to get some serious help down the stretch from Josh," manager Terry Francona said. "We wanted to be as patient as possible, because we knew if we let him get ready, he could do this for us."


Tomlin, though, is 0-2 with a 4.24 ERA in four starts against Chicago (66-71).


The White Sox, seven games back of the Rangers, have won five of six behind the rotation's 2.55 ERA after Carlos Rodon allowed one run in seven innings Tuesday.


Chicago should like its chances of getting another strong effort with Jeff Samardzija (9-11, 4.87) taking the mound since he's allowed one run in 14 innings while winning both starts against the Indians this year.


Samardzija wasn't that sharp in a 6-4 win at Minnesota on Thursday. He served up a grand slam while walking a season-high four in 6 1-3 innings, ending a career-worst six-start losing streak.


"Usually when you're in the situation I've been in here the last month, that next turning point doesn't come easy," Samardzija said. "Very rarely do you come out and go eight innings shutout and get the win 10-nothing. Usually you've got to kick that by going out and working hard, and just trusting your stuff and battling."


Now Samardzija will try to snap the longest home slide of his career. He's compiled a 9.00 ERA and allowed nine homers while losing five consecutive games at U.S. Cellular Field.


Jose Abreu is hitting .417 with two homers, five RBIs and seven runs over the last six games. He came a triple short of the cycle while going 3 for 4 with two RBIs on Tuesday.


Abreu, who has never faced Tomlin, is batting .367 in his last 13 home matchups with Cleveland.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Indians at White Sox
Mon, Sep 7 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Indians at White Sox
Tue, Sep 8 Final 4 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Indians at White Sox
Wed, Sep 9 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Twins (71-67) at Royals (83-55)
Game: 3
Venue: Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium
Date: September 09, 2015 8:10 PM EDT

The Kansas City Royals never seemed too concerned during a rare losing stretch.


With that in the past, they can focus on finishing their second losing homestand on a positive note Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins.


Kansas City (83-55) was outscored 31-9 while dropping four in a row for the third time this season. Though the Royals didn't completely break out, they scored all their runs in the first and got seven strong innings from Edinson Volquez in Tuesday's 4-2 victory.


Alex Gordon had three hits and Eric Hosmer delivered a three-run double to help the AL leaders improve to 3-5 on their nine-game stay.


"It's big, especially the way the last four games have gone," said Hosmer, who is batting .343 in his last 10 contests.


Though the Royals would like to produce better at the plate in these final few weeks before the postseason, Volquez's performance could provide a needed boost for a rotation that had an 8.57 ERA over the previous four games.


Those problems began Friday when Kris Medlen (3-1, 4.88 ERA) yielded seven runs and 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 12-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.


'I had a big issue with my curveball, getting that down,' the right-hander said. 'Just a frustrating day overall.'


In the mix with Danny Duffy for the No. 4 spot in Kansas City's postseason rotation, Medlen isn't too discouraged despite falling to 2-1 and having his ERA rise to 6.88 as a starter.


"I think you take every start with negatives and positives," Medlen told MLB's official website. "It's baseball. It's a frustrating game, but you can't get down."


Medlin's only other appearance against the Twins (71-67) came in 2010.


In pursuit of the AL's second wild card, Minnesota has dropped four of six after winning 10 of 12. Joe Mauer had two hits with an RBI as the Twins fell to 2-3 on a nine-game trip.


Aaron Hicks also had two hits and has hit safely in all five games since coming off the disabled list with a hamstring issue.


Mike Pelfrey is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts at Kansas City this season, but 0-2 with a 10.22 ERA in his last three overall. The right-hander gave up seven runs and eight hits in four innings of Friday's 8-0 loss at Houston.


"I feel good,' Pelfrey said. 'I'm healthy. The results just haven't been there. I'm going to keep plugging away and keep going and hopefully, it will turn around soon.'


Manager Paul Molitor had some advice for Pelfrey (6-9, 4.17).


