National League West leaders the<strong> Los Angeles Dodgers</strong> continued to lead the way in this season's MLB, with a 39th win of the campaign against the <strong>Seattle Mariners</strong>. Andre Ethier was their game-changer on this occasion, making light of a 17-match homer drought to blast a grand slam in the second inning. The <strong>New York Yankees</strong> completed a morale-boosting series sweep over city rivals the <strong>Mets</strong>, sealing a 5-4 win. Russell Martin was key to the success, getting his side on the scoreboard with a two-run hit in the seventh and then following up with the walk-off winner. National East leaders the <strong>Washington Nationals</strong> swept the <strong>Boston Red Sox</strong> with a 4-3 triumph - Roger Bernadina nudging his side ahead with an RBI in the top of the ninth. American League West front-runners the <strong>Texas Rangers</strong> zipped the <strong>San Francisco Giants</strong> 5-0. Alexi Ogando pitched three no-hit frames before retiring with a groin injury and three relievers picked up where he left off to keep the Giants off the board. The <strong>Tampa Bay Rays</strong> defeated the <strong>Miami Marlins</strong> 4-2 to remain top of American East and extend their winning run in the fixture to seven matches. The <strong>Houston Astros</strong> offence had their best day of the season so far, with four homers on 11 hits in an 11-9 victory over the <strong>Chicago White Sox</strong>. Four men hit two runs apiece as Sox starter Philip Humber had a torrid day that cost six runs in 5 1/3 innings. The <strong>Detroit Tigers</strong> turned a 6-3 deficit into a 7-6 win as they milked misfiring closer Arnoldis Chapman for four runs in the eighth inning. The <strong>Atlanta Braves</strong> also saw a lead disappear in dramatic fashion, going 4-0 ahead after three innings only to conceded a dozen unanswered runs to go down 12-4. Colby Rasmus and Brett Lawrie each collected three RBIs. The pitchers endured a tough day as <strong>Los Angeles Angels</strong> bested the <strong>Colorado Rockies</strong> 10-8. There was a combined total of five home-runs and 28 hits in the match, with Mark Trumbo the star attraction with a pair of three-run homers. Andrew McCutchen scored all three runs - including a two-run homer in the third - as the <strong>Pittsburgh Pirates</strong> edged the <strong>Kansas City Royals</strong> 3-2, while Ryan Dempster toss eight blank frames in the <strong>Chicago Cubs</strong>' 8-2 victory over the <strong>Minnesota Twins</strong>. Jason Kipnis hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to break a 1-1 deadlock and seal a 4-1 victory for the <strong>Cleveland Indians</strong> over the <strong>St Louis Cardinals</strong>. The <strong>Baltimore Orioles</strong> had Matt Wieters' walk-off double to thank for their 10th-inning 5-4 win against the <strong>Philadelphia Phillies</strong>, the <strong>Arizona Diamondbacks</strong> edged the <strong>Oakland Athletics</strong> 4-3 and the <strong>Milwaukee Brewers</strong> survived a three-run ninth from the <strong>San Diego Padres</strong> to edge a 6-5 success. sports@thenational.ae Follow us