Dodgers 4; D-Backs 0
Clayton Kershaw pitched seven strong innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers won the NL West for the ninth time in 10 seasons after shutting out the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-0 on Tuesday.
Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Joey Gallo homered, and the Dodgers improved their best record in the majors to 98-43. They are 20 1/2 games ahead of second-place San Diego.
Dave Roberts’ team will have plenty of time to prepare for its 10th postseason in a row. There is almost a month to go until their first playoff game, on Oct. 11.
Kershaw (8-3) shone throughout his outing, allowing just two singles and one walk while striking out five. He threw just 82 times, 55 of them for strikes. He lowered his ERA to 2.44.
Caleb Ferguson and Craig Kimbrel completed the three-hit shutout.
The loss went to the record of Merril Kelly (12-6), who pitched five innings and lost for the first time in 14 starts. He allowed five hits, walked five and struck out eight in the Dodgers’ second shutout of the Diamondbacks in as many days.
Latin Americans did not hit for the Dodgers.
For the Diamondbacks, the Dominicans Ketel Marte 4-0; Geraldo Perdomo 3-1. Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rivera 3-1.
Brewers 8;
Cardinals 4
Andrew McCutchen homered and drove in three runs for the Milwaukee Brewers, who used eight pitchers to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4 on Tuesday night.
The Brewers pulled within seven games of the Cardinals themselves, leaders of the NL Central.
Milwaukee’s pitching staff, without three starters due to injuries, was put under even more pressure. Matt Bush left after throwing just 15 pitches with a sore right groin.
Bush started in a game in which the team had already decided to use only pitchers who usually play in relief.
Luis Perdomo (2-0) was the winner, allowing one run in three innings. He combined with Brad Boxberger, Hoby Milner, Justin Topa, Taylor Rogers and Brent Suter to retire 20 of 22 batters from the third inning onward.
McCutchen hit his 17th homer of the season, a two-run shot off Jordan Montgomery (8-4) in the fifth to break a 4-4 tie.
For the Brewers, Dominican Willy Adames 3-2 with a run scored and two RBIs. The Mexican Luis Urías 5-3. Puerto Rican Víctor Caratini 5-1 with a run scored.
For the Cardinals, the Dominican Albert Pujols 4-1 with an RBI. Puerto Rican Yadier Molina 4-0.