'I think he has to be more effective with the fastball in terms of where he's putting it, backing them off here and there, whatever he needs to do,' Molitor said. 'But, there are just a lot of aggressive swings against the fastball.'


Lorenzo Cain is 6 for 12 with two doubles against Pelfrey while Hosmer is 4 for 9.


It's uncertain if Minnesota rookie slugger Miguel Sano will miss a second straight game with a nagging hamstring injury. He has one hit, walked twice and struck out 11 times in his last 17 plate appearances.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Twins at Royals
Mon, Sep 7 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Twins at Royals
Tue, Sep 8 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores


GAME 3
Twins at Royals
Wed, Sep 9 - 8:10PM EDT

Preview: Rockies (57-81) at Padres (66-73)
Game: 3
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: September 09, 2015 9:10 PM EDT

The NL home run race has two Colorado Rockies leading the way with little fanfare since their headed for another finish at the bottom of the West.


While Carlos Gonzalez attempts to shake out of his funk, Nolan Arenado looks to continue his torrid hitting as the Rockies face the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.


Colorado (57-81) is on track to finish in the division cellar for the third time in four years, but Arenado and Gonzalez continue to be among the few bright spots.


Arenado's career-high 37 homers lead the league, while Gonzalez's personal-best 36 rank second.


Arenado has pulled ahead by hitting seven home runs in nine games this month, adding a .444 average and 12 RBIs. That's still not changed the Rockies' downward trajectory since they've lost five of those games.


Gonzalez hasn't helped. He's 1 for 10 in four games after going 7 for 13 with five homers and 12 RBIs during a three-game winning streak.


Arenado's latest homer came in the ninth Tuesday before Jose Reyes' throw home in the bottom of the inning wasn't in time to catch Corey Spangenberg in a 2-1 defeat at San Diego (66-73).


Chris Rusin (5-7, 4.78 ERA) five-hit the Padres in a 5-0 home win for his first career complete game Aug. 16. The left-hander, however, followed that by giving up 14 runs in eight innings while losing his next two outings.


He bounced back by going the distance again Thursday, tossing a six-hitter in an 11-3 win over San Francisco.


"Chris has done a great job for us, and he's taken full advantage of the opportunity that he's gotten this year," manager Walt Weiss told MLB's official website. "He's got a great feel for pitching. He messes with hitters' timing by changing his delivery. He's just got a real good feel for getting outs. He commanded the ball really well."


Rusin, though, is 0-5 with a 6.05 ERA over his last seven starts on the road. This is his first in San Diego since going 6 1-3 scoreless innings with the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 25, 2013.


The Padres are turning to James Shields (10-6, 3.83), who is 2-2 with a 4.20 ERA in his last five starts at Petco Park.


The right-hander struggled through 107 pitches in five innings Friday. He surrendered three runs and two homers while walking a career-high six and left without a decision in an 8-4 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers.


"I don't think he was missing by much," manager Pat Murphy told MLB's official website. "I think that he certainly made big pitches and gave us a chance, but we were hoping he wasn't that deep in his pitch count in the fifth."


Shields is 4-0 with a 3.68 ERA in his past five starts against the Rockies. He's struggled greatly with Arenado and Gonzalez. Arenado is 8 for 14 with three homers off him and Gonzalez is 7 for 16 with a pair of home runs.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rockies at Padres
Mon, Sep 7 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rockies at Padres
Tue, Sep 8 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rockies at Padres
Wed, Sep 9 - 9:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Rockies at Padres
Thu, Sep 10 - 3:40PM EDT

Preview: Giants (72-67) at Diamondbacks (66-73)
Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: September 09, 2015 9:40 PM EDT

A rookie season that started with plenty of promise and a no-hitter has turned sour for Chris Heston, and to make matters worse, the San Francisco Giants lineup has stopped producing for him.


He'll try for his first victory in seven starts Wednesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks with the desperate Giants seeking a series win.


Heston was 11-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 2.50 walks per nine innings in 20 starts entering August as the team backed him with a 5.93 run-support average. The right-hander has since gone 0-4 with a 5.28 ERA and 4.66 walks per nine while receiving 2.48 runs a game.


