Around the Bases: Stephen Strasburg’s 1st shutout, Dodgers sweep Rays

Dodgers 8, Rays 2: Clayton Kershaw, after receiving six total runs of support in his three previous starts, got eight runs on Sunday night. Kershaw took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and settled for eight strong innings, lowering his major league-leading ERA to 1.88. After their sweep of the Rays, the Dodgers improved to 20-3 since the All-Star break and 37-8 in their last 45 games, the best 45-game stretch in MLB since the 2005 A's.

Clayton Kershaw is 49-0 in his career when he gets four or more runs of support.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 12, 2013

Nationals 6, Phillies 0: Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 as he pitched his first career shutout. The Nats backed him up with 13 hits, all singles, including three apiece by Jayson Werth and Steve Lombardozzi.

"It's something you do every time out, try to get more outs with less pitches," @stras37 on his 99-pitch, complete game shutout

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 12, 2013

Yankees 5, Tigers 4: Mariano Rivera blew his third-straight save opportunity for the first time in his career, but Brett Gardner picked the closer up with a walkoff homer off Jose Veras in the bottom of the ninth:

Alex Rodriguez hit his first homer of the season and drove in Robinson Cano with an RBI-single. Miguel Cabrera hit a solo homer off Rivera, becoming the first player ever to hit home runs in consecutive at-bats against Rivera.

Indians 6, Angels 5: Cleveland rallied from a five-run deficit after being held to one hit through the first five frames. Nick Swisher and Mike Aviles hit a pair of two-run homers in the sixth, while Carlos Santana blasted a solo shot in the seventh to tie the game. Michael Bourn plated the go-ahead run with a single to left field, driving in Lonnie Chisenhall. The win snapped the Indians' six-game losing streak.

Athletics 6, Blue Jays 4: Recently acquired third baseman Alberto Callaspo hit a tie-breaking RBI-double in the eighth inning, helping Oakland manager Bob Melvin earn his 700th career win. Brandon Moss cracked a two-run homer, while Josh Reddick went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks. Grant Balfour surrendered a run in the ninth, but closed out the game for save No. 30.

Royals 4, Red Sox 3: Alex Gordon went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, helping the Royals clinch their seventh straight series. James Shields turned in a quality start, holding the Red Sox to three runs on seven hits over seven innings. Greg Holland tossed a perfect ninth for his 32nd save, and has now struck out 72 batters in 46 innings pitched.

Braves 9, Marlins 4: Freddie Freeman blasted a three-run homer as the Braves offense came to life after being shutout by the Marlins Saturday night. Jason Heyward paced the offense with four hits, while Evan Gattis collected three. Mike Minor earned his 12th win, allowing four runs on six hits while fanning six over seven innings.

Reds 3, Padres 2 (13): Joey Votto hit a walkoff sacrifice fly, driving in Jack Hannahan.

Xavier Paul tied the game in the eighth, hitting a pinch-hit homer off Ian Kennedy to send the game into extras. Mike Leake only gave up one earned run, scattering six hits over seven frames.

Twins 5, White Sox 2: Kevin Correia pitched seven scoreless innings and was backed by a five-run fifth inning. Brian Dozier hit a three-run home run and Joe Mauer hit a two-run shot in the decisive inning for Minnesota, winners of three of the four games in the weekend series in Chicago.

Rangers 6, Astros 1: Martin Perez threw a four-hitter for his first complete game and came within one out of his first career shutout, before Chris Carter homered with two outs in the ninth inning. Alex Rios went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored for the Rangers, who sit atop the American League West after seven consecutive wins.

Cardinals 8, Cubs 4: Allen Craig reached base five times and Matt Carpenter had three hits, leading the Cardinals to victory to avoid the sweep at home. Edward Mujica pitched the final two innings to convert his first save in 18 days.

Orioles 10, Giants 2: The battle of Halloween colors was won by Baltimore, as the Orioles captured two of three games in the weekend series in San Francisco. Orioles All-Star center fielder Adam Jones hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning, but was peeved by the actions of a fan in the bottom of the frame.

I want to thank whatever slapdick threw that banana towards my direction in CF in the last inning. Way to show ur class u jackass.

— Adam Jones (@SimplyAJ10) August 11, 2013

Mariners 2, Brewers 0: Felix Hernandez was dominant with eight scoreless innings, and Justin Smoak homered to lead Seattle to victory. Hernandez, who struck out nine on Sunday, has a 1.95 ERA over his last 12 starts, including 10 starts allowing two or fewer runs.

Mets 9, Diamondbacks 5: Andrew Brown hit a three-run home run for New York, but the story of the game, aside from Arizona falling 7½ games behind the Dodgers in the National League West, was Diamondbacks outfielder Cody Ross dislocating his hip while running to first base.

Rockies 3, Pirates 2: The National League Central leaders were swept over the weekend in Colorado by the Rockies, who had lost nine of their previous 10 games. A throwing error by Pedro Alvarez led to the tying run scoring in the sixth inning, then rookie Nolan Arenado doubled home the winning run in the seventh inning.