DENVER (AP) — Antonio Senzatela pitched six innings of one-run ball, designated hitter Matt Kemp homered for a second straight game and the Colorado Rockies held off the San Diego Padres 9-6. The Rockies moved to 6-2. Their mark is tied for the team’s second-best start in franchise history. Senzatela was the latest to turn in an efficient performance. Colorado’s starters rank first in the majors with a 2.00 ERA. The right-hander allowed four hits, walked one and struck out six to help the Rockies take two of three from San Diego and win their third straight series. Kemp hit a two-run homer off Zach Davies in the fourth.
Around the Majors Sunday
It was vintage Clayton Kershaw on the mound as he made his injury-delayed season debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner struck out six while allowing just three hits over 5 2/3 innings of the Dodgers' 3-0 shutout of the Diamondbacks. He threw 81 pitches and retired his first 10 batters.
Kershaw was supposed to make his ninth opening day start on July 23, but was scratched hours before the game because of a back injury suffered in the weight room.
NL MVP Cody Bellinger hit his first home run of the season to help Los Angeles beat the Diamondbacks for the third time in four days.
Mookie Betts homered and doubled before leaving early because of an injury.
— The Reds swept the first-ever seven-inning doubleheader in big league history. Shogo Akiyama hit an RBI single in the seventh that sent the Reds over the Tigers, 4-3. Cincinnati took the nightcap, 4-0 as Trevor Bauer struck out seven while allowing two hits over seven innings.
— Kyle Wright and the Atlanta bullpen combined on a 10-hit shutout as the Braves downed the Mets, 4-0 to complete a three-game sweep. The Braves have won five in a row, while the Mets have dropped five straight.
— Mitch Garver hit his first home run of the season and the Twins used their bullpen to string together a two-hitter in a 3-1 victory over the Indians. Max Kepler doubled in each of his first two at-bats and came around to score on RBI singles by Jorge Polando and Nelson Cruz.
— White Sox prospect Nick Madrigal had the first four hits of his promising big league career, including two during a seven-run seventh that propelled Chicago to a 9-2 rout of the Royals. Yasmani Grandal added three RBIs and Nicky Delmonico two as the White Sox completed a three-game sweep.
— The Orioles completed their first three-game sweep in almost two years as Hanser Alberto doubled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning of their 5-1 decision over the Rays. Renato Núñez and Pat Valaika homered to help Baltimore send Tampa Bay to its fifth consecutive loss.
— Javier Báez singled through a drawn-in infield in the 11th inning to score David Bote and give the Cubs a 2-1 triumph over the Pirates. Kyle Schwarber tied the game with a fifth-inning double before Chicago beat Pittsburgh for the 10th straight time at Wrigley Field.
— The Athletics beat the Mariners, 3-2 as Ramon Laureano broke out of a slump with a three-run homer to help Chris Bassitt become the first Oakland starter to earn a victory this season. Bassitt struck out seven and allowed three hits with no walks in 5 2/3 innings.
— Joey Gallo was 3-for-4 with a big three-run homer in the seventh inning that secured the Rangers' win over the Giants, 9-5. Shin-Soo Choo slammed a two-run homer and Scott Hieneman hit a two-run double for Texas.