Page 22 - AT

A22 sports
Thursday 12 sepTember 2019
L.A. beats O’s 7-3, clinch 7th straight NL West title

By Associated Press and walked one. Anibal
BALTIMORE – The Los Ange- Sanchez (8-8) was almost
les Dodgers clinched their as sharp for the Nationals,
seventh consecutive NL finishing with four hits and
West title in fitting fashion, one walk allowed, along
using two home runs by Co- with five strikeouts.
rey Seager and a master- The American League
ful pitching performance Central-leading Twins
by Walker Buehler to beat took a five-game lead on
the Baltimore Orioles 7-3 on Cleveland into the night.
Tuesday night. The Indians, who have six
After the final out, the first more losses than the Twins,
team to clinch a playoff played at the Los Angeles
spot this season gathered Angels.
at the mound for a subdued The Nationals entered 9
celebration that included 1/2 games behind the At-
a wardrobe change for a lanta Braves in the National
pending champagne cel- League East, but they were
ebration in the clubhouse. in the first wild card spot, 4
Los Angeles, coming off 1/2 games above the cut,
consecutive World Series ahead of Milwaukee. The
losses to Houston and Bos- Los Angeles Dodgers outfielders A.J. Pollock, Cody Bellinger and Enrique Hernandez, from left, Chicago Cubs have the
ton and seeking its first title celebrate after the Dodgers defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-3 in a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. second spot.
since 1988, will likely begin 10, 2019, in Baltimore. White Sox 7, Royals 3
the postseason at Dodger Associated Press CHICAGO – Rookie Eloy
Stadium on Oct. 3 against New York led 6-0 in the sec- nings was seven on five oc- RBI single. Joey Wendle led Jimenez hit his first career
the NL wild-card team. ond inning. But the Tigers casions. It was the sixth time off the Rays eighth with a grand slam, Yoan Monca-
This is the earliest that Los tied the score with six runs in in 19 starts he has thrown triple off just-entered re- da launched a two-run
Angeles (94-52) has ever the third, aided by an error over 100 pitches. liever Rafael Montero, and homer and Chicago beat
clinched the division, by Torres at second base. Lindor hit his 30th homer, a Meadows followed with his Kansas City.
both in terms of date and Grayson Greiner doubled solo drive off Trevor Cahill in 29th homer to tie the game Adam Engel added a solo
games. The 1977 team did with one out in the ninth the seventh. He joined Alex at 3-3. shot for as the White Sox
it in Game 151, and the off Chance Adams (1-1) Rodriguez as the only short- Wendle’s RBI single in the won their second straight,
2013 club clinched on Sept. and Mercer’s single to the stops in major league his- fifth was the only run Tam- but just their fourth in 14
19. gap in right-center scored tory to have three or more pa Bay got in seven innings games.
Though an Arizona loss to pinch-runner Willi Castro. seasons of at least 30 home off Rangers starter Lance Adalberto Mondesi, Alex
the New York Mets would Tigers closer Jimenez (3-8) runs before turning 26. Lynn. Gordon and Ryan O’Hearn
have clinched it for the pitched a perfect ninth. Rays 5, Rangers 3 (11) Emilo Pagan (4-2) struck out went deep for the Royals.
Dodgers, Los Angeles em- Indians 8, Angels 0 ARLINGTON, Texas – Austin two in a perfect 10th before Ivan Nova (10-12) allowed
phatically took care of ANAHEIM, Calif. – Rookie Meadows tied the game Peter Fairbanks worked the three runs in 5 2/3 innings,
business on its own. Seager Zach Plesac pitched a four- with a two-run homer in 11th for his first career save. snapping his three-game
homered with two on to hitter for his first complete the eighth, and Tampa Bay Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3 losing streak. The right-
cap a four-run first inning game in the majors and scored twice in the 11th af- TORONTO – Rowdy Tellez hit hander yielded six hits,
against Ty Blach (1-3) and Cleveland kept pace in ter two Texas errors on the a two-run home run, Ca- while walking none and
added a two-run drive in the playoff race, blanking same play and stretched van Biggio and Reese Mc- striking out five.
the third for a 6-0 lead. Los Angeles. their winning streak to six Guire added solo shots and Jakob Junis (9-13) permit-
Gavin Lux hit his first ca- Francisco Lindor and Jor- games. Toronto snapped a seven- ted five runs in five-plus in-
reer homer in the fifth to dan Luplow homered as The Rays (87-59) won for game losing streak with a nings in losing for the third
increase the Dodgers’ NL the Indians stayed a half- the 11th time in 12 games win over Boston. time in four decisions.
record for long balls in a game behind Oakland for to stay 1 1/2 games ahead Biggio walked twice and Athletics 21, Astros 7
season to 258. the second AL wild-card of Oakland for the top AL scored twice, and McGuire HOUSTON – Matt Olson and
Buehler (13-3) limited last- spot. Cleveland trails wild- wild-card spot. The A’s won had two hits. Sean Murphy each hom-
place Baltimore to four hits card leader Tampa Bay by 21-7 at AL West-leading Mookie Betts homered for ered twice, and Oakland
over seven shutout innings. two games. Houston, a night after a the Red Sox, who have lost tagged Wade Miley for
He struck out 11. The Indians have won four 15-0 loss. four straight. seven runs in the first inning
Tigers 12, Yankees 11 of five. The Angels, again Tampa Bay had two on Justin Shafer (2-1) pitched 1 and scored a season-high
DETROIT – Jordy Mercer playing without star Mike with two outs in the 11th 1/3 innings as Toronto won 21 runs in a rout of Houston.
capped a comeback Trout, have dropped three against Emmanuel Clase for the first time since Aug. After being blanked in a
from a six-run deficit with in a row – the loss ensured (2-3) when the rookie re- 31. Ken Giles finished in the lopsided loss on Monday,
a game-ending single off the Angels will miss the post- liever bobbled a slow roller ninth for his 19th save in 20 Oakland recovered to win
Chance Adams in the ninth season for the fifth straight by Kean Wong and had his opportunities. Josh Taylor its seventh of nine and re-
inning, and Detroit over- year. desperate throw bounce (1-2) took the loss. mained ahead of Cleve-
came six home runs by Plesac (8-6) bounced back away from the first base- Twins 5, Nationals 0 land for the second AL
New York. after suffering consecutive man. Second baseman MINNEAPOLIS – Jose Ber- wild-card spot.
Brett Gardner and Didi losses for the first time in Rougned Odor picked it rios surrendered two singles The Astros were coming off
Gregorius each homered his career. The right-hand- up and made a high er- over seven innings in his a 21-1 win over Seattle on
twice, and Gleyber Torres er, who had allowed 10 rant throw into left field with best start in six weeks, Mitch Sunday and a 15-0 thrash-
and Edwin Encarnacion earned runs in his last two a runner diving back into Garver hit the tiebreaking ing of Oakland on Mon-
also went deep for the starts, struck out five and second base, and Nate two-run homer in the sev- day in which they hit seven
Yankees, whose 276 hom- walked two while throwing Lowe scored the tiebreak- enth, and Minnesota beat homers. It was the first time
ers tied Minnesota for the 114 pitches. ing run from third. Guillermo Washington. the Athletics had been shut
major league lead. Plesac’s previous high in in- Heredia followed with an Berrios (12-8) struck out four out since May 9.q