Cubs Blank Brewers, Cardinals Top Pirates

Cubs Blank Brewers

(Milwaukee, WI) -- Jason Hammel allowed only three hits over seven innings as the Cubs blanked the Brewers 4-0 in Milwaukee. Hammel struck out seven as he improved to 4-1. Starlin Castro hit two homers for Chicago, which snapped a four-game slide. Wily Peralta took his first loss of the year after giving up three runs in seven innings. He is 3-1 for Milwaukee, which had won three in-a-row.

The Cubs open a three-game series with the Reds tonight in Cincinnati. Chicago sends Jeff Samardzija to the hill in search of his first victory. The Reds counter with Alfredo Simon, who is 3-1 on the year. First pitch from Great American Ballpark is set for 6:10.

Former Cubs closer Jose Veras is on the shelf. Chicago placed Veras on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a left oblique strain. Veras hits the DL after pitching to a 15.88 ERA in his first six games. Right-hander Brian Schlitter was recalled to take his place.

Cardinals Down Pirates

(St. Louis, MO) -- Adam Wainwright allowed only three hits across eight inning of scoreless baseball as the Cardinals crushed the Pirates 7-0 from Busch Stadium. Jhonny Peralta hit two homers and drove in four runs for St. Louis, which took two of three in the series. Matt Carpenter added two hits and a run scored in the win. Edinson Volquez allowed six runs in five-and-two-thirds innings for the loss. He also had one of the three hits for Pittsburgh, which has lost five of six.

The Cardinals are demoting second baseman Kolten Wong and outfielder Shane Robinson. Each have been optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Infielder Greg Garcia and outfielder Randal Grichuk have each been recalled from the Redbirds.

The Cardinals open up a three-game series with the Brewers tonight at Busch Stadium. St. Louis sends Michael Wacha and his 2-2 record to the mound.  Milwaukee counters with Yovani Gallardo, who is 2-0 this season. First pitch is set for 7:15.

White Sox Slam Rays

(Chicago, IL) -- Jose Abreu hit his 10th home run and knocked in four runs to power the White Sox to a 9-2 win over the Rays at U.S. Cellular Field. Adam Eaton was 3-for-5 with two runs scored for Chicago, which has won two of the first three in this four-game series. Scott Carroll allowed two runs in seven-and-a-third innings for the win in his major league debut. David Price fell to 3-2 after giving up eight runs in six innings. Ben Zobrist went 2-for-4 with a run scored for Tampa Bay, which has lost four of five.

The White Sox and Rays close out their four-game series tonight at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago sends Andre Rienzo to the mound sporting a 1-0 record. Tampa Bay counters with Jake Odorizzi, who is 1-2. First pitch is set for 7:10.

The White Sox are without third baseman Conor Gillaspie. The Sox placed Gillaspie on the 15-day disabled list with a right hand contusion. He had been hitting .302 with seven doubles in 16 games. Right-hander Hector Noesi was recalled to take his place.

Mets Blank Marlins

(Flushing, NY) -- Dillon Gee tossed eight innings of scoreless ball to help the Mets beat the Marlins 4-0 from Citi Field.  Gee moved to 2-1 despite walking four batters. Chris Young hit a two-run homer for New York, which has won four of five.  David Wright had an RBI double in the win. The Marlins were held to just three hits. Christian Yelich was 0-for-11 in the three-game series after hitting in 17 straight games. Tom Koehler allowed all the runs for the loss. The Marlins have lost three of four.

Braves Outlast Reds In 10

(Atlanta, GA) -- Freddie Freeman singled in the winning run during the bottom of the 10th inning as the Braves beat the Reds 1-0 from Turner Field. Julio Teheran allowed three hits and struck out five in eight scoreless innings for a no decision. Ian Thomas picked up the win in relief for Atlanta, which swept the three-game series. Johnny Cueto struck out 11 while walking three and giving up three hits in eight scoreless innings. J.J. Hoover took the loss. Cincinnati had won three straight heading into this series.

Phillies Pop Diamondbacks

(Phoenix, AZ) -- A.J. Burnett tossed eight scoreless innings to power the Phillies past the Diamondbacks 2-0 from Phoenix. Burnett picked up his first win of the season while striking out eight. Jonathan Papelbon locked up save number eight. Chase Utley was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a run driven in for Philadelphia, which has won three of four. Brandon McCarthy stayed winless at 0-5 despite a solid outing. He struck out 12 over seven innings while allowing the two runs. Chris Owings went 2-for-3 for Arizona, which has lost two straight.

Rockies Sink Dodgers

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Jorge De La Rosa pitched seven strong innings to help the Rockies grab a 6-1 win over the Dodgers in the finale of their three-game series from Chavez Ravine.  De La Rosa improved to 2-and-3, allowing one run on four hits for Colorado, which took two of three to move to 14-12. Brandon Barnes compiled three hits and drove in two, while Josh Rutledge connected for a three-run homer. Hyun-Jin Ryu matched his shortest outing in seven starts. He pitched five-plus innings and gave up six runs to take his second loss. Adrian Gonzalez drove in the only run for the Dodgers, who are also 14-12.

