Pirates hold off Dodgers, 6

Clayton Kershaw’s streak of 37 consecutive scoreless innings ended Friday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers ace gave up a leadoff homer to Pittsburgh’s Gregory Polanco.

The Dodgers went up 2-1 in the second as Liriano gave up a series of singles, including one to pitcher Mat Latos. Howell relieved and manager Don Mattingly moved an outfield into the infield, but Alvarez singled for the winning hit. The Dodgers, who have lost four in a row to the Pirates, hold a three-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West despite dropping three of their last five.

Either way, Hurdle certainly made the right call by asking for the reviews Saturday since all three went his way in a 6-5 win over the Dodgers.

With two wins in a row, the Blue Jays became the first team to take a set against the Yankees since early July. In the middle of that stretch, Liriano was checked by trainer Todd Tomczyk and Hurdle, but remained in the game and escaped the inning without any further damage.

The Dodgers opened up the game with some under the radar news. The left-hander won for the first time in three starts since coming off the 15-day disabled list on July 28 with a strained left groin.

WASHINGTON – Carlos Gonzalez blasted a two-out grand slam – his 19th homer since June 1 – in the top of the eighth inning off Drew Storen as Colorado came back to beat Washington.

Toronto Jose Bautista homered with one out in the 10th inning to give the surging Blue Jays to a 2-1 win at the Yankees and their sixth straight victory.

Ranking 16th, Pittsburgh is in the bottom half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.707).

Volquez (11-6) limited the White Sox to one run and four hits and has allowed three or less runs in seven straight starts, lowering his ERA to 3.11. But in the bottom of fifth, McCutchen doubled, driving in a Marte run.

He contributed in a new way – with the bat – on Saturday.

Miller will try to end his drought with another stellar performance against Miami and lead the Atlanta Braves to their first four-game sweep of the Marlins in nine years Sunday. Rookie right-hander Noah Syndergaard was touched up for five runs in four innings in a rare bad outing for him, and the Mets offense couldn’t overcome the deficit as they did multiple times on Friday.

Los Angeles is only 23-31 against the NL Central and 2-7 versus the Pirates over the last two seasons. “Put a good swing on it, and hit a homer”.

That allowed the Dodgers to place the go-ahead run on base within the ninth inning towards nearer Mark Melancon.

That leaves Latos to pick up the pieces going into his next start Thursday against his former team, the Cincinnati Reds.

Luis Valbuena hit his 21st home run for the Astros. After McHugh walked Billy Burns and Coco Crisp to start the inning, newly-acquired Danny Valencia laced a two-run double that held up as the difference.

A’s third baseman Danny Valencia went 2-for-3 with a solo home run leading off the third inning.