Cubs Cruise Past Rockies, Cardinals Avoid Sweep

Arrieta Helps Cubs Cruise Past Rockies

(Chicago, IL) -- Jake Arrieta struck out seven in seven innings as the Cubs beat the Rockies 3-1 at Wrigley Field. Arrieta improved to 6-2 after allowing just one run on three hits. Hector Rondon retired three straight batters after allowing back-to-back singles to start the ninth to notch his 14th save. Starlin Castro, Justin Ruggiano and Luis Valbuena all drove in runs without the luxury of a hit in the victory. Rockies starter Pedro Hernandez took the loss. He allowed three runs in five-and-two-thirds innings in his first start for Colorado. Nolan Arenado went to 2-for-4 with an RBI in the loss.

Braves Get Russell, Bonifacio From Cubs

(Atlanta, GA) -- The Braves are adding pitcher James Russell and utilityman Emilio Bonifacio from the Cubs. They acquired the duo from Chicago in exchange for catching prospect Victor Caratini. The left-handed Russell is 0-2 with a 3.51 ERA this season. Bonifacio is batting .279 with two home runs and 18 RBI.

Cardinals Rebound, Avoid Sweep By Padres

(San Diego, CA) -- Shelby Miller and three relievers combined on a three-hitter as the Cardinals beat the Padres 6-2 to avoid a three-game sweep from Petco Park.  Miller improved to 8-8 after throwing six innings of two-run ball. Oscar Taveras hit a two-run homer, and Matt Holiday drove in pair of runs in the victory. St. Louis roughed up rookie Odrisamer Despaigne for six runs on nine hits in five-and-two-thirds innings. Jedd Gyorko and Will Venable both connected for long balls in the loss.

Cardinals Deal For John Lackey

(St. Louis, MO) -- The St. Louis Cardinals are further bolstering their starting rotation for the stretch run. The Cards have acquired right-hander John Lackey, minor league pitcher Corey Littrell and cash from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for pitcher Joe Kelly and first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig.  Lackey is 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA this season. Cards General Manager John Mozeliak says Kelly and Craig have been instrumental in the team's success over the last few years.
 

White Sox Down Tigers For Series Victory

(Detroit, MI) -- Moises Sierra had four hits and Jose Abreu and Adam Eaton added three each to lift the White Sox to a 7-4 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park. Abreu extended his hitting streak to 20 games. Ronald Belisario improved to 4-7 in relief of John Danks. Jake Petricka earned his sixth save as the Sox took the rubber match of the three-game series. Drew Smyly, who was traded during the game, was knocked around for 11 hits and four runs in five innings of work. Reliever Joakim Soria took the loss. Torii Hunter and J.D. Martinez each went 2-for-3 with a home run for Detroit.

Phillies Pound Nationals

Washington, DC) -- Grady Sizemore had three hits and three RBI as the Phillies pounded the Nationals 10-4 in the opener of a four-game series in D.C. Marlon Byrd drove in two and scored twice, while Ben Revere went 4-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored for Philly, which has alternated wins and losses the last seven games. Cliff Lee, making just his third start since coming off the disabled list, left in the third inning with an elbow injury. Antonio Bastardo picked up the win in relief. Denard Span went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Nats, who have dropped three of four. Gio Gonzalez gave up five runs in three-and-two-thirds innings as he fell to 6-7 with the loss.

Reds Rip Marlins

(Miami, FL) -- Ryan Ludwick singled in two runs during a three-run eighth to lift the Reds to a 3-1 win over the Marlins from Miami. Johnny Cueto improved to 12-6 after seven innings of one-run ball. Aroldis Chapman picked up save number-24 for Cincinnati, which has won two of three. Giancarlo Stanton hit a first-inning homer for Miami, which has lost two in-a-row. Tom Koehler gave up two unearned runs in seven-plus frames for the loss.

Diamondbacks Top Pirates

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Andy Marte belted a pinch-hit two-run homer in his first big league at-bat in four years, as the Diamondbacks topped the Pirates 7-4 in the opener of a four-game series at Chase Field. Marte arrived to the ball park in the second inning after being called up from Triple-A Reno earlier in the day. Nick Ahmed hit his first career homer and Aaron Hill also went deep for the D'backs, who have won three of four. Oliver Perez picked up the win and Addison Reed notched his 27th save. Manager Kirk Gibson earned his franchise-record 338th win. Neil Walker homered and Russell Martin had a two-run double for the Bucs, who have lost two in-a-row since a three-game winning streak. Jeff Locke allowed six runs, four earned, in 5 1/3 frames as he fell to 2-3.

