Monday's MLB Capsules

Games played on Aug. 18, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) - Adam LaRoche hit a game-winning solo home run with two outs in the 11th inning to help the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 Monday night for their seventh straight win.

It was the third walk-off win in as many days for NL-East leading Washington.

LaRoche sent a 3-1 pitch from Will Harris (0-3) off the wall in the back of the Nationals bullpen and was mobbed by his teammates at home plate.

Winning pitcher Craig Stammen (3-4) pitched out of a bases-loaded, no outs jam in the top of the inning.

Arizona tied it 4-4 when David Peralta led off the ninth with a solo homer off Tyler Clippard.

Washington trailed 3-2 when Denard Span doubled with one-out in the eighth against Brad Ziegler and Anthony Rendon followed with a triple to tie it.

BRAVES 7, PIRATES 3

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons homered to begin a six-run first inning, and the Braves beat the sliding Pirates for their fourth consecutive victory.

The early outburst was enough for Ervin Santana, who allowed three solo homers among nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. Santana (13-6) improved to 8-1 over his past 10 starts.

Pittsburgh has lost six in a row. Starling Marte went deep twice, and Neil Walker added a homer that became the first to reach the Allegheny River beyond right field at PNC Park this season.

CUBS 4, METS 1

NEW YORK (AP) - Kyle Hendricks and two relievers held New York to four or fewer hits for the fifth straight game, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez hit long homers, and the Cubs rallied for a victory over the Mets.

Hendricks (5-1) gave up just three hits in seven innings, allowing only Lucas Duda's home run in the fourth. The rookie right-hander won his fourth straight start - yielding four earned runs over 29 1-3 innings.

Neil Ramirez struck out two in a perfect eighth and Hector Rondon allowed a leadoff double but finished the four-hitter for his 18th save.

The Cubs came back once Carlos Torres, making a spot start for Bartolo Colon, was done after five innings.

ANGELS 4, RED SOX 2

BOSTON (AP) - Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit consecutive RBI doubles, and the Angels extended their AL West lead with a victory over the Red Sox.

It was the fifth win in six games for the Angels, who moved a half-game ahead of idle Oakland.

David Ortiz reached base four times with a double, single and two walks for the Red Sox, who have lost three of four after winning four straight.

Angels starter C.J. Wilson (10-8) labored through 5 1-3 innings, giving up one run and five hits with five walks and five strikeouts.

Kevin Jepsen worked the ninth for his first save since Sept. 16, 2012. He struck out Ortiz with two on and none out before allowing a run.

Brandon Workman (1-7) lost his sixth straight start, giving up two runs and six hits in seven innings.

PHILLIES 4, MARINERS 1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Jerome Williams took a three-hitter into the eighth inning, Andres Blanco hit his first homer in three years, and the Phillies beat the Mariners in an interleague game.

Making his second start since joining the Phillies, Williams (1-0) allowed one run and three hits in seven-plus innings.

Mariners rookie lefty Roenis Elias (9-10) gave up one run and three hits in four innings. He constantly pitched out of jams because he walked six and hit one batter with a pitch.

Blanco connected for a three-run shot off reliever Dominic Leone in the fifth to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead. It was his first home run since July 1, 2011, for Texas against Florida.

CARDINALS 6, REDS 5, 10 innings

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Jhonny Peralta's 10th-inning single, his third hit of the game, drove in the winning run to give the Cardinals a victory over the Reds.

Jay Bruce homered, doubled and knocked in four runs for the Reds, giving him nine RBIs in four games. Brandon Phillips returned from left thumb surgery wearing a brace and was 0 for 4 with a walk.

Logan Ondrusek (3-3) entered with one out in the 10th and gave up consecutive singles to Matt Holliday, Matt Adams and Peralta. Ondrusek (strained right shoulder) was activated from the disabled list earlier in the day.

Peralta's RBI single in the first was just his second in 32 at-bats against the Reds this season. He also doubled and scored the tying run on A.J. Pierzynski's hit off Jumbo Diaz in the eighth.

ROYALS 6, TWINS 4

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Erik Kratz homered twice after replacing an ailing Salvador Perez, and Jason Vargas pitched seven strong innings to lead the first-place Royals to a victory over the Twins.

Vargas (10-5) allowed one run on four this and struck out three, but had his scoreless innings streak snapped at 17 when Oswaldo Arcia hit a solo homer in the seventh. Perez had two hits and two RBIs before leaving in the seventh because of discomfort in his right knee, helping the Royals win for the 21st time in 26 games.

Kansas City extended its lead over the idle Detroit Tigers in the AL Central to two games.

Trevor May (0-2) gave up three runs on seven hits and walked four in 4 2-3 innings for the Twins.

ORIOLES 8, WHITE SOX 2

CHICAGO (AP) - Nick Markakis hit a two-run homer and prevented one with a leaping catch in right field, and Nelson Cruz and J.J. Hardy each added a solo shot to power the Orioles past the White Sox.

Markakis was 3 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs, helping the Orioles increase their AL East lead to 7 1/2 games over the idle New York Yankees.

Cruz hit his 32nd homer, passing White Sox rookie Jose Abreu for the American League lead. Cruz is tied with Mike Stanton of the Miami Marlins for most in the majors.

Bud Norris (11-7) allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings to win his third straight start.

Chicago ace Chris Sale (10-3) yielded three runs and eight hits in six innings. He has dropped two straight decisions.