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Dodgers hit 4 home runs in 8th inning to beat Padres

  • Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws to the plate during the second inning of Wednesday’s game against the Padres at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws to the plate against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Trea Turner high-fives teammates after scoring on a single by Max Muncy during the first inning of Wednesday’s game against the Padres at Dodger Stadium. Turner, who Dave Roberts said might be the best base stealer he’s managed in six seasons in L.A., has a chance to become the first Dodger to lead the National League in stolen bases since 2014. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer looks down as Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres rounds third base after hitting a two run home run in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws to the plate against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Starting pitcher Ryan Weathers #40 of the San Diego Padres throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Mookie Betts #50 rounds third base and scores on a RBI double by teammate Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Mookie Betts #50 scores past catcher Victor Caratini #17 of the San Diego Padres on a RBI double by teammate Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Mookie Betts #50 high-fives teammates after scoring on a RBI double by teammate Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws to the plate against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres gestures to the crowd after hitting a two-run home run again the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Manny Machado #13 high fives teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres after hitting a two run home run again the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his RBI double as teammate Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores on a RBI double by teammate Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Corey Seager #5 high-fives teammates after scoring on a RBI double by teammate Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Diego Padres in thefirst inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • AJ Pollock #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his two-run home run against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer looks down as Victor Caratini #17 of the San Diego Padres rounds third base after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • AJ Pollock #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • AJ Pollock #11, right, celebrates with teammate Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a two run home run against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • AJ Pollock #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives teammates after hitting a two run home run against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks toward the umpires as they review a play in thethird inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Second baseman Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tags out Eric Hosmer #30 of the San Diego Padres at second base in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer looks toward the umpires as they review a play in the third inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers center fielder Gavin Lux can’t reach a triple by Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers center fielder Gavin Lux slams into the wall on a triple by Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers center fielder Gavin Lux slams into the wall on a triple by Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers center fielder Gavin Lux slams into the wall on a triple by Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers center fielder Gavin Lux is treated by the trainer as manager Dave Roberts, right, looks on into the wall on a triple by Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer looks on from the dugout against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Dodgers starting pitcher Max Scherzer looks on from the dugout against the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hugs teammate Albert Pujols after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Max Muncy celebrates his solo homerun, to trail 9-7 to the San Diego Padres, during the eighth ining at Dodger Stadium on September 29, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run to tie the game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run to tie the game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger hits a solo home run in front of Victor Caratini #17 of the San Diego Padres, to tie the Padres 9-9, during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 29, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Dodger fans catch the home run hit by Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers to tie the game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger drops hit bat after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a solo home run to tie the game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger celebrates a solo home run, to tie the San Diego Padres 9-9, during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 29, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a solo home run to tie the game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a solo home run to tie the game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammate Justin Turner #10 after hitting a solo home run to tie the game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, right, celebrates with teammate Justin Turner after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning on Wednesday night to tie their game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers hit four home runs in the eighth inning to rally for an 11-9 win that kept them two games back of the Giants in the NL West race. “I don’t think anyone expects that, to be honest, but that’s the kind of talent that we have. Lineup’s really deep,” Bellinger said. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, left, celebrates with manager Dave Roberts after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hugs Albert Pujols after hitting a solo home run to tie the game against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his two run go ahead home run against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Corey Seager, right, hits a two-run home run as San Diego Padres catcher Victor Caratini watches during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • The Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates as he rounds first after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • The Dodgers’ Corey Seager, left, celebrates with first base coach Clayton McCullough after hitting a tiebreaking two-run home run against the Padres in the eighth inning of Wednesday night’s game at Dodger Stadium. It was the last of the Dodgers’ four home runs that inning and gave them an 11-9 win that kept them two games behind the NL West-leading Giants with four games left in the regular season. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

  • Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds first base after hitting a two run go ahead home run against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Corey Seager celebrates his two run homerun with Justin Turner #10, to take a 11-9 lead over the San Diego Padres, during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 29, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, center, and Manager Dave Roberts, right, greet Corey Seager as he returns to the dugout after hitting a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 11-9 victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • The Dodgers’ Corey Seager, left, celebrates with Mookie Betts, center, and manager Dave Roberts after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

  • Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hugs Albert Pujols after hitting a two run go ahead home run against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Relief pitcher Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Relief pitcher Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after defeating the San Diego Padres 11-9 during a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, celebrates an 11-9 victory over the San Diego Padres with Corey Seager, center, and Trea Turner at Dodger Stadium on September 29, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES ― The Dodgers saved their best for last Wednesday night.

With four games left in the regular season, they’ll have to make it a recurring theme.