Heston (11-9, 3.54 ERA) got tagged with back-to-back homers in Friday's 2-1 loss in Colorado and has given up seven in five starts after going 76 2-3 innings over his previous 12 without surrendering one.


All three of his games against the Diamondbacks came early on with Heston going 2-1 with a 1.45 ERA. He's limited A.J. Pollock (0 for 6 with three strikeouts) and Chris Owings (1 for 9), but Paul Goldschmidt is 3 for 6 with two doubles and David Peralta is 3 for 9 with a home run.


Fellow rookie Zack Godley (4-1, 3.62) also got off to an impressive start but saw his fortunes change drastically in Friday's 14-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Godley gave up six runs and four hits with six walks in 3 2-3 innings for easily his worst outing.


"I just couldn't locate," Godley told MLB's official website. "My arm feels great, my body feels great. For some reason I couldn't find it today. You've just got to let it go and come back and do better the next time."


The right-hander has pitched on the road in his last five outings after holding visiting Milwaukee scoreless in six innings of his big league debut, an 8-3 win July 23.


Venue hasn't helped the Diamondbacks (66-73) against the Giants (72-67). San Francisco won 6-2 on Tuesday to even the series and earn its sixth win in eight games in Arizona. The Giants haven't lost a series there since being swept in three to begin 2012, going 24-9 since while never losing consecutive contests.


The latest handed Arizona its fifth loss in six overall and eighth in 10 at home.


San Francisco has won three of four following a crippling seven-game losing streak, but it's lost ground with the Dodgers and Cubs each winning five straight. The Giants trail Los Angeles by 8 1/2 in the NL West and are nine back of Chicago for the second wild card.


Joe Panik has provided some spark with a home run and two doubles in four at-bats while scoring three times in two games back from the disabled list. The second baseman is batting .356 in his last 19 games and .426 in 14 against the Diamondbacks this year. Even so, manager Bruce Bochy said Panik won't be in the lineup every day in order to help manage his back issues.


"It's not going to be a chronic thing," Panik said. "I just have to listen to my body."


If he's in the lineup Wednesday, he could be without double-play partner Brandon Crawford, who left after the sixth inning Tuesday with tightness in his left calf and left side.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Giants at Diamondbacks
Mon, Sep 7 Final 1 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Giants at Diamondbacks
Tue, Sep 8 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Giants at Diamondbacks
Wed, Sep 9 - 9:40PM EDT

Preview: Dodgers (80-58) at Angels (69-69)
Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: September 09, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

Mat Latos shut down the Los Angeles Angels in his Dodgers debut to make a great first impression on manager Don Mattingly.


Five weeks later, he's simply trying to hang onto his spot in the starting rotation.


The NL West leaders have done just fine lately despite Latos' struggles and seek a sixth straight win and three-game sweep of the Angels on Wednesday night in Anaheim.


The Dodgers (80-58) acquired Latos (4-9, 4.92 ERA) from Miami at the trade deadline to provide depth behind fellow starters Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. The right-hander was solid in his first outing with the club Aug. 2, allowing one run in six innings of a 5-3, 10-inning win over the Angels.


Latos hasn't gotten out of the fifth in any of his four starts since, though, going 0-2 with an 8.31 ERA. If it weren't for Latos' quality outing against the Angels, Mattingly might have skipped his turn.


"That's pretty much the reason (for keeping Latos in the rotation)," Mattingly told MLB's official website. "He hasn't pitched as well as he's capable of, that's for sure. I think he would admit that."


One of the Dodgers' two losses over their last 15 games came in Latos' start against San Diego on Thursday. They've won all five since to move a season-high 22 over .500.


The Dodgers maintained their 8 1/2-game lead on San Francisco in the West with Tuesday's 6-4 win over the fading Angels (69-69). Justin Ruggiano led off the game with a homer before Kershaw pitched seven solid innings to win his eighth straight decision.


