The San Diego Padres claimed an eighth straight win in MLB to close the gap to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.

On the back of a five-run seventh inning, the Padres beat the Dodgers 7-2 at Petco Park.

It marked their eighth straight win as they improved to 32-17 and moved to within 1.5 games of National League (NL) West leaders the Dodgers (33-15).

Padres pitcher Dinelson Lamet struck out 11 over seven innings, giving up just three hits.

Dinelson Lamet is built different.#FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/UPpqwACwMy

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 15, 2020

Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, lasted 6.1 innings for the Dodgers, striking out nine and conceding five hits and three runs.

The Baltimore Orioles snapped a five-game losing streak by thrashing the Atlanta Braves 14-1.

Jose Iglesias went four-for-four with four RBIs, hitting a three-run homer in a nine-run third inning during which DJ Stewart and Ryan Mountcastle also went deep.

The Orioles became the first team in American League (AL) history to score one run or less in four straight games, then score 14-plus in their next outing, according to STATS.

 

Minor magic, Lewis delivers amazing catch

After struggling at the start of the season with the Texas Rangers, Mike Minor was traded to the Oakland Athletics last month. He produced a fine start in a 9-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday, striking out eight in seven innings. The Mariners won the first game of a doubleheader.

In the second game, Mariners right fielder Kyle Lewis produced an incredible catch to rob Ramon Laureano of a grand slam.

.@KLew_5 did THAT pic.twitter.com/wA2qvMMthL

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) September 15, 2020

Corbin Burnes struck out 10 in just 4.2 innings, but the Milwaukee Brewers were edged by the St Louis Cardinals 3-2. They split their doubleheader.

Tyler Stephenson crushed a walk-off home run in the Cincinnati Reds' 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. They swept the doubleheader.

 

Terrible Toussaint

Braves starter Touki Toussaint got through just 2.2 innings. He gave up seven hits, eight runs (five earned) and two homers to the Orioles.

 

Monday's results

Cincinnati Reds 3-1 Pittsburgh Pirates
Cincinnati Reds 9-4 Pittsburgh Pirates
Miami Marlins 6-2 Philadelphia Phillies
Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 St Louis Cardinals
St Louis Cardinals 3-2 Milwaukee Brewers
Seattle Mariners 6-5 Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics 9-0 Seattle Mariners
Baltimore Orioles 14-1 Atlanta Braves
Chicago White Sox 3-1 Minnesota Twins
San Diego Padres 7-2 Los Angeles Dodgers

 

Blue Jays at Yankees

Chasing playoff spots, the Toronto Blue Jays (26-20) and New York Yankees (26-21) do battle on Tuesday. Taijuan Walker (3-2, 2.95 ERA) will start for Toronto, while Deivi Garcia (1-1, 3.06 ERA) will take the mound for the Yankees.