Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Comeback wins haven’t come easily to the Dodgers, who had dropped four one-run games in a row.
They staged their biggest rally of the season Monday night, overcoming a five-run deficit to beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-7 in the Freeway Series opener.
“It can definitely be a momentum builder, but you can’t have momentum unless you come out tomorrow and play hard,” said Adrian Gonzalez, who had a season-high four hits and tied his career high with four runs scored.
Jerry Hairston Jr.’s RBI single scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to help the Dodgers snap the Angels’ season-high eight-game winning streak in the first of two games at Dodger Stadium before the series shifts to Anaheim for two more.
“It seemed like all over the place guys were getting big hits,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.
Scott Van Slyke went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Juan Uribe finished 3 for 3 after entering as a pinch hitter in the fifth.
Gonzalez continued his tear with his third multihit game in a row. He is 9 for 11 with six runs, three doubles and seven RBIs since Saturday.
The Dodgers probably wish Gonzalez’s hitting could rub off on slugger Matt Kemp, who continued struggling a day after he was left out of the starting lineup in a 5-3 loss to St. Louis. He was booed heavily as he went hitless in five at-bats with four strikeouts.
“When things aren’t going your way you try harder,” Gonzalez said. “He’s trying too hard for the team and the fans.”
Hairston was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day. He was 0 for 2 with a strikeout before he singled off Robert Coello (1-1) with two outs. After Kemp struck out for the third time, Gonzalez singled and Van Slyke struck out before pinch-hitter Andre Ethier walked to set up Hairston.
Ronald Belisario (3-4) faced one batter in the seventh and got an inning-ending, double-play grounder from Hank Conger to earn the victory.
Brandon League pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 13 chances.
Trailing 8-7, the Angels had the potential tying run at first base with two outs in the eighth. Mike Trout flied out to right field and Erick Aybar raced back to first. Gonzalez caught Ethier’s throw wide of the bag and lunged to tag Aybar as he ran past, doubling him off first.
Aybar slammed his helmet into the dirt after first base umpire Paul Emmel signaled out, believing Gonzalez had missed the tag. Aybar and first base coach Alfredo Griffin began arguing with Emmel as Angels manager Mike Scioscia rushed out to join them.
Scioscia pushed Aybar out of the way and engaged in an animated debate with Emmel. Scioscia retreated to the dugout, and the replay was inconclusive.
“From our angle — and we had a pretty good angle on it — it looked like there was a lot of daylight,” Scioscia said. “Erick got a great jump, but the timing wasn’t right where he could peek to see where the ball was hit. He made too big of a turn, but he got back to first base. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the call.”
The Angels tied the game 7-all in the seventh on Howie Kendrick’s RBI single.
Van Slyke’s tying RBI double capped a four-run fifth for the Dodgers before A.J. Ellis’ sacrifice fly put them ahead 7-6 in the sixth.
The Angels took a 6-1 lead with three runs in the fourth on Aybar’s RBI double, Trout’s RBI triple into the left-field corner and Albert Pujols’ sacrifice fly to deep center.
“We’re swinging the bats well, but if I had to point out one thing about the streak, it had to be the starting pitching,” Trout said. “I think the ERA was like under 2.00. But they came out swinging the bats. They kept battling and putting great at-bats together.”
The anticipated pitching duel between Angels lefty C.J. Wilson and Zack Greinke against his old team for the first time fizzled, with neither figuring in the decision.
Wilson gave up six runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings, struck out four and walked none.
“I just made bad pitches,” he said. “I was trying to make a good pitch and I made a hitter’s pitch instead of a pitcher’s pitch. It’s unfortunate because the offense obviously supported the pitching. I just let them down.”
Greinke allowed six runs — four earned — and 10 hits in four-plus innings. He struck out two and walked one. Considered the top arm on the free-agent market last winter, the right-hander signed a $147 million, six-year deal to switch Los Angeles teams.
“I made some mistakes, obviously, but overall I did about as well as I could,” he said. “It felt like I was going to get them out and they were hitting the ball hard.”
DIAMONDBACKS 5, RANGERS 3, Game 1
DIAMONDBACKS 5, RANGERS 4, Game 2
PHOENIX — Didi Gregorius hit a tying homer off Yu Darvish in the eighth inning and Cliff Pennington singled home the winning run in the ninth, helping Arizona to a doubleheader sweep.
Darvish matched his career best with 14 strikeouts but allowed a run after the sixth inning for the first time this season. Gregorius also had an RBI triple in the first.
In the opener, Tyler Skaggs (1-0) struck out nine over six scoreless innings and Heath Bell got two outs for his ninth save.
