CINCINNATI, Ohio: The Cincinnati Reds became the first team in Major League Baseball to lock up their division title with a 6-0 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday.
Pitcher Mat Latos went eight solid innings, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips both homered as the Reds, 92-60, clinched their second National League Central division title in three years.
Latos, 8-2 in his past 17 starts, surrendered six hits and struck out seven without giving up a walk. Nor did he allow a runner to reach scoring position.
Todd Frazier drove in a run in the fifth inning and Zack Cozart hammered a two-run, bases-loaded single in the eighth.
Meanwhile, in other baseball action yesterday, the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 8-4 yesterday to win their sixth straight, locking up the National League West Division title for the second time in three years.
Angel Pagan caught pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay’s line drive to the outfield for the final out of the contest and the players then rushed the pitcher’s mound for a celebratory jump.
The Giants took a lap around the park, shaking the hands of their fans. “It’s unbelievable,” Pagan said. “We’re going to go to war.” REUTERS
