NEW YORK: Clayton Kershaw tossed a three-hitter, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Kershaw (17-3) struck out eight and walked two in eight innings. He has fanned 202 batters this season, topping the 200 mark for the fifth season in a row to equal the mark of former Dodger Don Sutton.
Kershaw, who is unbeaten in his last 19 starts against National League East opponents, also become the first 17-game winner in the majors this season.
The result kept the first-place Dodgers (78-61) two games ahead of the Giants in the National League West.
Giants 12, Rockies 7
The San Francisco Giants collected five extra-base hits in a six-run seventh inning for a comeback victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Colorado led 6-0 through three innings and 7-1 through five. San Francisco started its comeback with a three-run sixth. The six-run deficit matched the largest the Giants have overcome this season.
San Francisco first baseman Buster Posey went 3-for-5.
Cubs 7, Brewers 1
Jake Arrieta made his 100th major league appearance one to remember, scattering five hits over six innings and leading the Chicago Cubs to an emphatic win over the slumping Milwaukee Brewers, who lost their seventh straight game in another setback to their playoff hopes.
Arrieta (8-5) gave up a run in the third inning but otherwise successfully shut down the Brewers. He struck out four and walked two as Milwaukee (73-65) fell two games behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central.
Cardinals 6, Pirates 4
Adam Wainwright gave up three homers in a game for the first time in four years, but made up for it with his bat as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Wainwright drove in three runs in a game for just the second time in his career.
On the mound, Wainwright (16-9) allowed seven hits and four runs in six-plus innings, walking one and fanning three.
Royals 2, Rangers 1
A single by catcher Salvador Perez with two out in the eighth inning scored center fielder Jarrod Dyson as the Kansas City Royals pulled out a narrow victory over the last-place Texas Rangers.
The victory allowed the Royals to remain a half-game ahead of Detroit in the American League Central standings.
Tigers 4, Indians 2
JD Martinez slugged a three-run home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning to lift the Detroit Tigers to a win over the Cleveland Indians.Left fielder Martinez belted a long home run over the wall in center field, his 19th homer of the season.
Astros 8, Angels 3
Brad Peacock produced his third consecutive solid start, working into the seventh inning and the Houston Astros beat the red-hot Los Angeles Angels (83-54).
Peacock retired the first eight batters he faced as the American League West-leading Angels’ six-game winning streak came to a halt.REUTERS
