Dodgers Shut Out Cubs to Continue Home Dominance
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been just about unbeatable at Dodger Stadium this season, and they looked the part on Friday night. Alex Wood extended his career-high scoreless innings streak to 25.1 innings, while striking out eight and walking just two over five innings in a 4-0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs. Wood was moved from the bullpen into the starting rotation to fill in for injured starters and improved to 6-0 on the season. At the plate, Adrian Gonzalez connected for his first home run of the season, helping the Dodgers improve to 19-8 at home. That is good for the second best home record in the majors, as they have won nine of their past 11 in L.A. Chase Utley also went deep for a second straight game, while Yasmani Grandal knocked in a run on the night. The Cubs saw their three-game win streak come to an end, as Jake Arrieta struggled to fall to 5-4 on the year. The Dodgers also got good production from their bullpen, which saw Pedro Baez and Chris Hatcher combine for four scoreless innings of their own. Chicago was held to just two hits after hitting 26 home runs in their previous 14 games. The series will continue on Saturday night on Fox Saturday Baseball.
Blackmon, Rockies Cruise Past Cardinals
The Colorado Rockies could be the surprise everyone saw coming in the majors, as they have used their powerful offense and young pitching to keep them in first place in the NL West. They got exactly that combination on Friday, as Charlie Blackmon fell a double shy of the cycle in a 10-0 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals. Rookie Antonio Senzatela allowed just five hits over eight innings, joining Clayton Kershaw, Ervin Santana, and Dallas Keuchel for the major-league lead with seven wins. Carlos Martinez had a quality start for the Cardinals, allowing just three runs over 7.1 innings, but his bullpen imploded late, which guaranteed him the loss. The Rockies put up eight runs on nine hits in the eighth, extending their lead from 2-0 to 10-0 in the blink of an eye. Mark Reynolds played a key role in the game against his former team with an RBI single and two-run home run. The Rockies will host the Cardinals for Game 2 on Saturday night.
Astros Stay Hot with Shutout of Orioles
The Houston Astros are the best team in baseball so far, but they have a major test this weekend by hosting the powerful Baltimore Orioles. That power did not phase them in Game 1 on Friday night as Joe Musgrove led the way in a 2-0 shutout win for Houston. Musgrove allowed just four hits over seven innings, improving his record to .500 at 4-4, and handing the Orioles a season-high fifth straight loss. Jake Marisnick homered for a second straight game, while Carlos Beltran added a big fly for the only offense the Astros needed on the night. Musgrove did not need much support in this game, just one start after surrendering a season-high seven runs on eight hits in an 8-6 loss to the Cleveland Indians last weekend. Ken Giles finished things off for the Astros with a perfect ninth inning for his 14th save of the season. Kevin Gausman suffered his fourth loss after allowing both runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings for Baltimore. The O's have now dropped seven of their past nine games and will look to break that tough stretch in Game 2 of the series Saturday night.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been just about unbeatable at Dodger Stadium this season, and they looked the part on Friday night. Alex Wood extended his career-high scoreless innings streak to 25.1 innings, while striking out eight and walking just two over five innings in a 4-0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs. Wood was moved from the bullpen into the starting rotation to fill in for injured starters and improved to 6-0 on the season. At the plate, Adrian Gonzalez connected for his first home run of the season, helping the Dodgers improve to 19-8 at home. That is good for the second best home record in the majors, as they have won nine of their past 11 in L.A. Chase Utley also went deep for a second straight game, while Yasmani Grandal knocked in a run on the night. The Cubs saw their three-game win streak come to an end, as Jake Arrieta struggled to fall to 5-4 on the year. The Dodgers also got good production from their bullpen, which saw Pedro Baez and Chris Hatcher combine for four scoreless innings of their own. Chicago was held to just two hits after hitting 26 home runs in their previous 14 games. The series will continue on Saturday night on Fox Saturday Baseball.
Blackmon, Rockies Cruise Past Cardinals
The Colorado Rockies could be the surprise everyone saw coming in the majors, as they have used their powerful offense and young pitching to keep them in first place in the NL West. They got exactly that combination on Friday, as Charlie Blackmon fell a double shy of the cycle in a 10-0 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals. Rookie Antonio Senzatela allowed just five hits over eight innings, joining Clayton Kershaw, Ervin Santana, and Dallas Keuchel for the major-league lead with seven wins. Carlos Martinez had a quality start for the Cardinals, allowing just three runs over 7.1 innings, but his bullpen imploded late, which guaranteed him the loss. The Rockies put up eight runs on nine hits in the eighth, extending their lead from 2-0 to 10-0 in the blink of an eye. Mark Reynolds played a key role in the game against his former team with an RBI single and two-run home run. The Rockies will host the Cardinals for Game 2 on Saturday night.
Astros Stay Hot with Shutout of Orioles
The Houston Astros are the best team in baseball so far, but they have a major test this weekend by hosting the powerful Baltimore Orioles. That power did not phase them in Game 1 on Friday night as Joe Musgrove led the way in a 2-0 shutout win for Houston. Musgrove allowed just four hits over seven innings, improving his record to .500 at 4-4, and handing the Orioles a season-high fifth straight loss. Jake Marisnick homered for a second straight game, while Carlos Beltran added a big fly for the only offense the Astros needed on the night. Musgrove did not need much support in this game, just one start after surrendering a season-high seven runs on eight hits in an 8-6 loss to the Cleveland Indians last weekend. Ken Giles finished things off for the Astros with a perfect ninth inning for his 14th save of the season. Kevin Gausman suffered his fourth loss after allowing both runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings for Baltimore. The O's have now dropped seven of their past nine games and will look to break that tough stretch in Game 2 of the series Saturday night.
