MILWAUKEE (AP) ― Clayton Kershaw has set the bar so high for himself that a six-hit outing over eight innings qualifies as a subpar effort for the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

The Los Angeles Dodgers ace walked two and allowed leadoff hitters to reach base in four of his first five innings but still came away with his 11th straight victory in a 5-1 win Sunday over the Milwaukee Brewers. He struck out six, nearly five below his average per nine innings.

This equates to “struggling” for Kershaw.

“It was a struggle for him all day long. It felt like he was working hard but he kept battling and giving us chances,” manager Don Mattingly said.

Nevertheless, Kershaw (14-2) lowered his league-leading ERA to 1.78 and tied for the NL lead in victories. 


Rangers snap 7-game skid

HOUSTON (AP) ― The Texas Rangers never lost faith in rookie Nick Martinez even as his losing streak stretched to seven games.

And on Sunday against the Houston Astros they were pleased to see his work finally pay off with his first win since May 24.

Martinez pitched five solid innings and Adrian Beltre and Choo Shin-soo both homered to lead the Rangers to a 6-2 victory over the Astros, snapping a seven-game skid against their in-state rivals.

Cleveland 4, NY Yankees 1

Toronto 6, Detroit 5

Cincinnati 7, Miami 2

St. Louis 8, Baltimore 3

Philadelphia 7, NY Mets 6

San Diego 8, Pittsburgh 2

Kansas City 7, San Francisco 4

Chicago Cubs 3, Tampa Bay 2

Boston 3, LA Angels 1

Minnesota 6, Oakland 1

Seattle 4, Chicago White Sox 2

Colorado 5, Arizona 3

Atlanta 3, Washington 1