Trailing the San Diego Padres by three runs with six outs to go, the Dodgers hit four home runs in the eighth inning to complete a wild, come-from-behind 11-9 victory.

Home runs by Max Muncy, AJ Pollock, Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager pushed five runs across the plate, allowing the Dodgers to erase a 9-6 deficit. Seager’s two-run blast off right-hander Nabil Crismatt was the final dagger.

“Just trying to get the run in,” Seager said. “That was the only thought.”

The win allowed the Dodgers (102-56) to keep pace with the first-place San Francisco Giants (104-54) in the National League West standings.

The Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 1-0, earlier Thursday night. They lead the Dodgers by two games with four to play themselves, and their magic number to clinch the division title is down to three. The NL West runner-up will host the St. Louis Cardinals in the wild-card game on Oct. 6.

Pollock also homered in the first inning to give the Dodgers an early 4-0 lead. Mookie Betts began the Dodgers’ comeback from a 9-5 deficit with a solo home run in the seventh.

Seager went 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Pollock and Muncy each had two of the Dodgers’ 12 hits. Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to 15 games with an RBI single in the first inning.

Justin Turner came off the bench to hit a double in the eighth inning ahead of Seager’s game-winning blast. Turner’s 357-foot fly ball clanged off the left-field wall, falling a few feet shy of a five-homer inning.

David Price (5-2) was credited with the victory after pitching a scoreless eighth inning, and Kenley Jansen tossed a perfect ninth to convert his 37th save. The Dodgers have won eight consecutive games against the Padres (78-80).

This one will be remembered for a homer-happy inning unlike any other.

“That was a crazy inning,” Bellinger said, “maybe the craziest I’ve been a part of.”

After blowing leads of 4-0 and 5-1 early, the Dodgers saw the Padres rough up starter Max Scherzer for six runs (five earned) in 5⅓ innings. In the seventh inning, San Diego scored three more runs against Brusdar Graterol to take a 9-5 lead.

The same Padres team that committed two errors in the field just one day earlier turned the tables against Scherzer. The right-hander threw 97 pitches and induced only nine swing-and-misses.

For Scherzer, his last two starts amount to a rare lapse of dominance. He’s allowed five earned runs in back-to-back outings. He began the day with a 2.28 ERA, best in the National League, but now trails Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes, 2.46 to 2.29.

“He just didn’t have good command,” Manager Dave Roberts said of Scherzer. “At times the curveball was good. The cutter and changeup just weren’t commanded. He’s picked us up many times over. We picked him up.”

In what might have been his final start of the regular season, Scherzer also went 0 for 2 at the plate. He has failed to reach base in any of his 61 plate appearances this season, which would break the previous record held by Wei-Yin Chen.

On a night when hard contact was easy to come by for the Padres, the Dodgers’ defense was porous. San Diego tied the score at 5-5 in the fourth inning when Seager allowed a routine ground ball to glance off his glove, turning the potential third out into an unearned run. Chris Taylor flubbed an easy ground ball earlier in the same inning.

The Dodgers’ most costly error was officially recorded as a triple off the bat of Wil Myers in the sixth inning. It came at the expense of Gavin Lux.

Lux, making his sixth career start in center field, took his eye off Myers’ deep fly ball at the last second. He dropped the ball then crashed violently into the wall.

Lux sustained a neck stinger, Roberts said, and will be re-evaluated Thursday morning. He was replaced by Bellinger, whose defense in center field has been steady.

Bellinger’s bat is another story. He began the day hitting .158, the lowest batting average of any hitter with at least 300 plate appearances this season. He ended the day by treating the announced home crowd of 45,366 to a game-tying home run.

“He’s in a good place mentally, a good place physically,” Roberts said of Bellinger. “He was ready when called upon. His teammates were really excited for him.”

The teams will play once more Thursday as the Dodgers attempt to catch the Giants. A wild card berth would end their streak of division titles at eight.

OCVarsity Gridiron: Fryer and Albano disagree on winner of Mater Dei-St. John Bosco

Steve Fryer and Dan Albano talk about the top games on the schedule in Week 6, which is filled with exciting contests. The Game of the Week is Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco. See what they say about the matchup and their reasons for picking different winners. They also discuss and make picks for La Habra-Sunny Hills, Corona del Mar-Los Alamitos, Tustin-Pacifica and Sierra Canyon-Mission Viejo.

Asia shares mostly fall on China energy, Evergrande worries

By YURI KAGEYAMA

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly fell Tuesday as concerns about China chipped away at investor optimism following a mixed finish on Wall Street.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.3% to 30,139.65. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 1% to 7,314.10. South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.8% to 3,109.07. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 1.7% to 24,619.28. The Shanghai Composite index climbed 0.3% to 3,594.18.

