Rockies Complete 3 Game Sweep – MLB Roundup For Aug. 12th

UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers were last in the National League West and 9 ½ games out of first the morning of June 22. They have since gone 37-8 while building the second-largest division lead in baseball, 7 ½ games ahead of Arizona.

Clayton Kershaw allowed just three hits while striking out eight over eight innings of the Dodgers' 8-2 trouncing of Tampa Bay. Kershaw also opened the scoring with a two-run single and scored twice in the Dodgers' 20th victory in their last 23 games.

Mark Ellis went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBIs to help the Dodgers complete a three-game sweep of the Rays, who remain three games behind Boston in the American League East.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks lost to the New York Mets for the second straight day. Pinch-hitter Andrew Brown hit a three-run homer in the seventh to break open a close game and help the Mets take the rubber match in their three-game series with the Diamondbacks, 9-5. Wilmer Flores scored three times and hit his first big league homer, giving him nine RBIs in his first six big league games.

Brett Gardner has bailed out Mariano Rivera once again.

Rivera blew a 4-2 lead before Gardner homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to lift the New York Yankees over Detroit 5-4. Gardner's blast came two days following his walkoff single in the 10th inning after Rivera coughed up a 3-1 lead.

Solo homers by Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez left Rivera with his career-high third consecutive blown save.

Alex Rodriguez hit his first homer of the season for the Yankees, who took two of three from Detroit after the Tigers entered the series on a 12-game winning streak.

The Tigers' lead in the American League Central is down to seven games after second-place Cleveland rallied from a 5-0 deficit and beat the Angels 6-5 on Michael Bourn's RBI single in the seventh. Two-run homers by Nick Swisher and Mike Aviles got the Indians close in the sixth then Carlos Santana's leadoff homer in the seventh tied the game before the Indians avoided their first 0-7 homestand in 23 years.

Kansas City beat Boston 5-3 to get within 7 ½ games of the Tigers and 4 ½ games of the second AL wild-card berth. Alex Gordon hit his third homer in five games to back James Shields, who allowed three runs over six innings to earn his first home win in more than three months. Gordon also supplied an RBI single to help the Royals improve to 18-5 since the All-Star break.

Texas continues to top the AL West by a game over Oakland after Martin Perez fired his first career complete game in the Rangers' 6-1 triumph against Houston. Perez struck out eight in his four-hitter, blanking the Astros until Chris Carter homered with two outs in the ninth inning of the Rangers' 12th victory in 13 games.

Brandon Moss belted a two-run homer and Alberto Callaspo (ky-AS'-poh) added a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning of the Athletics' 6-4 triumph in Toronto. The A's won for only the third time in 10 games.

Pittsburgh's lead in the NL Central is down to three games over St. Louis.

Colorado completed a three-game sweep by beating the Pirates 3-2 on Nolan Arenado's RBI double in the seventh. The Bucs put the go-ahead run on second with one out in the ninth before Rex Brothers got Alex Presley to pop up with the bases loaded to end it.

Pete Kozma (KAHZ'-mah) singled home the tiebreaking run and the Cardinals halted a four-game skid by downing the Cubs 8-4 in Chicago. Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig each had three hits and an RBI as the Cardinals improved to 2-5 on their 10-game homestand.

In other finals, Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer and B.J. Upton hit a tiebreaking, sacrifice fly in Atlanta's 9-4 rout of Miami. Chris Johnson hit a two-run homer for the Braves, who bounced back after their 14-game winning streak ended on Saturday. The Braves continue to enjoy a 14 ½-game lead in the NL East.

Stephen Strasburg tossed his first career complete game, striking out 10 and giving up just four hits in Washington's 6-0 shutout of Philadelphia. Jayson Werth had his second straight three-hit game to help the Nationals complete a three-game sweep.

Adam Jones was 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and four RBIs as Baltimore ripped San Francisco 10-2. The Orioles actually trailed 2-1 in the seventh until J.J. Hardy launched a two-run homer. The Birds blanked the Giants over the last eight innings and climbed within 4 ½ games of the AL East-leading Red Sox.

Felix Hernandez scattered four hits and struck out nine in eight innings to lead Seattle to a 2-0 win over Milwaukee. Hernandez rebounded from his first loss since May to improve to 12-5.

Joey Votto's (VAH'-tohz) sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 13th gave Cincinnati a 4-3 win over San Diego. The Reds trailed 2-0 in the eighth until Xavier Paul crushed a two-run homer. The Reds lead the final NL wild card by 5 1/2 games over Arizona.

Brian Dozier hit a three-run homer and Joe Mauer added a two-run shot in Minnesota's 5-2 verdict over the Chicago White Sox. Kevin Correia (koh-RAY'-uh) struck out seven and allowed five hits in seven shutout innings.

UNDATED (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have activated catcher Gerald Laird from the 15-day disabled list. He had been on the DL since July 26 after having kidney stones removed.

In other moves;

— The Kansas City Royals have placed Miguel Tejada (teh-HAH'-dah) on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps suffering in Saturday's loss to Boston. The 39-year-old is hitting .288 in 53 games and had won the starting second base job.

— The Arizona Diamondbacks have placed third baseman Eric Chavez on the 15-day disabled list with a left knee strain. It's his second stint on the DL this season.

— Kansas City Royals has added infield depth by acquiring Jamey Carroll from Minnesota. The Twins will get either a player to be named or cash.