Cubs Get Past Nationals, Dodgers Blank Cardinals

Cubs Get Past Nationals

(Chicago, IL) -- Justin Ruggiano doubled in two in the seventh to lift the Cubs in a 5-3 win over the Nationals at Wrigley Field. Starlin Castro had a two-run single while Wellington Castillo also drove in a run. Neil Ramirez earned the win in relief while Hector Rondon notched his ninth save. Chicago has won two of three since a three-game slide. Denard Span had a two-run double while Anthony Rendon also drove in a run for Washington. Craig Stammen suffered the loss in relief for the Nats, who have dropped two straight since a four-game win streak.

The Cubs and Nationals continue their four-game series at Wrigley Field this afternoon. Chicago sends Jason Hammel and his 6-5 record to the hill.  Washington counters with Tanner Roark, who is 7-4. First pitch is set for 3:05.

Manny Ramirez made his debut for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs last night in the second game of a doubleheader with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Ramirez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts while playing left field. The Cubs signed Ramirez as a player-coach in late May.  

Dodgers Blank Cardinals

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Justin Turner drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Dodgers to a 1-0 win over the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. Josh Beckett pitched seven scoreless innings for the no-decision en route to Los Angeles' third straight win. Brian Wilson picked up the win in relief and Kenley Jansen notched his 24th save. Adam Wainwright took the tough loss after striking out seven in eight innings of one-run ball. St. Louis registered five hits from five different players in its second loss in three games.

Blue Jays Wax White Sox

(Toronto, Ontario) -- J.A. Happ scattered four hits over seven-and-two-thirds shutout innings as the Blue Jays blanked the White Sox 7-0 at Rogers Centre.  Happ struck out eight while improving to 7-4. Adam Lind went 3-for-5 with three RBI while Jose Reyes finished 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs. Toronto has won three of its last four. Scott Carroll allowed five runs over five frames and fell to 2-and-4 for Chicago. Moises Sierra went 2-for-3 with a double for the Sox, who have lost seven of their last eight.

The White Sox and Blue Jays continue their four-game series from Rogers Centre tonight. John Danks takes his 6-6 record to the hill for Chicago. Toronto counters with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who is also 6-6. First pitch is scheduled for 6:07.

Pirates Top Mets

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- Gregory Polanco blasted a three-run homer to power the Pirates to a 5-2 win over the Mets at PNC Park. Polanco finished 2-for-3 with four RBI for Pittsburgh, which has won five of six. Pedro Alvarez went 3-for-4 for the Bucs. Vance Worley allowed one run in seven innings for his second win. Lucas Duda hit a solo homer for New York, which has lost two straight. Daisuke Matsuzaka [[ DICE-kay MOT-soo-ZAH-kuh ]] allowed five runs in six frames for the loss.

Phillies Beat Marlins In 14

(Philadelphia, PA) -- Chase Utley hit a walk-off, two-run homer to lift the Phillies to a 5-3 win over the Marlins in the 14th inning. The win gave the Phils a split of the four-game series at Citizens Bank Park. Carlos Ruiz also drove in a run for Philadelphia while Ben Revere was 3-for-6 with a run scored. Cole Hamels allowed three runs in seven innings for a no decision. Justin De Fratus picked up the win. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna each left the yard for Miami, which has lost six of nine. Tom Koehler allowed two runs in six frames while Chris Hatcher took the loss.

Brewers Drop Rockies

(Milwaukee, WI) -- Aramis Ramirez and Scooter Gennett each hit a two-run homer as the Brewers took down the Rockies 7-4 at Miller Park. Rickie Weeks went 3-for-5 and hit a solo shot for Milwaukee, which has won six of eight. Wily Peralta struck out seven in six frames to improve to 9-5, and Francisco Rodriguez notched his league-leading 26th save. Christian Friedrich fanned eight but surrendered five runs in just four-plus frames to fall to 0-2 for the Rockies, who have lost nine of their last 10. Ryan Wheeler hit a grand slam in the fourth inning.