A power crunch in some parts of China has shut down factories and left some households without electricity under an effort to meet official energy use targets. That could have global repercussions, including on supplies needed for manufacturing throughout Asia, coming right ahead of the year-end shopping season.

The woes come on top of parts and raw material shortages that already ail regional manufacturing because of supply disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Analysts say the power shortage in China could become prolonged as the demand for coal and natural gas surges during the winter.

Another lingering market worry resonating from China is the possible collapse of one of China’s biggest real estate developers, Evergrande Group, which is struggling to avoid a default on billions of dollars of debt.

“Crucially, contagion risks loom large due to transmission within the property sector due to similar risks to home-buyers and banks via balance sheet exposures,” said Vishnu Varathan of the Asia & Oceania Treasury Department at Mizuho Bank. “Fact is Evergrande is at best a risk that has temporarily abated but is far from abolished.”

The vote for the leader of Japan’s ruling party, set for Wednesday, was also weighing on Tokyo trading, according to analysts, as players took a wait-and-see attitude. Four candidates are in the race to replace Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who is stepping down after a year in office. No major economic or foreign policy changes are expected, as the pro-U.S. Liberal Democratic Party has ruled Japan almost continually in recent decades.

Wall Street’s major stock indexes ended mixed as losses by technology and health care companies outweighed gains elsewhere in the market.

The S&P 500 fell 0.3% to 4,443.11, ending a three-day winning streak for the benchmark index, which last week notched its first weekly gain in three weeks. The Nasdaq dropped 0.5% to 14,969.97, while the Dow managed a 0.2% gain to 34,869.37. The Russell 2000 picked up 1.5% to 2,281, a sign that investors are still confident about future economic growth.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury was steady at 1.49%. It was at 1.31% a week ago, as market jitters drove investors to shift money into bonds, which lowers their yield. It has been climbing for the past week.

The yield influences interest rates on mortgages and other consumer loans, so when it rises it allows lenders to charge higher rates. Bank of America gained 2.7%.

U.S. markets have had a choppy month so far and the S&P 500 is on pace to shed 1.8% in September, which would mark the first monthly loss since January. Investors have been trying to gauge just how much room the economy has to grow amid waves of COVID-19 crimping consumer spending and job growth while inflation remains a concern.

Consumer spending has been the key driver for the economic recovery and it has been crimped in part by rising cases of COVID-19 because of the highly contagious delta variant, which remains a huge concern in Asia.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude added 25 cents to $75.70 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It gained $1.47 to $75.45 per barrel on Monday.

Brent crude, the international standard, rose 21 cents to $79.74 a barrel.

In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 111.16 Japanese yen from 110.99 yen. The euro cost $1.1695, inching down from $1.1700.

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AP Business Writers Damian J. Troise, Alex Veiga and Ken Sweet contributed.

Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

Back to the Garden

Painted faces and peace signs, flowers in their hair and tie-dye everywhere – hippies and hippie wannabes were out in force as hundreds of Laguna Woods Village residents and their guests gathered for the Laguna Woodstock festival on Saturday, Sept. 18.

Hosted by the Village’s Baby Boomers Club, the fest paid tribute to music of the era with seven bands playing continuously from 2 until 9:30 p.m. on the patios of the community’s Clubhouse 2.

The hippie-era cover band and Village favorite Love Saves the Day headlined the show. Also performing were Southland Mega Groove and American Made, along with homegrown acts Rock of Ages, the Nomads, the Woods Combo and Band X.

It was billed as “music made for dancing” – and it was just like in the hippie days, even if only for a little while.

  • Laguna Woods residents and guests dance to 60s era music at the Laguna Woodstock festival outside Clubhouse 2 on Saturday, Sept. 18. Hundreds of people turned out for the daylong music fest.
    (Photo by Mark Rabinowitch)

  • A woman is dressed in hippie garb and dances to 60s era music at the Laguna Woodstock festival outside Clubhouse 2 on Saturday, Sept. 18. Hundreds of people turned out for the daylong music fest.
    (Photo by Mark Rabinowitch)

  • Moqui Lund sings with the Woods Combo at the Laguna Woodstock festival on Saturday, Sept. 18.
    (Photo by Mark Rabinowitch)

  • Signs line a walkway as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Lance Miller (in red) dances in the crowd at the Laguna Woodstock festival Sept. 18.
    (Photo by Mark Rabinowitch)

  • Face painting, or in this case, leg painting, was part of the fun at Laguna Woodstock on Sept. 18.
    (Photo by David Dearing)

  • A decoration at the Laguna Woodstock festival Sept. 18.
    (Photo by Mark Rabinowitch)

