Uribe homer propels Dodgers to NL final

LOS ANGELES(AP) – Juan Uribe hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning after Clayton Kershaw started on short rest for the Dodgers in a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night, sending Los Angeles into the National League championship series for the first time since 2009.

Carl Crawford homered his first two times up for the Dodgers, who won the best-of-five playoff 3-1. Manager Don Mattingly and the NL West champions will open the NLCS on Friday against St. Louis or Pittsburgh.

The Cardinals host the wild-card Pirates in a winner-take-all Game 5 on Wednesday.

In other results, Jose Lobaton hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning into the giant fish tank beyond center field, and Tampa Bay staved off elimination once again by beating the Boston Red Sox, 5-4, in Florida.

Evan Longoria had a three-run homer and the Rays averted a playoff sweep, cutting Boston’s lead to 2-1 in the best-of-five series. Game 4 is Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, with Jake Peavy starting for the Red Sox against Jeremy Hellickson.

In Pittsburgh, St. Louis rookie Michael Wacha took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning and the Cardinals showed off their October poise, edging the Pirates, 2-1, to force a winner-take-all Game 5 in the NL division series. St. Louis is 7-1 over the last three years with its season on the line.

In Detroit, the Oakland Athletics have beaten the Tigers with both pitching and power. And that’s left the Tigers on the brink of elimination – and simmering with frustration.

Brandon Moss, Josh Reddick and Seth Smith homered for the Athletics, who chased Anibal Sanchez in the fifth inning and defeated the Tigers, 6-3, for a 2-1 AL division series lead.

Moss broke a 3-all tie in the fifth with a solo shot, and Smith’s two-run drive later in the inning ended Sanchez’s day. It was an impressive offensive show after the teams split two taut, low-scoring games in Oakland.