THE Los Angeles Dodgers had a full night Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), watching Clayton Kershaw record his 3,000th career strikeout before Freddie Freeman capped a three-run ninth-inning rally with a game-ending single in a 5-4 victory over the visiting Chicago White Sox.
Mookie Betts and ShoheiOhtani also drove in runs for the Dodgers in the ninth. Ohtani scored the game-winner, and Will Klein (1-0) earned his first victory for the Dodgers.
Kershaw struck out three batters to finish the night with exactly 3,000, setting down Vinny Capra looking on a slider to end the top of the sixth inning. The milestone strikeout came on Kershaw’s last batter of the game and on his season-high 100th pitch. He gave up four runs on nine hits while becoming the fourth lefty to fan 3,000.
Will Smith and Andy Pages hit home runs for the Dodgers, who won for the eighth time in nine games. Austin Slater hit a two-run home run for the White Sox, while Sean Burke gave up one run on six hits over six innings.
In other games, it was the Rays 6, Athletics 5; Braves 8, Angels 3; Twins 2, Marlins 1; Pirates 5, Cardinals 0; Brewers 7, Mets 2 (Game 1); Mets 7, Brewers 3 (Game 2); Cubs 5, Guardians 4; Rangers 6, Orioles 0; Astros 5, Rockies 3; Giants 6, Diamondbacks 5 (10 innings); Mariners 3, Royals 2; Phillies 6, Padres 4 (Game 1); Phillies 5, Padres 1 (Game 2); Tigers 11, Nationals 2 (Game 1); Nationals 9, Tigers 4 (Game 2); Reds 8, Red Sox 4; Red Sox 5, Reds 3 ; and Blue Jays 11, Yankees 9.
Rays 6, Athletics 5
Yandy Diaz hit a two-run home run in a five-run sixth inning as host Tampa Bay held on in a white-knuckle ninth to avoid a series sweep with a win over the Athletics.
Edwin Uceta survived the ninth inning for his first save. The right-hander came on after Max Muncy homered to leadoff and Austin Wynns doubled and gave up four hits as the A’s scored three times and cut a 6-2 deficit to 6-5 with one out and the bases loaded. Ryan Pepiot (6-6) went six innings, allowing four hits and two runs. Brandon Lowe extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a double. Diaz has reached base in 26 straight games.
Mitch Spence (2-4) took the loss for the A’s. The right-hander went five-plus innings, allowing seven hits, four runs and striking out five.
Braves 8, Angels 3
Sean Murphy hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and Matt Olson belted a grand slam later in the frame as Atlanta rallied to defeat visiting Los Angeles.
Olson went 3-for-5 and extended his on-base streak to 32 consecutive games. Atlanta’s JuricksonProfar, who returned after serving an 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s banned substance policy, went 2-for-4 with a homer. Reliever Aaron Bummer (1-1) threw 2 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings.
