IAN KENNEDY

Andrew McCutchen drove in four runs and the Philadelphia Phillies erased a six-run deficit against the Washington Nationals to earn a 7-6 victory and a three-game sweep.

Dodgers Phillies Baseball Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper (3) gestures after he hit a home run against the Los Angelas Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Philadelphia, Pa. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (Rich Schultz)PHILADELPHIA — (AP) — Bryce Harper homered, Ian Kennedy escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies held off the Dodgers 2-1 Thursday, ending Los Angeles' four-game winning streak. The Phillies salvaged the finale of the three-game series and held their share of the NL East lead. Harper hit his 21st homer and scored twice as the Phillies won with just four hits. The Philadelphia bullpen didn’t allow a hit in the final 4 2/3 innings, and the Dodgers finished with only three hits. In the fourth, Harper walked and eventually scored a two-out single by Ronald Torreyes.

Bryce Harper homered, Ian Kennedy escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies held off the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1.

APTOPIX Mets Phillies Baseball Philadelphia Phillies' Ian Kennedy reacts after striking out New York Mets' J.D. The Phillies won 5-3. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) (Derik Hamilton)PHILADELPHIA — (AP) — Brad Miller homered twice and the first-place Philadelphia Phillies withstood a ninth-inning rally for their seventh straight victory, 5-3 over the sinking New York Mets on Saturday. Odubel Herrera hit a three-run homer and doubled for the Phillies, who increased their NL East lead over New York to 1 1/2 games. Kevin Pillar greeted him with a hard single to left, but pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil fouled out before Brandon Nimmo walked.

Brad Miller homered twice and the first-place Philadelphia Phillies withstood a ninth-inning rally for their seventh straight victory, 5-3 over the sinking New York Mets.

Bryce Harper homered, Kyle Gibson pitched six strong innings and drove in the go-ahead run, and the streaking Philadelphia Phillies won their sixth straight game to take over first place in the NL East with a 4-2 victory over the slumping New York Mets.

Shohei Ohtani pitched six solid innings, Juan Lagares raced home from second base on a wild pitch for the lead with the two-way standout at the plate, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 2-1.

Kris Bryant is expected to make his debut for the NL West-leading Giants on Sunday when they host Houston.

With spring training in full swing, third baseman Travis Shaw returned to the Milwaukee Brewers while former All-Star third baseman Jake Lamb and pitchers Ian Kennedy and Julio Teheran found new teams. Shaw signed a minor league contract with the Brewers on Tuesday, giving them one more option for their unsettled situation at third base. The signing adds another veteran bat to an already deep competition for bench spots in spring training. AdThe 30-year-old Teheran got a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers and will report to big league camp. Kennedy will be in major league spring training with a chance to be compete for a spot in the Rangers’ bullpen.