Dodgers score 5 two-out runs off Padres starter Michael King in 7-0 victory

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tommy Edman and Will Smith homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers scored six runs with two outs to beat the San Diego Padres 7-0 on Tuesday night in a series opener between rivals with the two best records in the majors this month.

The Dodgers (97-60) moved within one game of NL Central champion Milwaukee (98-59) for the top mark in the big leagues and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. However, the Brewers own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Los Angeles needs one win or an Atlanta loss to clinch a first-round bye into a National League Division Series.

The NL West champion Dodgers improved to 15-5 in September with their fifth straight victory; the Padres fell to 14-5 and had their five-game winning streak snapped.

San Diego is tied with Chicago and Philadelphia at 87-70 for the three NL wild cards — four games ahead of Arizona with five to play.

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado were a combined 1 for 7 with five strikeouts for the Padres.

The Dodgers chased Michael King (12-10) after four innings in his career-high 32nd start of the season. The right-hander gave up five runs on six hits and struck out five as his four-game winning streak ended.

Los Angeles broke out with four runs in the second. King got the first two outs on six pitches before loading the bases. Teoscar Hernández and rookie Josue De Paula hit consecutive singles before King plunked Andy Pages, who just came off the injured list.

King then issued back-to-back walks to Edman and Mookie Betts, forcing in two runs. Freddie Freeman's two-run single made it 4-0.

Betts had a ground-rule double and scored on Freeman's two-out single for a 5-0 lead in the fourth.

Edman's solo shot came with two outs in the sixth and Smith added a 396-foot drive with one out in the seventh for a 7-0 lead.

Brock Stewart started a bullpen game and Justin Wrobleski (12-5) got the win for the Dodgers, who used eight pitchers to earn the fifth shutout in franchise history when deploying at least that many.

Among them was reliever Edwin Díaz, who struck out two in one inning. Roki Sasaki's four-seam fastball touched 100 mph while he pitched one inning. The Japanese right-hander came off the injured list earlier Tuesday after missing nearly a month with a blister on his right middle finger.

Padres LHP Robbie Ray (13-8, 3.60 ERA) starts Wednesday against Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (14-8, 2.51).

This story has been corrected to show the Dodgers scored six runs with two outs, not five.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers' Tommy Edman gestures as he scores after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Josue De Paula is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring on a walk by Mookie Betts during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman gestures after hitting an RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, left, scores on a single by Freddie Freeman as San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano takes a late throw during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

SEATTLE (AP) — Yordan Alvarez resumed his Triple Crown push with a home run and three RBIs as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 7-0 on Tuesday night to pull even with Texas atop the AL West.

Houston snapped a three-game skid and tied the Rangers at 78-79 following their 6-3 loss to the New York Mets at home. Both teams have five games remaining, and the Astros hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Seattle (73-84) is on the brink of playoff elimination, one season after winning the AL West for the first time in 24 years and coming within one victory of the franchise's first World Series appearance.

Alvarez hit a two-run drive to right field in the eighth inning to tie Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League lead with 41 homers. Alvarez is first in batting average at .314 and he has 102 RBIs, six behind Baltimore Orioles slugger Pete Alonso for most in the AL.

Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers in 2012 was the most recent hitter to win a Triple Crown by leading his league in all three of those statistical categories.

Alvarez hit an RBI single in the first to reach 100 RBIs for the second time in his career. Christian Walker belted a three-run homer to make it 4-0 in the third, and Isaac Paredes added a solo shot in the sixth.

It was the 200th home run of Walker's career and his 26th this season.

Cam Smith snapped an 0-for-26 skid with a double.

Houston starter Cristian Javier was removed after two innings with right groin tightness. He threw 45 pitches. Miguel Ullola (1-0) followed with two innings of one-hit ball for his first major league win.

Bennett Sousa, AJ Blubaugh and Logan VanWey completed the four-hitter.

Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (12-11) lasted only four innings, yielding four runs on 10 hits — the most hits he's allowed in a game this season.

Rookie right-hander Ethan Pecko (1-0, 3.77 ERA) makes his fifth major league start Wednesday for Houston against Seattle RHP George Kirby (9-11, 4.24).

This story has been corrected to show that Alvarez homered in the eighth inning.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez (44) looks on after the bottom of the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)

Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert (36) speaks with catcher Cal Raleigh (29) in the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)

Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) reacts after hitting a double in the second inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts after hitting a RBI single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) hits an RBI single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)