MLB: Birds Swat Away Nats

UNDATED (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles won a battle of division leaders last night while gaining local bragging rights.

Caleb Joseph and Nick Markakis hit solo homers before the Birds scored three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth to beat the Nationals 7-3 in Washington. Ryan Flaherty doubled home the tying run in the seventh before Delmon Young and Adam Jones added RBI singles. Joseph capped the scoring with a two-run single for the Orioles, who took the season series 3-1 and stretched their lead in the AL East to four games over Toronto.

The Nationals top the NL East by three games over Atlanta.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— The L.A. Angels blanked the Dodgers 5-0 in the Freeway Series. Garrett Richards improved to 12-4 by outdueling Zack Greinke for his 12th victory. Richards tossed a five-hitter, striking out nine for his first career shutout. He's 12-4. Josh Hamilton hit his eighth homer. Mike Trout and Albert Pujols had RBI doubles in a four-run first inning.

— Derek Norris singled up the middle with two outs and the bases loaded in the 10th inning against former Oakland closer Grant Balfour, and the Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Monday night. The AL West-leading A's remain one game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels.

— Max Scherzer was unable to become the majors' first 14-game winner of the year, allowing two runs and nine hits in seven innings of Detroit's 2-1 loss to the Yankees in New York. Both runs off Scherzer came in the third inning as Jacoby Ellsbury lifted a sacrifice fly before Brian McCann's RBI single put the Yanks ahead 2-0.

— The Giants picked up their fourth victory in five games by rallying from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to beat the Mets 4-3 in New York. Pablo Sandoval had the big hits, delivering a two-run double in the third inning and a tiebreaking, RBI double with two out in the ninth. Hunter Pence went 2-for-5 and finished the series with two doubles, two triples, two homers and seven RBIs, helping the Giants take three of four at Citi Field.

— Corey Kluber pitched well in Cleveland's 7-1 romp over Cincinnati, holding the Reds to a run and six hits while striking out seven in 7 1/3 innings. Kluber led the Indians to their fourth straight win and improved to 12-6 with a 2.55 ERA. Lonnie Chisenhall hit a three-run homer and Yan Gomes added a two-run blast to help the Indians pull within 2 ½ games of Toronto for the second AL wild-card berth.

— The Chicago White Sox beat Texas 5-3 in a game called by rain after 6 ½ innings. Jose Abreu snapped out of his two-game hitting streak by going 2-for-3 with a two-run single. Tyler Flowers hit a solo homer and the tiebreaking, two-run single as the White Sox handed the Rangers the 20th loss in their last 23 road games.

Nats place McLouth on DL

UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Nationals have placed backup outfielder Nate McLouth on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. McLouth is hitting .179 with one homer and seven RBI's in 79 games, including 33 starts.

Washington filled the roster spot by recalling outfielder Steven Souza Jr. from Triple-A Syracuse. Souza is leading the International League with a .354 average and went 1-for-8 in a previous stint with the Nats this year.

In other major league news:

— Giants pitcher Matt Cain will have season-ending surgery next week to remove bone chips in his right elbow. The 29-year-old Cain hasn't pitched since July 9 after opening the season 2-7 with a 4.18 ERA.

— Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka had a pain-free throwing session Monday, making 25 throws from 60 feet. It was his first action since being sidelined in early July with a small tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

— Javier Baez will join the Chicago Cubs Tuesday in Colorado and could make his major league debut in the three-game series against the Rockies. The 21-year-old middle infielder hit .300 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs in his last 32 games for Triple-A Iowa.

— The Mets have cut 40-year-old outfielder Bobby Abreu, who was hitless in his last 22 at-bats as a pinch-hitter. The Mets called up Kirk Nieuwenhuis  from Triple-A Las Vegas to replace Abreu.