Pirates Rally Past Cubs, Cardinals Host Cubs Tonight

Snider, Alvarez Homers Rally Pirates Past Cubs

(Chicago, IL) -- Travis Snider and Pedro Alvarez both homered in a five-run seventh inning to rally the Pirates to a 5-4 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.  Snider hit a two-run shot off Brian Schlitter and Alvarez connected for his go-ahead blast off James Russell. Gerrit Cole struck out 10 over six innings of four-run ball in a no-decision. Mark Melancon got the win and Jason Grilli his third save.  Pittsburgh has won three of its last four to improve to 6-3. Russell took the loss for Chicago. Starlin Castro and Welington Castillo each had RBI singles for the Cubs, who fell to 3-6 on the season.

Cardinals Host Cubs

(St. Louis, MO) -- The Cardinals clash with the Cubs tonight in the first of three games at Busch Stadium. The Cards send Joe Kelly to the hill while the Cubs give the nod to Jeff Samardjiza. St. Louis took two of three last series against the Reds. The Cubs lost their three-game set with Pittsburgh.

White Sox Sink Indians

(Chicago, IL) -- Jose Abreu had his second multi-homer game in three outings to help the White Sox sink the Indians 7-3 at U.S. Cellular Field. Abreu ended 2-for-4 with three RBI for Chicago, which improved to 5-5. Adam Eaton went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Sox. John Danks allowed three runs in six frames for the win. Danny Salazar struck out 10 but gave up five runs in 3 2/3 innings for the loss. Asdrubal Cabrera lifted a solo shot and scored twice for Cleveland, which dropped to 5-5.

The White Sox will play the rest of the year without outfielder Avisail Garcia. He has a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will have season-ending surgery. Garcia was hurt diving for a line drive in Wednesday's game at Colorado. Initial X-rays were negative for fracture, separation or dislocation, but an MRI later revealed the tear. The 22-year-old Garcia was batting .267 with two home runs this season.  

Nationals Maul Marlins

(Washington, DC) -- Ian Desmond hit a grand slam to help the Nationals roll the Marlins 7-1 from Nationals Park. Jayson Werth also went deep for the second straight game for Washington, which completed the three-game sweep to move to 7-2. Bryce Harper knocked in a run as well. Stephen Strasburg struck out 12 in 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball for the win. Marcell Ozuna lifted a solo homer for Miami, which dipped to 5-5. Tom Koehler allowed two runs in six innings for the loss.

Brewers Sweep Phillies

(Philadelphia, PA) -- The Brewers completed a three-game sweep of the Phillies with a 6-2 win at Citizens Bank Park. Carlos Gomez had three hits and an RBI, while Khris Davis drove in two with two hits as Milwaukee won its sixth straight to improve to 7-2. Marco Estrada tossed six innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts to earn his first victory. Marlon Byrd hit a two-run shot to account for Philadelphia's offense. Cliff Lee took the loss after giving up three runs in six innings with eight K's. The Phillies are 3-6.

Mets Beat Braves In Rubber Match

(Atlanta, GA) -- Juan Lagares singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Mets rallied to beat the Braves 6-4 in the rubber match of a three-game series at Turner Field. Daniel Murphy went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Eric Young Jr. had three hits, three steals and scored four runs for the Mets, who improved to 4-5 on the year. Carlos Torres tossed two scoreless innings to pick up the win and move to 2-0. Jose Valverde closed it out for his second save. Justin Upton homered twice and knocked in three for the Braves, who have dropped three-of-four. Luis Avilan suffered the loss.

Diamondbacks Rally Past Giants In 10 Innings

(San Francisco, CA) -- Tony Campana singled in the winning run in the top of the 10th inning to lift the Diamondbacks past the Giants 6-5 in the rubber match of a three-game series at AT&T Park. Campana also plated the tying run on an infield single in the eighth inning. He finished 4-for-6, while Cliff Pennington went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for Arizona, which has won three-of-four to up its record to 4-8. J.J. Putz was credited with the win and Addison Reed closed it out for his third save.  Michael Morse had a two-run double and scored once. Buster Posey drove in a run and scored a run for the Giants, who slipped to 6-4. Yusmeiro Petit suffered his first loss.

A's Complete Sweep Of Twins

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Josh Donaldson and Sam Fuld each hit two-run homers to help power the A's to a 6-1 win over the Twins at Target Field. Donaldson also had an RBI single for Oakland, which swept the three-game series. Dan Straily allowed just three hits and one run over seven innings for his first win of the season. The A's have won four straight overall. Mike Pelfrey was tagged for nine hits and all six runs in five-plus innings of work to fall to 0-and-2.  Brian Dozier staked Minnesota to a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the first. Jason Kubel and Josmil Pinto had the other hits for the Twins, who are now 3-6.

Pineda, Yankees Slow Down Red Sox

(Bronx, NY) -- It was the Michael Pineda the Yankees thought they were getting from the Mariners as they dropped the Red Sox, 4-1, at Yankee Stadium in the opener of a four-game set. Pineda struck out seven in six innings while allowing one run on four hits. Brian McCann snapped out of a slump with a hit and an RBI along with Dean Anna hitting his first career home run. David Phelps earned the save after getting seven outs. New York got back to .500 at 5-5.  Boston's only run came on a solo shot by Daniel Nava. Clay Buchholz allowed four runs, two earned, in six innings to fall to 0-1. The Red Sox are 4-and-6.

Astros Beat Blue Jays

(Toronto, Ontario) -- Jonathan Villar hit a three-run homer to help power the Astros to a 6-4 win over the Blue Jays in Toronto. Robbie Grossman and Jason Castro also left the yard for Houston, which improved to 4-6. Dallas Keuchel allowed one run while striking out six in seven innings for the win. Anthony Bass picked up the save. R.A. Dickey gave up five runs in seven frames for the loss. Colby Rasmus was 3-for-4 with a solo shot for Toronto, which dipped to 5-5.

Thursday, April 10 Scoreboard

MLB National League

Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Chicago Cubs 4

Washington Nationals 7, Miami Marlins 1

Milwaukee Brewers 6, Philadelphia Phillies 2

New York Mets 6, Atlanta Braves 4

Arizona Diamondbacks 6, San Francisco Giants 5 (10 inn)

MLB American League

Oakland Athletics 6, Minnesota Twins 1

New York Yankees 4, Boston Red Sox 1

Houston Astros 6, Toronto Blue Jays 4

Chicago White Sox 7, Cleveland Indians 3

MLB Interleague

No Games Scheduled

Friday, April 11 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB National League

6:05 p.m. - Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies

6:35 p.m. - Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves

7:10 p.m. - Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers

7:15 p.m. - Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals

8:40 p.m. - Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks

9:15 p.m. - Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants

MLB American League

6:05 p.m. - Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

6:05 p.m. - Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles

7:05 p.m. - Houston Astros at Texas Rangers

7:10 p.m. - Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox

7:10 p.m. - Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins

9:10 p.m. - Oakland Athletics at Seattle Mariners

MLB Interleague

6:10 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Cincinnati Reds

9:05 p.m. - New York Mets at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

9:10 p.m. - Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres