Nationals Win 10th Straight – MLB Roundup

UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Nationals matched their longest winning streak since they moved from Montreal in 2005 by winning their 10th straight, 1-0 over Arizona. Denard (deh-NARD') Span scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth for the lone run. That's the Nationals' fifth walkoff victory in their last six games.

Closer Rafael Soriano pitched a scoreless ninth for the win -- he's 4-1. The Nats swept a three-game series against the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates before winning all four games against the D-Backs.

Kansas City is the only other team to win 10 in a row this year.

In other baseball:

— After two days, the first upheld protest in nearly 30 years and another rain storm in Chicago, the Cubs finally completed a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in a suspended game. Anthony Rizzo's two-run homer Tuesday held up as the team's played the final 4 1/2 innings of a game the Cubs thought they had won 2-0 two nights ago when a short rainstorm caused a delay of more than 4 1/2 hours after the grounds crew struggled with the tarp. The umpires said the field was unplayable and called it at 1:16 a.m. But the Giants protested, and Major League Baseball ruled that the tarp had not been properly put away after its previous use. The game was suspended. The Giants won the nightcap, 5-3. Buster Posey went 4-for-4 with a home run.

— The L.A. Dodgers nipped San Diego 2-1. Clayton Kershaw improved to 15-3 by outpitching Tyson Ross. Justin Turner's two-run home run in the eighth was all the offense that Kershaw needed. Kershaw struck out 10 in allowing three hits in eight innings.

— The L.A. Angels blanked Boston 2-0 behind a superb pitching effort from Matt Shoemaker, who combined with two relievers on a one-hitter. He lost his bid for a no-hitter with two outs in the seventh inning on a double by Will Middlebrooks of the Boston Red Sox. Shoemaker is 12-4, striking out nine in his seven and two-thirds innings. The Angels increased their lead in the AL West to two games over idle Oakland.

— There was a real pitcher's duel in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the Rays beat the Tigers 1-0. Alex Cobb of the Rays went seven innings, allowing two hits while striking out six. Loser David Price, who was traded by the Rays to the Tigers last month, went the distance giving up just one hit, a run scoring triple by Brandon Guyer. Price had nine strikeouts. The Tigers had won the first two games of the three-game series.

— The Yankees avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros with a 3-0 win. Brandon McCarthy pitched a four-hitter for the Yankees, who have won just three of their last 10 games. The Yankees had been shut out in McCarthy's previous two starts.

— The Indians weren't able to finish off a three-game sweep of the Twins in Minneapolis. The home team won the final game 4-1 as Phil Hughes outdueled Corey Kluber (KLOO'-bur). Hughes allowed just five hits in seven innings while Kluber gave up six in as many innings of work.

— Atlanta blanked Cincinnati 8-0, handing the Reds their sixth straight loss. Julio Teheran went six innings and combined with two relievers on a five-hitter. Justin Upton extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a bases-loaded single in a five-run third inning.

UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels are going to be without Garrett Richards for their playoff run.

One of the AL West leader's top starters sustained a serious knee injury, tearing his left patellar tendon Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. He's scheduled for surgery next week.

Richards was 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA this year. It's a serious blow to the Angels, who also lost starter Tyler Skaggs to Tommy John surgery earlier this season.

Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto (dih-POH'-toh) says "we'll be open" about finding a deal to replace Richards in the rotation.

In other baseball news:

— The Los Angeles Angels have acquired second baseman Gordon Beckham in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. Beckham has struggled offensively hitting just .221 this year, but he gives the AL West-leading Angels another sure-handed infielder with six seasons of major league experience. He turns 28 on Sept. 16.

— A judge has dismissed rape charges against former Detroit pitcher Evan Reed, saying the testimony of the woman who accused him wasn't credible and prosecutors failed to show that force or coercion took place. The 28-year-old Reed says he's elated to be cleared of the third-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. He was with the Tigers at the time of the March incident and appeared in 27 games for Detroit before being sent to his current assignment with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.