LOS ANGELES — Andre Ethier hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth and a two-run shot in the 10th as the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Freeway Series, handing the Los Angeles Angels a 5-3 defeat at Dodger Stadium Sunday. Ethier had not hit a home run since June 29, a span of 20 games, before the eighth-inning shot off Angels reliever Joe Smith and had not had a multi-homer day in more than four years.
“Not too many times in baseball you get to take the last shot. That was one of them right there,” Ethier told reporters of his walk-off blast.
The Dodgers are winners of six in a row against their southern California neighbours, the longest winning streak for either team in this interleague matchup.
The Angels, meanwhile, will lick their wounds all the way back down the I-5 Freeway after going 0-6 on a six-game road trip to Houston and Los Angeles. The Angels have lost nine of their past 10 overall to fall four games behind the Astros in the AL West.
Other results: Astros 4, Diamondbacks 1; Rangers 2, Giants 1.
American League
Blue Jays 5, Royals 2: Chris Colabello hit a two-run home run, R.A. Dickey pitched seven shutout innings and Toronto beat Kansas City.
The benches emptied with two outs in the top of the eighth when Blue Jays reliever Aaron Sanchez was ejected after hitting a batter with a pitch. Ben Zobrist followed with his ninth home run of the season, and third of the series, against Roberto Osuna, to cut the lead to 3-2.
The Blue Jays scored twice in the bottom of the inning to complete the four-game series with the Royals with three wins.
Tigers 6, Orioles 1: Daniel Norris allowed just one run over 7 1/3 innings in his Detroit debut, J.D. Martinez homered and the Tigers breezed past Baltimore, earning a split of the four-game series.
The Orioles finished their homestand at 5-2 and remain within striking distance of one of the two American League wild-card playoff spots. Rays 4, Red Sox 3: James Loney drove in two runs, including the winning run on a one-out bloop single to center in the eighth inning, as Tampa Bay avoided a three-game sweep with a victory over Boston.
Loney's go-ahead hit scored Asdrubal Cabrera from second. Cabrera hit a ground-rule double to right to tie the game as Evan Longoria crossed the plate. Longoria led off the eighth with a double off the Green Monster in left field.
Other results: Yankees 12, White Sox 3; Mariners 4, Twins 1 (11 innings); A's 2, Indians 1.
National League Mets 5, Nationals 2: Curtis Granderson, Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda all belted homers in a five-run, five-pitch sequence in the second inning as New York rolled past Washington 5-2 on Sunday.
By completing a three-game sweep in front of an electrified crowd of 35,374 at Citi Field, the Mets moved into a virtual tie for first place with the Nationals in the National League East. Washington had been alone in first every day since June 20.
Pirates 3, Reds 0: Charlie Morton pitched seven shutout innings and Neil Walker hit a solo home run, lifting Pittsburgh over Cincinnati to earn a split.
Both benches cleared in the top of the eighth after Brandon Phillips was hit by Pirates left-hander Tony Watson, an inning after Andrew McCutchen of the Reds was plunked by Pedro Villarreal.
Marlins 5, Padres 2: Closer A.J. Ramos blew Jose Fernandez's chance at a major league record but Miami still managed to rally in dramatic fashion over San Diego.
Adeiny Hechavarria of the Marlins had the first walk-off hit of his career, a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. It was his fifth homer of the season, and it came on a 1-0 pitch from reliever Brandon Maurer (7-4). Braves 6, Phillies 2: Atlanta right-hander Julio Teheran allowed two runs and struck out seven to pick up just his second road win of the season. Teheran (7-6) got the run support he needed with a two-out, four-run rally in the top of the fifth inning that put the Braves ahead for good against the Phillies. He earned his first road win since his season debut on April 6 at Miami.
Other results: Cubs 4, Brewers 3; Cardinals 3, Rockies 2. — AP
