MLB round-up: Max Scherzer lifts Detroit Tigers past Los Angeles Dodgers

Washington belts three solo home runs in win over Baltimore; Matt Cain tosses six strong innings as San Francisco slips past Oakland; Cincinnati's Alfredo Simon becomes the National League’s first 12-game winner.

Pitcher Max Scherzer of the Detroit Tigers delivers against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning of an interleague game at Comerica Park on July 9, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. Scherzer recorded his 11th win in the Tigers 4-1 victory. Duane Burleson/Getty ImagesShow less

DETROIT // Max Scherzer pitched seven impressive innings, outdueling Zack Greinke and helping the short-handed Detroit Tigers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 on Wednesday.

Detroit was without sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez, but the AL Central-leading Tigers scored two runs in the first inning and Scherzer (11-3) made the lead hold up. The All-Star right-hander allowed a run and four hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

Joba Chamberlain struck out two in the eighth, and Joe Nathan fanned two in a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 23 chances.

Greinke (11-5) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out eight without a walk.

Miguel Rojas of the Dodgers hit his first career homer.

Cabrera was given a day off by manager Brad Ausmus, and Martinez is dealing with a lingering back issue.

NATIONALS 6, ORIOLES 2

BALTIMORE // Doug Fister allowed two runs over seven innings as Washington hit three solo homers in a victory over Baltimore. Wilson Ramos, Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth connected for the Nationals, who took control early and cruised to the finish in this interleague matchup between first-place clubs located 40 miles apart on I-295.

Each team has won once in the rain-shortened, home-and-home showdown that concludes Thursday night. Washington has won eight of 10 overall and Baltimore is 7-2 in its last nine games.

GIANTS 5, ATHLETICS 2

SAN FRANCISCO // Hunter Pence homered and drove in two runs, and Matt Cain tossed six strong innings as San Francisco spoiled Jason Hammel’s debut for Oakland. Cain (2-7) allowed two runs and five hits for his first win since May 15 against Miami. He struck out four and walked two to help the Giants snap Oakland’s six-game winning streak.

REDS 4, CUBS 1

CINCINNATI // Alfredo Simon became the National League’s first 12-game winner and Billy Hamilton added to his sensational series with a tiebreaking triple, leading Cincinnati over the trade-depleted Chicago Cubs. The Reds won their fifth in a row – matching their season high – and moved a season-best seven games over .500. They’ll try for their first five-game sweep since 1976 on Thursday.

METS 4, BRAVES 1

NEW YORK // Dillon Gee pitched into the eighth inning after two months on the disabled list and Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run homer as New York beat Atlanta for its first four-game winning streak in a year. David Wright sparked the tiebreaking rally by hustling for a double, Kirk Nieuwenhuis put the Mets ahead with a sacrifice fly and d’Arnaud capped the three-run seventh with a shot to left off Ervin Santana (7-6).

YANKEES 5, INDIANS 4, 14 INNINGS

CLEVELAND // Jacoby Ellsbury’s two-out homer in the 14th inning sent New York to a victory over Cleveland. Ellsbury hit his sixth home run of the season on an 0-2 pitch from Vinnie Pestano (0-1). Chase Whitley (4-2) pitched two scoreless innings. David Robertson earned his 22nd save, retiring All-Star Michael Brantley on a long fly to left with a runner on second to end it.

RED SOX 5, WHITE SOX 4

BOSTON // Daniel Nava doubled home the tying run in the ninth inning and scored on Brock Holt’s single as Boston rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Chicago and snap a four-game losing streak. Chris Sale pitched 7 2-3 innings of four-hit ball and left with a 4-0 lead in his bid to earn the final spot on the AL All-Star team. The winner of the online voting will be announced Thursday. Sale, an All-Star the past two seasons, walked none and struck out six before his bullpen cost him a chance to improve to 9-1.

ANGELS 8, BLUE JAYS 7

ANAHEIM, California // Albert Pujols hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning and Kole Calhoun also connected to lead Los Angeles over Toronto. The Blue Jays took a 7-6 lead in the sixth on Dioner Navarro’s two-out RBI single against Fernando Salas. Pujols responded with a drive that hit the top of the center-field fence beyond the outstretched glove of Colby Rasmus and bounced over for his 20th homer of the season and 512th of his career, tying Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews for 21st place all-time.

DIAMONDBACKS 4, MARLINS 3, 10 INNINGS

PHOENIX // Paul Goldschmidt doubled in the last two of Arizona’s three runs in the 10th inning, giving the Diamondbacks a comeback victory against Miami. The Marlins took a 3-1 lead in the 10th on Donovan Solano’s two-run double off winner Brad Ziegler (4-1). Aaron Hill opened the Arizona 10th with a pinch-hit single off Steve Cishek (4-5). Ender Inciarte walked on four pitches, then David Peralta’s RBI single cut the lead to 3-2.

ROCKIES 6, PADRES 3

DENVER // Troy Tulowitzki hit two of Colorado’s five home runs in a win over San Diego. Drew Stubbs, Charlie Blackmon and Wilin Rosario also went deep for the Rockies, who won a home series for the first time since taking two of three from the Padres in May.

ROYALS 5, RAYS 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida // Salvador Perez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the ninth inning to lift Kansas City over Tampa Bay. Kirby Yates (0-1), the fifth Rays reliever, entered with runners at the corners and gave up Perez’s one-out shot into the left-field corner. It’s been a big week for Perez, chosen Sunday to start at catcher for the American League in next week’s All-Star game.

ASTROS 8, RANGERS 4

ARLINGTON, Texas // Robbie Grossman snapped an 0-for-28 slide with a career-high four hits as Houston climbed out of last place in the AL West, completing a three-game sweep with a victory over All-Star pitcher Yu Darvish and Texas. Grossman and rookie George Springer homered for the Astros, who moved into fourth place by a percentage point over the slumping Rangers.

PHILLIES 4, BREWERS 1

MILWAUKEE // Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley homered to support Roberto Hernandez’s solid start as Philadelphia beat Milwaukee for its third straight win over the NL Central leaders. Hernandez (4-8) needed just 84 pitches to get through eight innings against the aggressive Brewers, who have lost four in a row and eight of nine. Hernandez allowed three hits, and Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.

CARDINALS 5, PIRATES 2

ST. LOUIS // Lance Lynn reached double figures in wins before the All-Star break for the third consecutive year and Kolten Wong homered for the second game in a row, helping St. Louis beat Pittsburgh for the third straight time. Matt Adams had three hits and two RBIs for the Cardinals, who will go for a four-game sweep Thursday – although they might have to do it without All-Star catcher Yadier Molina. He was removed in the third inning with a sprained right thumb and will be re-evaluated Thursday.

TWINS 8, MARINERS 1

SEATTLE // Kendrys Morales knocked in three runs and Kyle Gibson pitched six shutout innings to lead Minnesota past Seattle. Chris Colabello hit a two-run double, Brian Dozier scored twice and the Twins put up eight runs in the first four innings to chase an ineffective Roenis Elias (7-8). The rookie lasted a career-low 3 1-3 innings, yielding seven runs – six earned – and seven hits with three walks.

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