Surging Giants sweep away Cubs

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― Ryan Vogelsong kept thinking how steady all the other San Francisco starters have been over the past week. It weighed on his mind Monday morning before his outing.

His turn, time to keep up and do his part. He delivered, all right.

Vogelsong won his fourth straight decision, Buster Posey scored the go-ahead run on a double-play groundball by Joaquin Arias in the seventh inning and the Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Monday for a four-game sweep.

San Francisco’s starters have gone seven straight games pitching seven or more innings while allowing two or fewer runs, just the second time it has been done since the franchise came West in 1958. Giants pitchers accomplished the feat in nine consecutive games from July 1-10, 1988, according to STATS LLC.

Herrera’s single lifts Dodgers

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ― After waiting nine years to reach the majors, Elian Herrera is making a strong case to stay.

Herrera hit a tiebreaking RBI single off Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 on Monday night.

“I really love this game,” said Herrera, who was finally called up to replace the injured Juan Uribe earlier this month.

“I would have liked to have been here before, but that’s how it works. I just want to be in the lineup. It doesn’t matter where I play.”

Herrera is hitting .308 in 19 games. He’s started at third base, second base and now center field.

“It’s a testament to him that he continued to work hard,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “I’m happy for him. I didn’t even know he could play outfield. When Matt (Kemp) went down, they said he could play center.”

Athletics pound Rangers 12-1

OAKLAND, California (AP) ― Rookie Jarrod Parker held Texas hitless until the eighth inning and Brandon Inge drove in four runs in Oakland’s eight-run second inning as the Athletics beat the Rangers 12-1 on Monday night.

Parker (2-2) easily worked his way through baseball’s highest-scoring offense in his ninth career start before Michael Young grounded a single through the middle for Texas’ first hit leading off the eighth.

Parker got a warm ovation from the crowd of 10,120 and then recovered to get out of the inning on two more pitches.

St. Louis 5, NY Mets 4

Minnesota 10, Kansas City 7

Colorado 4, Arizona 0

Seattle 8, LA Angels 6