Blue Jays Beat Red Sox

(Toronto, Ontario) -- R.A. Dickey tossed six-and-a-third innings of one-run ball to guide the Blue Jays to a 7-1 win over the Red Sox in Toronto. Dickey improved to 2-3. Brett Lawrie hit a solo shot and knocked in two runs while Edwin Encarnacion was also 2-for-4 with two RBI for Toronto, which snapped a four-game slide. Jackie Bradley Jr. drove in the lone run for Boston, which took the first two of the three-game set. Jon Lester allowed four runs in seven innings to drop to 2-4.

Royals Roll Orioles

(Baltimore, MD) -- James Shields gave up only three hits and two runs to guide the Royals to a 9-3 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards. Shields struck out six in seven innings as he moved to 3-2. Omar Infante hit a two-run homer and drove in six for Kansas City, which took two of three in the series. Alex Gordon added two RBI for KC. Nelson Cruz lifted a two-run homer for Baltimore, which had won three of four heading into the set. Miguel Gonzalez gave up four runs in six innings for the loss.

Astros Crush A's

(Houston, TX) -- Collin McHugh pitched into the ninth, and Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer to help the Astros defeat the Athletics 5-1 from Houston. McHugh struck out seven over 8 2/3 innings of two-hit, one-run ball for his second win. Jonathan Villar also had two RBI four Houston, which earned a split of the four-game series. Alberto Callaspo drove in the only run for Oakland, which has lost five of seven. Tommy Milone allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings for the loss.

Seager Lifts Mariners Past Rangers

(Seattle, WA) -- Kyle Seager hit a three-run homer off Alexi Ogando in the eighth to lift the Mariners to a 6-5 victory over the Rangers at Safeco Field. Seager finished with two home runs and four RBI as Seattle took two of three from the Rangers. Danny Farquhar grabbed the win in relief after starter Brandon Maurer was chased after 3 2/3 innings of work and five earned runs. Fernando Rodney was lights out in the ninth for his fifth save. Ogando fell to 1-2 after giving up three runs in the eighth inning. Starter Matt Harrison went six strong innings, giving up three hits and two runs in his first Major League action since 2013. Leonys Martin had a two-run single in the loss.

Angels' Miscues Help Yankees Win

(Bronx, NY) -- Two walks, a passed ball and a wild pitch allowed Jacoby Ellsbury to score in the eighth and lift the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Angels in the Bronx. Mark Teixeira tied the game in the seventh with a solo homer for New York. Adam Warren notched the win after Masahiro Tanaka struck out 11 over six-and-a-third innings of two-run ball. David Robertson notched his fourth save for the Yanks, who have won five out of seven. Garrett Richards allowed two runs over seven innings in the start for Los Angeles, but Michael Kohn took the loss. Mike Trout was 2-for-4 while David Freese hit a solo homer as the Angels lost their third in four outings.

Giants Drop Indians

(San Francisco, CA) -- Brandon Hicks belted a walk-off, three-run homer to lift the Giants to a 4-1 win over the Indians at AT&T Park.  Brandon Crawford doubled in the other run during the fourth inning. Ryan Vogelsong allowed two hits over seven shutout innings for San Francisco, which has won four in-a-row. Sergio Romo moved to 2-and-0 out of the bullpen. Yan Gomes hit a solo home run for Cleveland, which had won four of five prior to the three-game sweep. Danny Salazar gave up the one run over seven innings with eight strikeouts for a no decision. Cody Allen took the loss.

Monday, April 28 Scoreboard

MLB National League

New York Mets 4, Miami Marlins 0

Atlanta Braves 1, Cincinnati Reds 0 (10 inn)

San Diego Padres 4, Washington Nationals 2

Chicago Cubs 4, Milwaukee Brewers 0

St. Louis Cardinals 7, Pittsburgh Pirates 0

Philadelphia Phillies 2, Arizona Diamondbacks 0

Colorado Rockies 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

MLB American League

Toronto Blue Jays 7, Boston Red Sox 1

Kansas City Royals 9, Baltimore Orioles 3

Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins, (postponed)

Houston Astros 5, Oakland Athletics 1

Chicago White Sox 9, Tampa Bay Rays 2

Seattle Mariners 6, Texas Rangers 5

New York Yankees 3, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2

MLB Interleague

San Francisco Giants 4, Cleveland Indians 1

Tuesday, April 29 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB National League

6:10 p.m. - Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds

7:15 p.m. - Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals

8:40 p.m. - Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks

9:15 p.m. - San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants

MLB American League

7:05 p.m. - Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers

7:10 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Chicago White Sox

9:05 p.m. - Cleveland Indians at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

MLB Interleague

No Games Scheduled