Dodgers soften up Rockies, rule West

LOS ANGELES – After a season-worst five-game losing streak, the Los Angeles Dodgers came through with one game left in the regular season to beat the Colorado Rockies, 5-0, on Saturday and clinch the National League West.

The Dodgers capitalized on a five-run seventh inning triggered by RBI singles from pinch-hitters Ronnie Belliard and Mark Loretta, and six scoreless innings by 21-year-old lefty Clayton Kershaw.

Los Angeles’ second straight division title wasn’t as easy to secure as it appeared to be last weekend, when it held a six-game lead with seven games remaining.

At Philadelphia, Anibal Sanchez pitched seven strong innings to lead Florida to a 4-3 win over Philadelphia, which still clinched home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs with St. Louis’ loss.

The Phillies have lost three straight since clinching their third consecutive National League East title. The Phillies could have clinched home field with wins in their final two games and two losses by Los Angeles.

Philadelphia, the defending World Series champion, went 7-0 at home in the playoffs last season and will host the opening game Wednesday.

Cole Hamels (10-11), last season’s World Series MVP, allowed three runs and three hits while walking two and striking out two in three innings.

Ryan Howard hit his 45th home run for the Phillies.

At St. Louis, Ryan Braun reached 200 hits for the first time on a two-run homer in the first inning as Milwaukee beat St. Louis, 5-4, to ensure the NL Central champions will open the postseason on the road.

Kyle Lohse (6-10) worked six innings in his final bid to make the St. Louis postseason rotation, allowing five runs but only two earned. The Cardinals will pick between 42-year-old John Smoltz and Lohse for their fourth starting spot in the playoffs.

At Chicago, Randy Wells allowed three hits in seven strong innings and struck out a career-high 10 batters to help Chicago beat Arizona, 5-0.

Wells (12-10) gave up a leadoff double to Stephen Drew and then retired 14 straight before Eric Byrnes hit a two-out single in the fifth. Wells’ 12 wins are the most by a Cubs rookie since Kerry Wood had 13 in 1998.

At Detroit, the Detroit Tigers dropped into a first-place tie with Minnesota, looking listless Saturday in a 5-1 American League loss to Freddy Garcia and the Chicago White Sox.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland made two pitching changes in thesecond inning, trying to find a way to end his team’s slump. Instead, Detroit lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Earlier in the day, the Twins beat Kansas City 5-4, leaving them even with the Tigers at 85-76.

At Minneapolis, Michael Cuddyer hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, lifting Minnesota over Kansas City, 5-4, and leaving the Twins tied with Detroit for the AL Central lead. (AP)