Brad Ziegler (2-1) got the victory in the nightcap, and Jason Frasor (0-1) took the loss.
Martin Perez (0-1) allowed four runs, three earned, in 5 1-3 innings in the opener for Texas. Adrian Beltre had a two-run single in the Rangers’ three-run ninth.
Cody Ross hit a solo homer for the Diamondbacks.
METS 2, YANKEES 1
NEW YORK — Daniel Murphy hit a go-ahead single in the eighth after being denied a homer two innings earlier, and the Mets rallied for their second straight home win after losing eight in a row.
David Wright hit his first home run at Citi Field this year to tie it in the seventh. Murphy came through against David Robertson (3-1) to hand the Yankees their first loss in 23 games when leading after six innings.
Murphy’s drive to left-center in the sixth was caught above the wall by Brett Gardner to end the inning. The Yankees also threw out a runner at home plate in the eighth just before Murphy singled to center field.
Brandon Lyon (2-2) pitched a scoreless the eighth in relief of an impressive Jonathon Niese. Bobby Parnell worked the ninth for his eighth save.
CUBS 7, WHITE SOX 0
CHICAGO — Jeff Samardzija threw a two-hitter and Julio Borbon hit a two-run home run to help the Cubs get the victory.
Samardzija (3-6) pitched the Cubs’ first shutout since Randy Wells on Aug. 29, 2011, against the Giants. The last time Cubs shut out an opponent as a team came against the Rockies on Aug. 26, 2012.
The first White Sox hit came from Conor Gillaspie in the third inning. Samardzija then got Jeff Keppinger to hit into a double play as he faced the minimum through four innings.
He struck out Alejandro De Aza to end the sixth. He then retired 12 straight before giving up a walk to Tyler Flowers in the ninth inning.
White Sox starter Jose Quintana (3-2) allowed four runs and four hits in six innings.
TIGERS 6, PIRATES 5
DETROIT — Justin Verlander struck out 13 in seven innings and Jhonny Peralta had four hits to lead Detroit to its sixth win in seven games.
It was Peralta’s first four-hit game since June 4, 2010, when he was playing for Cleveland.
Verlander (6-4) hadn’t pitched more than five innings in any of his previous three starts, struggling at times with his location. But he was sharp for the most part against Pittsburgh, allowing three runs and seven hits with two walks.
Joaquin Benoit allowed two runs — one earned — in the eighth. Jose Valverde finished for his sixth save in seven chances, striking out a swinging Andrew McCutchen with a runner on first to end it.
Pittsburgh left-hander Francisco Liriano (3-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings.
RED SOX 9, PHILLIES 3
BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli homered in the first inning as Boston jumped to an early lead and coasted to the victory.
Substitute starter Alfredo Aceves (2-1) had his best outing of the year, holding the Phillies to one run over six innings. Jacoby Ellsbury had hits in each of the first three innings to help the Red Sox earn their fourth consecutive victory and their 10th in their last 13 games.
Tyler Cloyd (1-1) allowed three runs in the first inning and was charged with three more in the third. He lasted just 2 1-3 innings, giving up nine hits and a walk while striking out two.
Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, John Mayberry and Ben Revere each had two hits for the Phillies.
ATHLETICS 4, GIANTS 1
OAKLAND, Calif. — Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer to back Dan Straily’s strong start, and the Athletics won the Bay Bridge Series opener.
Straily (3-2) tossed six innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and one walk. Buster Posey’s groundout in the sixth inning drove in San Francisco’s lone run.
Donaldson connected against Madison Bumgarner (4-3) in the fourth, and Yoenis Cespedes added a two-run double against George Kontos in the seventh to extend Oakland’s lead.
Sean Doolittle pitched two perfect innings and Grant Balfour recorded his 11th save of the season for Oakland, which has won four straight and nine of 10.
ORIOLES 6, NATIONALS 2
WASHINGTON — Jason Hammel pitched eight sharp innings in his longest start of the season, leading the Orioles to the win.
Nick Markakis and Yamaico Navarro each drove in two runs and the Orioles had 15 hits, including three from Manny Machado.
Hammel (7-2) improved to 4-0 at Nationals Park. He allowed eight hits and two runs, struck out eight and walked none.
Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez (3-3) was charged with four runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings. The left-hander had no record and a sparkling 1.29 ERA over his previous three outings.
Washington played without Bryce Harper, who has swelling in his left knee.
REDS 4, INDIANS 2
CINCINNATI — Joey Votto hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to lift Cincinnati to the victory.
Votto drove a 2-1 pitch from Nick Hagadone (0-1) over the wall in left for his ninth homer. Hagadone was called up from Triple-A earlier in the day when closer Chris Perez was put on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.