  • A sign at the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18.
    (Photo by Mark Rabinowitch)

  • Women have flowers in their hair at the Laguna Woodstock festival Sept. 18.
    (Photo by David Dearing)

  • Signs line a walkway at Laguna Woodstock outside Clubhouse 2 on Saturday, Sept. 18.
    (Photo by Mark Rabinowitch)

  • Bras hang from a tree at the Laguna Woodstock festival outside Clubhouse 2 on Saturday, Sept. 18.
    (Photo by Mark Rabinowitch)

  • Laguna Woods residents and guests dance to 60s era music at the Laguna Woodstock festival outside Clubhouse 2 on Saturday, Sept. 18. Hundreds of people turned out for the daylong music fest.
    (Photo by Mark Rabinowitch)

  • Hundreds of people eat and drink as they hang out while attending the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Larry and Robin Liquori dance while dressed as Sonny and Cher as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Lance Miller dances with his wife, Brenda as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Howard Fox has some fun with his “I smell hippies” Reagan t-shirt as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Michelle Iliesou looks the part as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • The band Southland Mega Groove performs as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • The band Southland Mega Groove performs as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Lance Miller looks the part as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Lillian Chesley looks the part as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Hundreds of people dance to live bands as they attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Dan Flannagan looks the part as hundreds of people attend the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Laguna Woods.
    (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

  • Ruby and her band Love Saves the Day perform at the Laguna Woodstock festival Saturday, Sept. 18, in Laguna Woods Village.
    (Photo by David Dearing)

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Ryder Cup: Dustin Johnson is first American since 1979 to go 4-0 in team play

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Dustin Johnson helped the United States take a commanding lead in the Ryder Cup by doing something no American golfer has accomplished in over four decades — sweeping all four of his team matches.

Johnson went undefeated over two days at Whistling Straits to help the U.S. lead Europe 11-5 heading into Sunday’s singles matches. He’s the first American since Larry Nelson in 1979 to go 4-0 in team play.

“Everything’s been working for Dustin,” said Collin Morikawa, who teamed with Johnson on three of those victories.

The 37-year-old Johnson is the oldest player on a young U.S. roster and has provided occasional guidance to a team featuring six Ryder Cup rookies. Johnson entered this week with a 7-9 record in four previous Ryder Cup appearances.

“We are all close, so we all talk and share our experiences, especially guys who have played in them,” Johnson said. “Yeah, I’ve definitely talked to (teammates), especially all the guys who haven’t played before.”

But the best way he’s led is by example. He teamed up with Ryder Cup rookies in each of his victories.

Johnson and Morikawa won 3 and 2 over Paul Casey and Viktor Hovland in Friday’s foursomes competition. They won in foursomes again Saturday 2 and 1 over Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton. And they followed that up Saturday afternoon by beating Ian Poulter and Rory McIlroy 4 and 3 in a best-ball matchup.

Johnson also joined forces with Xander Schauffele to win a Friday afternoon best-ball competition 2 and 1 over Bernd Wiesberger and Paul Casey.

This represents a dramatic turnaround from his last Ryder Cup appearance. Johnson went 1-4 three years ago when the U.S. lost 17 1/2-10 1/2 outside of Paris.

“The golf course suits me a little bit better here than Paris, for sure,” Johnson said. “But yeah, I mean, that’s just how it goes.”

A singles victory over Casey on Sunday would enable Johnson to match the accomplishment of Nelson, who beat Seve Ballesteros in singles to finish 5-0 while leading the U.S. to a victory in 1979. Francesco Molinari produced Europe’s first 5-0 Ryder Cup performance three years ago.

Johnson’s teams never trailed in any of his last three matches. Johnson and Morikawa won the first three holes in their Saturday morning match and were up four through 10 holes. When the lead dropped to one, they won the 15th hole to regain control.

In their afternoon match, they broke a tie and pulled ahead for good by winning three straight holes from No. 6-8.

Johnson’s contributions have gone beyond those four victories. Morikawa says Johnson also has provided leadership to the guys without as much Ryder Cup experience.

“He’s a veteran,” Morikawa said. “He’s the oldest guy on our team, and it’s a very quiet leadership, but he makes his presence known. When he needs to say something, he says something.”

Johnson may feel the need to say something before Sunday’s singles matches. He was on the 2012 U.S. team that blew a 10-6 lead in the final day of competition as Europe rallied to win 14 ½-13 ½ at Medinah.

He wants to make sure the U.S. doesn’t squander a even bigger advantage this time.

“You know, it’s not over,” Johnson said. “We’ve still got to go out, and everybody needs to play well.”