Reds Clip Giants

(San Francisco, CA) -- Mike Leake struck out 12 in eight innings of one-run ball as the Reds topped the Giants 3-1 at AT&T Park. Leake improved to 6-and-6 with the win and Aroldis Chapman picked up his 15th save for Cincinnati, which has won five of six. Brandon Phillips hit a solo shot and Ryan Ludwick and Zack Cosart each drove in a run in the win. Ryan Vogelsong surrendered just one run and fanned seven in six frames in the tough-luck loss. Adam Duvall hit a solo homer in the seventh for the Giants only run. San Fran has lost three of four and 12 of its last 16.

Angels Hold On To Sweep Twins

(Anaheim, CA) -- Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with two RBI to back seven strong innings from Jered Weaver as the Angels topped the Twins 6-4 at Angel Stadium. Mike Trout added two hits and two RBI for Los Angeles, which swept the three-game series and has won six straight overall. Weaver struck out six while allowing eight hits and one run to improve to 8-6. After Ernesto Frieri was charged with three runs in the ninth, Joe Smith got the final out for his seventh save. Ricky Nolasco dropped to 4-6 with the loss. Joe Mauer had a three-run double for Minnesota in defeat.

Porcello Pitches Tigers Past Rangers

(Arlington, TX) -- Rick Porcello tossed a three-hit shutout as the Tigers downed the Rangers 6-0 at Globe Life Park. Porcello struck out six and walked three while improving to 10-4. Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-5 with an RBI while Victor Martinez finished 2-for-3 with two walks. Austin Jackson drove in two as Detroit won its seventh straight. Leonys Martin singled and walked for Texas in defeat. Nick Martinez fell to 1-5 after allowing four runs in two-and-a-third innings as the Rangers lost their eighth in-a-row.

Astros Power Past Braves To Avoid Sweep

(Houston, TX) -- Matt Dominguez belted a three-run homer and George Springer added a solo shot to power the Astros to a 6-1 win over the Braves at Minute Maid Park. Jon Singleton and Jesus Guzman also drove in runs for Houston, which avoided a three-game Interleague sweep. Jarred Cosart allowed just six hits and one run in seven innings to improve to 8-5 with the win. Mike Minor was touched for five runs in six innings of work to slip to 2-and-5 with the loss. Justin Upton had two of the Astros' six hits in defeat. Tommy La Stella plated the lone run with a first inning sac-fly.

Thursday, June 26 Scoreboard

MLB National League

Pittsburgh Pirates 5, New York Mets 2

Philadelphia Phillies 5, Miami Marlins 3 (14 inn)

Chicago Cubs 5, Washington Nationals 3

Milwaukee Brewers 7, Colorado Rockies 4

Los Angeles Dodgers 1, St. Louis Cardinals 0

Cincinnati Reds 3, San Francisco Giants 1

MLB American League

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 6, Minnesota Twins 4

Toronto Blue Jays 7, Chicago White Sox 0

Detroit Tigers 6, Texas Rangers 0

MLB Interleague

Houston Astros 6, Atlanta Braves 1

Friday, June 27 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB National League

3:05 p.m. - Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs

6:05 p.m. - Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies

6:05 p.m. - New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates

7:10 p.m. - Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers

9:10 p.m. - St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers

9:10 p.m. - Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres

9:15 p.m. - Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants

MLB American League

12:05 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles (G1)

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

6:05 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles (G2)

6:07 p.m. - Chicago White Sox at Toronto Blue Jays

7:05 p.m. - Minnesota Twins at Texas Rangers

7:10 p.m. - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Kansas City Royals

7:10 p.m. - Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros

9:10 p.m. - Cleveland Indians at Seattle Mariners

MLB Interleague

6:10 p.m. - Oakland Athletics at Miami Marlins