Dodgers Hold Off Braves

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Clayton Kershaw won the duel with Julio Teheran as the Dodgers snuck past the Braves, 2-1, to complete a three-game sweep at Chavez Ravine. Kershaw tossed a complete game allowing one run in the ninth innings with nine strikeouts. His record improved to 13-2. Yasiel Puig hit his 13th bomb of the season and Adrian Gonzalez drove in the other run for Los Angeles, which improved to 62-47 with its sixth straight win. Teheran gave up both runs in eight innings and also struck out nine on his way to his seventh loss. Justin Upton plated his 63rd RBI of the season. Atlanta fell to 58-51.

Angels Sneak By Orioles In Extras

(Baltimore, MD) -- The Angels avoided being swept by the Orioles with a 1-0 victory concluding with an Albert Pujols RBI single in the top of the 13th at Camden Yards. Tyler Skaggs had a no hitter going in the fifth inning, but had to be pulled with two outs because of a forearm issue. Reliever Hector Santiago picked up his third win and Huston Street nailed down his fourth save with Los Angeles, which improved to 64-43. Baltimore was held to five hits, two of which came from Caleb Joseph. The O's left nine men on base. Ryan Webb was tagged with the loss after Baltimore wasted seven shutout inning from starter Bud Norris. The O's fell to 60-47.

Mariners Top Indians

(Cleveland, OH) -- Mike Zunino hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth to give the Mariners a 6-5 win over the Indians at Progressive Field. Dustin Ackley hit a two-run shot while Robinson Cano and Logan Morrison chipped in an RBI each. Joe Beimel grabbed the win and Fernando Rodney locked up his 30th save. The Mariners have won two of their last three. Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana drove in two runs each for the Indians and Michael Brantley drove in a run and scored.  Bryan Shaw took the loss in relief for Cleveland, which has split decisions over the last four contests.

Royals Double Up Twins

(Kansas City, MO) -- Yordano Ventura pitched seven strong innings to help the Royals beat the Twins 6-3 and take two of three at Kauffman Stadium. Ventura allowed two runs, one earned, and struck out seven as he improved to 8-8. Greg Holland earned his 29th save with a perfect ninth Alcides Escobar drove in two, while Mike Moustakas had an RBI and scored twice for Kansas City, which is 7-2 in its last nine. Danny Santana connected for his fourth homer in the loss. Reliever Caleb Thielbar took his first loss for the Twins, who have lost five of seven.

Thursday, July 31 Scoreboard

MLB National League

Chicago Cubs 3, Colorado Rockies 1

St. Louis Cardinals 6, San Diego Padres 2

Philadelphia Phillies 10, Washington Nationals 4

Cincinnati Reds 3, Miami Marlins 1

Arizona Diamondbacks 7, Pittsburgh Pirates 4

Los Angeles Dodgers 2, Atlanta Braves 1

MLB American League

Chicago White Sox 7, Detroit Tigers 4

Seattle Mariners 6, Cleveland Indians 5

Kansas City Royals 6, Minnesota Twins 3

Toronto Blue Jays 6, Houston Astros 5

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1, Baltimore Orioles 0 (13 inn)

MLB Interleague

No Games Scheduled

Friday, August 1 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB National League

6:05 p.m. - Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals

6:10 p.m. - Cincinnati Reds at Miami Marlins

6:10 p.m. - San Francisco Giants at New York Mets

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

8:40 p.m. - Pittsburgh Pirates at Arizona Diamondbacks

9:10 p.m. - Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres

9:10 p.m. - Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers

MLB American League

6:05 p.m. - Seattle Mariners at Baltimore Orioles

6:05 p.m. - Texas Rangers at Cleveland Indians

6:10 p.m. - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Tampa Bay Rays

6:10 p.m. - New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

7:10 p.m. - Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox

7:10 p.m. - Toronto Blue Jays at Houston Astros

8:35 p.m. - Kansas City Royals at Oakland Athletics

MLB Interleague

6:08 p.m. - Colorado Rockies at Detroit Tigers