Shin-Soo Choo also had a leadoff homer in the first for the Reds. Choo was traded from the Indians to the Reds in the offseason.
Pinch hitter Jason Giambi had a tying solo homer in the eighth for Cleveland, snapping an 0-for-24 slump.
Jonathan Broxton (2-1) got two outs for the win and Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his 13th save.
BLUE JAYS 9, BRAVES 3
TORONTO — Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer for Toronto, and Colby Rasmus and J.P. Arencibia each had a two-run shot.
Rasmus also doubled off his younger brother, Braves reliever Cory Rasmus, but Toronto lost third baseman Brett Lawrie to a sprained ankle.
Encarnacion went 2 for 5 with five RBIs as the Blue Jays improved to 3-0 in interleague play. Toronto has won nine of 12 against NL opponents dating to last season.
Mark Buehrle (2-3) allowed one run and five hits in six innings to snap a seven-start winless streak and earn his 26th career interleague victory.
Evan Gattis hit his 11th homer, a two-run shot in the eighth, but the Braves lost their second straight following an eight-game winning streak. Tim Hudson (4-4) matched a season worst by allowing six runs and eight hits in six innings.
CARDINALS 6, ROYALS 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Yadier Molina homered and drove in four runs to help the Cardinals get the win.
Molina hit a two-run homer in the first. He then doubled home a run in the third and had a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Adam Wainwright (7-3) allowed three runs and 12 hits in eight innings, but managed to get the win. Edward Mujica finished for his 15th save.
It was the most hits allowed by Wainwright since Sept. 14, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs.
James Shields (2-6) gave up nine hits and season highs of six runs and five walks in six innings to lose his fourth straight start.
Rookie David Lough had four hits for Kansas City.
RAYS 10, MARLINS 6
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— Kelly Johnson hit a pair of three-run homers and Tampa Bay handed Miami its sixth straight loss.
Johnson also doubled, singled and stole a base. He matched his career highs for RBIs and hits during his eighth multihomer game, and first since May 30, 2011, against the Marlins while with Arizona.
Johnson, who has 24 RBIs in 21 games this month, connected against rookie Jose Fernandez (2-3) in a six-run second inning. He then broke open the game by hitting his 10th home run in the eighth against A.J. Ramos.
Jake McGee (2-2) got the victory after pitching two scoreless innings of relief.
TWINS 6, BREWERS 3
MILWAUKEE — Joe Mauer wound up with a home run instead of a double after umpires went to video replay, and the Twins got a sorely needed victory.
Kevin Correia (5-4) pitched six innings and gave up three homers as Minnesota won for only the second time in 13 games. Glen Perkins pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 10th save.
Carlos Gomez homered twice for the Brewers.
The Twins led 4-3 when Mauer led off the seventh inning against Tom Gorzelanny with a long fly to left field. Mauer stopped at second base, and the umpires went to review the drive.
The ball hit the padding atop the fence and then appeared to strike a back wall, making it a home run. The second base umpire was Angel Hernandez — he was the chief in Cleveland earlier this month when Hernandez and his crew mistakenly failed to reverse a call on the field and rule a home run.
Milwaukee’s Wily Peralta (3-6) allowed four runs and five hits with five walks in five innings.
MARINERS 9, PADRES 0
SEATTLE — Aaron Harang threw a four-hitter, Jason Bay hit his first career leadoff homer and Michael Morse added a three-run shot as part of Seattle’s four-run first inning.
Harang (2-5) rebounded from a poor last start against the Angels, allowing a leadoff bloop double to Everth Cabrera and then retiring 18 of the next 19 batters. It was his first complete game since June 4, 2009, and first shutout since April 12, 2009. He struck out a season-high eight and threw 122 pitches.
A day after getting the game-winning hit in the 13th inning against Texas that snapped the Mariners’ eight-game losing streak, Bay got Seattle started against San Diego lefty Clayton Richard.
Bay hit Clayton Richard’s fourth pitch out to deep right-center field for his fifth homer of the season. Morse followed with his 11th homer into the right-field seats after Richard (0-5) walked Kyle Seager and gave up a double to Kendrys Morales.
ASTROS 3, ROCKIES 2, 12 INNINGS
HOUSTON — Brandon Barnes hit a game-ending RBI double to give Houston the victory.
The Rockies intentionally walked Jose Altuve with two outs before Barnes drove in drive in pinch runner Roger Cedeno with a ground-rule double to right off Wilton Lopez (1-2).
Paul Clemens (2-2) struck out two in a scoreless 12th for the win.
Carlos Gonzalez and Jonathan Herrera each drove in a run for Colorado. Carlos Pena hit a tying two-run double in the fourth for Houston.
