Utley’s home run helps Dodgers bring down the Giants

LA Dodgers seal eighth win in nine games and also complete a home sweep of the Giants in the MLB.

Clayton Kershaw, Yasmani Grandal
The Dodgers increased their margin over second-place San Francisco in the division to 6 1/2 games [AP]

Chase Utley homered, and Clayton Kershaw threw a complete game and tied his career high with 15 strikeouts, guiding the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

The National League West-leading Dodgers earned their eighth win in nine games and completed a home sweep of the Giants for the first time since 2013.

They increased their margin over second-place San Francisco in the division to 6 1/2 games. The Giants dropped their fifth game in a row.

Elsewhere, Ruben Tejada collected two hits, including an inside-the-park home run, and four RBIs as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-4.

Tejada hit a two-run homer to cap a three-run second inning, had an RBI grounder in the fifth and laced a run-scoring single in the seventh to complete the Mets’ scoring. 

After cracking two solo homers, Ryan Zimmerman snapped an eighth-inning tie with an RBI double as Washington picked up a rare 4-3 win in St Louis.

Zimmerman’s liner down the right field line scored Anthony Rendon, who worked an eight-pitch walk from Jonathan Broxton to start the eighth and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Matt den Dekker.

Other results:

Blue Jays 5, Indians 1

Orioles 7, Rays 6 (11 innings)

Reds 7, Cubs 4

Royals 12, Tigers 1

Angels 9, As 4

Yankees 13, Red Sox 8

Marlins 7, Braves 3

Twins 3, White Sox 0

Brewers 9, Pirates 4

Mariners 8, Astros 3

Rockies 9, Diamondbacks 4

Rangers 4, Padres 3 (10 innings)

Source: Reuters