"I feel good about the way we're playing," Mattingly said. "You can't ask anything more than your guys coming ready to play."


It's a wonder what Angels manager Mike Scioscia is asking of his players. The Angels had a two-game lead atop the AL West on July 22, but they're 15-29 since and are 5 1/2 games behind Houston while trailing Texas by 4 1/2 for the second wild card.


Mike Trout went hitless Tuesday and is 0 for 16 with eight strikeouts in his last four against the Dodgers. David Freese had three of the Angels' six hits, and Kole Calhoun is batting .406 during a seven-game hitting streak after homering.


"Obviously, you want things to go your way, but it's not right now," said Calhoun, who also struck out three times. "I got plenty of pitches to hit in each at-bat, and you've got to put those balls in play."


Garrett Richards (13-10, 3.77) gets the ball looking to snap out of his own slump. Richards allowed 12 runs in 12 innings over his previous two starts before giving up two in six innings of Friday's 5-2 win over Texas, but he struggled with his command while hitting a batter and walking a season-high five.


"It didn't look like his release point was there. Garrett usually maintains his stuff," Scioscia said. "It was one of the few games where he got out of sync."


The right-hander didn't have any issues the last time he faced the Dodgers and pitched a five-hit shutout Aug. 4, 2014.


Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has missed the last three with inflammation in his left shoulder and plans to rest at least a few more games.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Dodgers at Angels
Mon, Sep 7 Final 7 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Dodgers at Angels
Tue, Sep 8 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores

GAME 3
Dodgers at Angels
Wed, Sep 9 - 10:05PM EDT

Preview: Astros (75-64) at Athletics (60-79)
Game: 3
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: September 09, 2015 10:05 PM EDT

Perhaps Collin McHugh is just the pitcher the Houston Astros need to end their struggles in Oakland and avoid possibly falling into a tie for the AL West lead.


Looking to continue his stellar stretch, the right-hander tries to help the Astros prevent being swept by the last-place Athletics on Wednesday night.


Houston (75-64) has held sole possession of the division lead since July 28 when it was tied with the Los Angeles Angels. However, if the Astros drop their sixth straight at Oakland and Texas wins at Seattle on Wednesday night, they would fall into a virtual tie for the West lead with the surging Rangers.


'You tell them this is an opportunity to play (Wednesday),' manager A.J. Hinch said after Tuesday's 4-0 loss. 'We're not going to carry any baggage with us. The drama surrounding multiple losses in a row, it certainly hurts. Our guys know what's at stake. Our guys are ready to play.'


A day after falling 10-9 in the opener, the Astros were held to five hits by Sonny Gray. A loser in seven of 11, Houston has been held to one or no runs three times during its five-game skid at Oakland (60-79).


However, the Astros should feel confident behind McHugh (15-7, 3.75 ERA). He's 3-2 with a 1.54 ERA in his last six starts, and the best of that stretch came Friday when he allowed seven hits in 7 2-3 innings of an 8-0 win over Minnesota.


'He's been terrific, specifically in the second half,' Hinch said. 'For him it's pitch execution. He's got so many different ways to get guys out and he's been very creative with his pitches. He's had better finish as the season's gone on.'


McHugh and 17-game winner Dallas Keuchel are the first Astros pitchers to win at least 15 games in the same season since Roy Oswalt won 20 and Andy Pettitte had 17 during the club's 2005 run to the NL pennant.


'When you get ahead of guys you've got to be able to put guys away,' McHugh said. 'Whether it's a curveball, whether it's cutters or high fastballs, we've been able to execute pretty well in all phases of the game when it comes to that.'


He's 1-1 with a 2.31 ERA against the A's this season.


Mark Canha is 0 for 3 with two strikeouts against McHugh, but belted a three-run homer Tuesday. The rookie first baseman is 9 for 20 with three homers, six RBIs and six runs scored in the last five games.


Perhaps the best of Aaron Brooks' six career starts came Aug. 6 when the right-hander gave up a run, four hits and struck out seven in seven innings of a 5-4, 10-inning home loss to Houston.


