MLB: Brewers overtake Dodgers

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers are ready for a difficult weekend against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Especially after a successful performance in the opener of the series between division leaders.

Rickie Weeks hit a three-run homer and Gerardo Parra had two hits and two RBIs to lead Milwaukee to a 9-3 victory over Los Angeles on Friday night.

“We know the pitching that we are going to face the next couple of nights,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “So, it was important to win this game.”

The Dodgers’ major league-best road record slipped to 36-24, but they will send Zack Greinke to the mound Saturday night and Clayton Kershaw on Sunday.

Roenicke said that Brewers simply didn’t quit, especially after falling behind and not having much success against Roberto Hernandez in his Dodgers debut.

“Not only do we come back and tie it, and then get the lead, and then all of a sudden we get the big homer from Rickie,” Roenicke said. “That opens it up.”

NL West-leading Los Angeles scored two runs in the seventh to take a 3-2 lead, but Milwaukee capitalized on two errors by reserve shortstop Justin Turner and scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning.

“Actually, it was a pretty good game there until the seventh,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “Then, we just defensively let our pitching down really. Really, it was our defense in general that let it down.”

METS 5, PHILLIES 4

PHILADELPHIA — Bartolo Colon pitched eight innings for his 200th career victory, Travis d’Arnaud homered

Daniel Murphy recorded his fifth straight multihit game with two singles for the Mets, who have won 10 of 11 in Philadelphia.

ORIOLES 12, CARDINALS 2

BALTIMORE — J.J. Hardy hit two of Baltimore’s season-high six home runs, and the Orioles cruised past St. Louis to move a season-high 17 games over .500.

Hardy hit a solo shot and a three-run drive for his 11th multihomer game. Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris Davis and Ryan Flaherty also connected as Baltimore (66-49) reached double figures in runs for the first time since April 24.

Baltimore’s Chris Tillman (9-5) gave up two runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings. He was pulled after a two-run drive to A.J. Pierzynski made it 12-2.

RAYS 4, CUBS 3, 10 innings

CHICAGO — Kevin Kiermaier, who entered the game in the eighth inning, drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th to give Tampa Bay a victory over the Chicago Cubs.

Desmond Jennings went 2 for 5 with a homer, and Ben Zobrist went 3 for 5 as Tampa Bay won its second straight.

Brad Boxberger (3-1) blew the save in the ninth, but pitched a perfect 10th to get the win. Hector Rondon (3-4) took the loss.

In his Wrigley Field debut, touted Cubs prospect Javier Baez went 1 for 5 with a run scored and four strikeouts.

PIRATES 2, PADRES 1

PITTSBURGH — Gregory Polanco and Josh Harrison had three hits each, and Vance Worley outdueled Ian Kennedy as Pittsburgh edged San Diego.

The Pirates (62-53) moved a season-high nine games over .500.

Worley (5-1) struck a season-high seven in seven innings and gave up one run, five hits and a walk.

Kennedy (8-10) was pulled after six innings and allowed two runs — one earned — and seven hits.

Tony Watson preserved the one-run lead with a perfect eighth, and Mark Melancon earned his career-high 21st save by striking out the side in the ninth.

TIGERS 5, BLUE JAYS 4

TORONTO — Nick Castellanos tied the game with a two-run homer in the ninth inning, and Eugenio Suarez followed with a go-ahead shot as Detroit rallied to beat Toronto.

The Tigers trailed 4-2 entering the ninth against closer Casey Janssen. J.D. Martinez started the inning with a double. After an out, Castellanos homered on the first pitch. Two pitches later, Suarez gave the Tigers their first lead with a drive to center.

Janssen (3-1) was replaced by Aaron Loup after a two-out double by Ian Kinsler. The blown save was Janssen’s third in 21 chances.

MARLINS 2, REDS 1

CINCINNATI — Nathan Eovaldi gave his second straight shutdown performance, holding Cincinnati to five hits over eight shutout innings, and Giancarlo Stanton hit his NL-leading 28th homer, powering Miami to a victory.

The Reds fell to 8-13 since the All-Star break.

Eovaldi (6-6) got his first victory since June 23, ending a streak of three losses and four no-decisions. He walked one and struck out six while going eight innings for the second time this season.

YANKEES 10, INDIANS 6

NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the New York Yankees broke out to support fill-in starter Esmil Rogers and beat sloppy Cleveland for their sixth win in seven games.

Derek Jeter tied Honus Wagner with his 3,430th hit in a five-run first inning against Trevor Bauer (4-7), and Beltran’s 11th career slam highlighted a five-run sixth. The Indians, who have the majors’ worst fielding percentage, prolonged both innings with errors in their fourth straight loss and seventh consecutive defeat in the Bronx.

