Enrique Hernandez launched the second pitch of the ninth inning for a tie-breaking home run, Blake Snell made a healthy return to the mound and the playoff-bound Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the host San Francisco Giants for a 4-3 victory Saturday afternoon.

Read more Tigers walk off Pirates to win Justin Verlander’s farewell start

After watching the Giants (65-96) twice rally into ties following 1-0 and 3-1 deficits, the Dodgers (99-62) kept their hopes alive for a 100-win regular season on Hernandez’s fourth homer of the year, a no-doubt blast to left-center field against Trent Harris (0-1), San Francisco’s seventh pitcher.

Tanner Scott protected the one-run lead, stranding the potential tying run at second base in the ninth by striking out Christian Koss to lock up his 25th save. Evan Phillips (3-2), who served up the Giants’ game-tying run in the eighth, was credited with the win.

Snell, who left his last start after one inning because of tightness in his left groin, made it through 77 pitches this time, allowing one run and five hits in four innings. He struck out three without issuing a walk.

San Francisco’s lone run against the ex-Giant came in the third when Jonah Cox doubled, stole third and raced home on a sacrifice fly by Turner Hill.

Down 3-1, the hosts rallied into a tie with single runs in the seventh and eighth against the Los Angeles bullpen. Drew Cavanaugh’s one-out triple drove in Drew Gilbert, who had walked, in the seventh, before the Giants set up Hernandez’s late heroics when Hill doubled, took third on a Phillips wild pitch and scored on a Bo Davidson sacrifice fly.

Giants starter Matt Wilkinson worked the first three innings, serving up Mookie Betts’ 23rd homer of the season, a solo shot, but no other runs or hits. He walked one and struck out two.

The Dodgers went ahead 3-1 in the fourth on RBI singles by Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman.

Edman had two hits for Los Angeles, which beat the Giants for a seventh consecutive time.

Cavanaugh, who entered the game as a pinch hitter, had a double and a triple, while Davidson and Shay Whitcomb chipped in with a pair of singles apiece for San Francisco, which lost a fourth in a row.

The Giants collected four doubles and a triple in the game, but managed just a 9-9 tie in total hits with the visitors.

Rangers start strong in win over Twins

Danny Jansen went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs, and the Texas Rangers jumped ahead early in their 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday evening in Minneapolis.

Jake Burger also homered for Texas (80-81), which continues to hold serve in its bid to knock off the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West division. The Astros need to beat the Athletics Saturday evening to remain atop the division.

Evan Carter and Alejandro Osuna each finished with two hits and an RBI for Texas.

Kody Clemens and Josh Bell had one RBI apiece for Minnesota (76-85).

Rangers left-hander Robert Garcia (2-1) earned the victory with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. He followed starter Nathan Eovaldi, who allowed one run on four hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (7-7) surrendered six runs on 10 hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out five.

The Twins opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Luke Keaschall hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a groundout by Brooks Lee and scored on an RBI groundout by Clemens.

The Rangers answered with a four-run outburst in the second, scoring all of the runs after the first two batters of the inning were retired.

Read more NCAA roundup: Jadan Baugh scores 3 TDs as No. 21 Florida knocks off No. 4 Ole Miss

Nicky Lopez started the rally with a double. He scored one batter later as Jansen singled and Alan Roden committed a throwing error in left field.

Carter put the Rangers on top 2-1 with an RBI double to right in the next at-bat. Osuna followed with an RBI double, and Nimmo capped the big inning with another RBI double to make it 4-1.

Texas made it 5-1 when Jansen led off the fourth with a 398-foot homer to left.

The power surge continued in the fifth. Burger hit a 415-foot solo shot to center to increase the Rangers’ lead to 6-1.

The Twins pulled within 6-2 in the eighth when Bell’s RBI single followed Keaschall’s leadoff triple.

Before the game, the Rangers placed third baseman Josh Jung on the injured list and recalled catcher Logan O’Hoppe from Triple-A Round Rock. Jung was hit on the wrist by a pitch in the first inning of Friday’s 10-2 loss.

The start of the game was delayed two hours because of rain.

Mauricio’s 2 HRs help Mets take down Nats

Ronny Mauricio homered twice, A.J. Ewing hit a three-run home run and the New York Mets beat the host Nationals 7-1 on Saturday in Washington.

Carson Benge had three hits and scored twice for New York, which evened the three-game series.

Jake Irvin had retired eight straight Mets entering the seventh. Benge led off with a single and, with two outs, Francisco Alvarez walked. Ewing hit an 0-2 pitch out to right-center and the Mets led 3-1. Mauricio followed with a solo shot to right.

Benge doubled in the eighth and scored on a two-out grounder that shortstop Nasim Nunez misplayed for an error.

In the ninth, Ewing walked and Mauricio hit his second homer of the game and third of the season to make it 7-1. Two batters later Juan Soto was hit by a pitch on the right hand and left the game.

Dedniel Nunez (2-1) pitched a scoreless sixth with three strikeouts to earn the win.

James Wood had two of Washington’s three hits.

Irvin (2-10) gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits over five innings of relief.

Mets rookie Jonah Tong gave up a run on three hits over five innings in his final start of the season. He struck out a career-high nine batters and walked one.

Washington starter Connelly Early pitched three scoreless innings and allowed one hit in his Nationals debut. Early was obtained from the Boston Red Sox for Curtis Mead in July while on the injured list with elbow inflammation.

In the Washington third, Nasim Nunez was hit by a pitch leading off and Wood singled. After both runners moved up on a wild pitch, Abimelec Ortiz hit a fly ball to right center. Right fielder Benge made an impressive diving catch, but Nunez came home after the catch and the Nationals led 1-0.

Soto singled leading off the New York fourth, but Irvin picked him off. Bo Bichette and Benge singled, but Mark Vientos grounded out and Brett Baty struck out.

Read more UPDATE: Hurricane watch canceled for Hawaii Island as Nolo moves west