LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw polished his All-Star credentials with 7 2/3 strong innings of five-hit ball, and Freddie Freeman delivered the tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers have won six straight. Kershaw yielded just one earned run while pitching into the eighth inning for the first time this season. The eight-time All-Star looked eminently worthy of another selection to play at Chavez Ravine in 10 days. Marcus Stroman pitched four innings of two-hit ball in his first start since June 3 for the Cubs, who have lost three straight at Dodger Stadium.
Elsewhere in the MLB:
— Carlos Santana hit his first home run since being acquired by Seattle, lining a two-run shot off Toronto starter Alek Manoah that lifted the Mariners to a 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. Seattle won its seventh straight and has won 15 of its past 18. The 15-3 stretch is the best 18-game stretch by the Mariners since 2003. Santana’s homer came in the seventh inning after Seattle had managed just one hit off Manoah through the first six. J.P. Crawford led off the seventh with a single and Santana ambushed a fastball in the middle of the plate for his fifth home of the season.
—Ryan Mountcastle, Trey Mancini, and the surprising Baltimore Orioles try on Sunday for their eighth straight win, which would match their best streak in 17 years. The last time the O’s won eight in a row was 2005 with a team that included Rafael Palmeiro and Sammy Sosa. Dean Kremer combined with four relievers to pitch the O’s past the Angels 1-0 Saturday at Camden Yards for their seventh straight victory. Coming off a 52-110 record, the Orioles are 42-44 and only a few games out of a wild-card spot. Los Angeles dropped to 1-7 on a nine-game trip and at 38-48 is a season-worst 10 games under .500.