The Yankees walked seven times in moving seven games above .500 for the first time this season (61-54).

Picked up off waivers July 31 after the Toronto Blue Jays cut him for the second time this season, Rogers (2-0) became the 12th player to make a start for New York.

Pitching in place of David Phelps (elbow inflammation), he allowed one run and four hits over five innings in his first start since Sept. 25 for Toronto.

Bauer allowed five runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings.

BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 6

ATLANTA — Justin Upton and Freddie Freeman hit two of Atlanta’s four homers off Stephen Strasburg, and the Braves snapped an eight-game losing streak with a win over Washington.

Atlanta, which nearly blew a 7-0 lead, moved within 3½ games of the NL East-leading Nationals. Washington, which had won two straight and four of six, has dropped 21 of 30 to the Braves.

Strasburg (8-10) gave up two more homers than his previous career high. He allowed seven runs, seven hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in five innings, dropping to 1-3 with a 6.99 ERA in seven starts at Turner Field.

Ervin Santana (11-6) held the Nationals scoreless until the sixth, when Asdrubal Cabrera had an RBI single and Anthony Rendon hit his 15th homer to make it 7-4.

ROYALS 4, GIANTS 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Billy Butler homered and drove in three runs, and right fielder Nori Aoki threw out two runners in the same inning as Kansas City beat San Francisco for its fifth straight victory.

The Royals, who haven’t been in the playoffs since winning the 1985 World Series, hold a half game lead for the second AL wild card.

Butler, who is hitting .423 in the past seven games, homered with two out in the first off Madison Bumgarner (13-9). Bumgarner went the distance, allowing four runs on seven hits. He walked none and struck out five, but his road scoreless streak was snapped at 17 innings.

The Giants outhit the Royals 12-7, but self-destructed with three errors and base running blunders.

Jason Frasor (3-1), the second of five Royals pitchers, threw a spotless sixth. Greg Holland pitched a flawless ninth for his American League-leading 33rd save in 35 opportunities. It was Holland’s 100th career save.

ASTROS 4, RANGERS 3

HOUSTON — Robbie Grossman’s two-run homer put Houston ahead in the eighth inning and the Astros held on to top Texas.

Chris Carter hit his 25th home run for Houston, which trailed 2-1 entering the eighth. Grossman, who finished with three hits, homered off of Neal Cotts (2-6) to put the Astros on top.

Gregorio Petit’s double with two outs added an insurance run.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, ROCKIES 3

PHOENIX — David Peralta had two extra-base hits and stole home, Miguel Montero hit a three-run homer, and Arizona beat listless Colorado.

Montero homered off Tyler Matzek (2-7) in the first inning of the matchup between the NL West’s two worst teams.

ATHLETICS 6, TWINS 5

OAKLAND, Calif. — Scott Kazmir faced the minimum through six innings before running into trouble, Coco Crisp hit a bases-loaded triple, and Oakland held off Minnesota for its 11th straight win in the series.

The Twins last victory over the Athletics was at Minnesota on Sept. 10, 2013. The A’s are 5-0 this year.

Kazmir (13-4) tossed just eight balls among his first 42 pitches through four perfect innings before Kennys Vargas broke up the bid with a single off shortstop Jed Lowrie’s glove.

Sean Doolittle retired former A’s slugger Josh Willingham on a called third strike to end it for his 18th save in 21 opportunities. The A’s bullpen set an Oakland record with 28 2-3 scoreless innings.

MARINERS 4, WHITE SOX 1

SEATTLE — Mike Zunino hit a three-run homer, Hisashi Iwakuma pitched seven innings, and Seattle beat the Chicago White Sox for its fourth straight victory.

Zunino moved into a tie for the major league lead in home runs by a catcher with his 18th.

Iwakuma (10-6) became the third Seattle pitcher with double-digit victories this season. The Japanese right-hander allowed one run and five hits, struck out three and walked none.

Iwakuma improved to 5-2 with a 2.04 ERA in his last eight starts. He has pitched at least seven innings in his last seven outings.

RED SOX 4, ANGELS 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Napoli homered against former batterymate Jered Weaver, and Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run double, leading Boston over the Los Angeles Angels.

Allen Webster (2-1) allowed two runs and four hits over 6 2-3 innings in his third start since getting recalled from Triple-A.

Koji Uehara got three outs during a shaky ninth to earn his 24th save.

Weaver (12-7) lost for the first time since June 16, allowing four runs and seven hits through six innings after going 5-0 in his previous nine starts. The Angels’ fourth straight loss matched their longest skid of the season and dropped them four games behind AL West-leading Oakland.