'He pitched great,' Oakland manager Bob Melvin said after that contest. 'That's all you can ask at that point. It would have been nice to reward him."


Brooks (1-2, 6.91), however, was far from great Friday when he allowed six runs and six hits in 2 1-3 innings of an 11-8 loss to Seattle.


All-Star Jose Altuve went 1 for 3 against Brooks last month but is batting .154 in the last six games.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Astros at Athletics
Mon, Sep 7 Final 9 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Astros at Athletics
Tue, Sep 8 Final 0 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Astros at Athletics
Wed, Sep 9 - 10:05PM EDT

Preview: Rangers (73-64) at Mariners (66-73)
Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: September 09, 2015 10:10 PM EDT

Tuesday's offensive outburst is a good sign for the Texas Rangers and a very bad sign for several other playoff-hopeful teams.


Fresh off their highest scoring output since mid-August, the Rangers look to take the first three of a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.


A 9-6 victory in the second game helped Texas (73-64) claw within one game of AL West-leading Houston while bumping its advantage for the second wild card to 2 1/2 over Minnesota.


Even better, Texas showed signs of life at the plate with its highest run total since Aug. 15 and home runs from Shin-soo Choo, Mitch Moreland, Rougned Odor and Joey Gallo.


The Rangers - nine games over .500 for the first time since closing 2013 at 91-72 - averaged just 2.7 runs through the first seven games of their 10-game West Coast trip, but they have won nine of 12 to overtake the Twins for the second wild card.


"This is an offense that's been a formidable offense for us," manager Jeff Banister told MLB's official website, "...and when they come, they'll come in bunches."


Wednesday starter Martin Perez has been bitten by low run support in two of his last three starts. Perez (2-4, 5.07 ERA) has allowed three runs in each of his last five outings, but he took losses on Aug. 20 and Friday after receiving no runs and two runs, respectively.


The left-hander's most recent start featured another unlikely hurdle, stomach discomfort caused by food poisoning. Perez battled through to post a quality start, holding the Los Angeles Angels to three runs and five hits in six innings of a 5-2 loss. He walked four and struck out three.


Take out a dismal inning on July 28 against the New York Yankees in which Perez allowed eight runs during a 21-5 loss, and his ERA would be 3.70. Since then he is 2-2 with a 3.35 ERA, including six innings against the Mariners on Aug. 8 in which he gave up two earned runs in an 11-3 win.


Perez is 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA in five career starts and two relief appearances against Seattle.


Vidal Nuno will get his fifth spot start this year for the Mariners (66-73), all coming since Aug. 4. The left-hander last started on Aug. 31, allowing five runs and seven hits in six innings of an 8-3 loss in Houston. He made two relief appearances in Oakland since, facing three hitters combined and surrendering two singles while recording one out.


Nuno (0-2, 3.72) is 3-15 with a 4.23 ERA in 36 starts during his three-year career, and he hasn't won since June 27, 2014.


Nuno has given up at least one home run in each of his five starts this year, including a career high-tying three his last time out against the Astros.


"Giving up those home runs killed me a little bit," Nuno told MLB's official website. "I was leaving balls up, not finding my fastball."


Kyle Seager went 1 for 4 with an RBI for the Mariners on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. He has seven hits in 17 at-bats against Perez, including two home runs.


Delino DeShields was out of Texas' lineup and is day to day after spraining his left knee trying to steal third base in the series opener. Will Venable went 2 for 4 with an RBI out of the leadoff spot in his place.


Nelson Cruz (right quadriceps) and Franklin Gutierrez (right groin) were not in Seattle's lineup Tuesday and are each day to day.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rangers at Mariners
Mon, Sep 7 Final 3 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rangers at Mariners
Tue, Sep 8 Final 9 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rangers at Mariners
Wed, Sep 9 - 10:10PM EDT


GAME 4
Rangers at Mariners
Thu, Sep 10 - 3:40PM EDT