Cardinals Drop Marlins, Cubs Beat Brewers

Cardinals Drop Marlins

(Miami, FL) -- Justin Masterson tossed seven innings of three-hit ball to power the Cardinals to a 5-2 win over the Marlins from Miami. Masterson improved to 2-and-1 for St. Louis, which avoided the three-game sweep. Matt Adams knocked in two runs while Matt Carpenter scored twice and went 3-for-5. Jeff Baker hit a two-run homer for Miami, which had won four of five. Nathan Eovaldi gave up four runs in six innings for the loss.

Cubs Beat Brewers

(Chicago, IL) -- Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo each went deep to power the Cubs to a 4-2 win over the Brewers at Wrigley Field. Starlin Castro was 3-for-4 with an RBI while Chris Coghlan went 3-for-4 with a run scored for Chicago, which has won three of four. Tsuyoshi Wada gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings for the win. Hector Rondon picked up his 16th save. Kyle Lohse allowed four runs in three innings for the loss. He left with an ankle injury. Martin Maldonado and Rickie Weeks each hit a homer for Milwaukee, which has lost three of four.

Chicago Team Begins Little League World Series Today

(South Williamsport, PA) -- The team from Jackie Robinson West begins play today at the Little League World Series. The Great Lakes Region champs open against Lynnwood, Washington, which won the Northwest Region. Game time is 2 p.m. Central on ESPN.  

Seven Run Seventh Pushes Giants Past White Sox

(San Francisco, CA) -- Jake Peavy earned his first Giants victory and the offense exploded for a seven run seventh inning as San Francisco handled the Chicago White Sox 7-1 from AT&T Park. Peavy moved to 1-3 by giving up just one run on four hits in seven innings. Angel Pagan drove in a pair of runs, while Buster Posey went 2-for-4 at the dish with a run and an RBI as the Giants avoided a six-game losing streak. White Sox starter Jose Quintana fell to 6-9 after giving up four runs in 6 2/3 innings. Adam Dunn connected for his 19th home run to open up the scoring in the fourth inning.

Padres Sweep Rockies

(San Diego, CA) -- Rymer Liriano belted a two-run homer and Abraham Almonte added a solo shot as the Padres beat the Rockies 5-3 to sweep the three-game series at Petco Park. Jedd Gyorko went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run for the Friars, who have won five straight and nine of their last 11 overall. Ian Kennedy struck out eight over six innings of three-run ball as he upped his mark to 9-10. Joaquin Benoit notched his seventh save. DJ LeMahieu homered, while Charlie Blackmon and Justin Morneau also plated a run each for Colorado, which has lost 11 of 13. Tyler Matzek fanned nine but allowed five runs in six frames to fall to 2-8 with the setback.

Braves Beat Dodgers

(Atlanta, GA) -- Justin Upton singled in the winning run during the fifth inning to guide the Braves to a 3-2 win over the Dodgers at Turner Field.  Andrelton Simmons knocked in the other two runs for Atlanta, which had lost the first two of this four-game series. Ervin Santana picked up the win after six innings of two-run ball. Craig Kimbrel locked up his 35th save. Hyun-Jin Ryu gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings for the loss. He left with a strained right gluteus muscle. Carl Crawford and Miguel Rojas each had an RBI for Los Angeles, which had won three straight.

Nationals Nip Mets

(Flushing, NY) -- Asdrubal Cabrera's eighth inning solo homer was the difference as the Nationals nipped the Mets 3-2 at Citi Field. Bryce Harper and Kevin Frandsen both drove in a run in the seventh for Washington, which will go for the three-game sweep on Thursday. Jordan Zimmermann permitted just an unearned run over 6 1/3 innings to improve to 8-5 with the win. Rafael Soriano gave up a solo homer to Travis d'Arnaud in the ninth but held on to earn his 27th save. Bartolo Colon struck out eight and gave up two runs, one earned, in seven frames. He fell to 11-10 with the tough-luck loss. The Mets have dropped three of four.

Rays Destroy Rangers

(Arlington, TX) -- Chris Archer was in complete control for seven innings, allowing one run and striking out 12 as the Rays crushed the Rangers 10-1 in Arlington. Archer improved to 8-6. Sean Rodriguez and Brandon Guyer launched two-run homers and Matt Joyce added a solo shot and scored three times. James Loney added three hits and two RBI for Tampa, which has won two of its last three. Jim Adduci plated the lone run for the Rangers, who have dropped four of six. Miles Mikolas gave up 10 runs in six-plus innings for the loss.

Twins Trump Astros To Take Rubber Match

(Houston, TX) -- Kennys Vargas delivered a two-run single in the top of the eighth inning as the Twins topped the Astros 3-1 at Minute Maid Park. Danny Santana went 4-for-5 and Joe Mauer homered for Minnesota, which took a 3-0 lead into the eighth. Kyle Gibson pitched seven-and-two-thirds innings of one-run ball to move to 11-9. Glen Perkins posted his 30th save as the Twins took two-of-three in the series. Brett Oberholtzer allowed just one run in seven frames, but fell to 4-8 with the tough-luck loss. Chris Carter singled in the lone run for Houston in the bottom of the eighth.

Royals Blank Athletics

(Kansas City, MO) -- Jason Vargas tossed a complete-game shutout to lead the Royals to a 3-0 victory over the Athletics in the third of four games at Kauffman Stadium. Vargas allowed three hits and struck out four on his way to his ninth win. Omar Infante hit a two-run homer and Salvador Perez had the other RBI. Kansas City is a half-game ahead of the Tigers for first place in the AL Central with a 65-54 record. Scott Kazmir gave up three runs in seven innings to fall to 13-5. Josh Donaldson, Jonny Gomes and Jed Lowrie each had a hit for Oakland, which has lost three of four.

Royals Blank Athletics

(Kansas City, MO) -- Jason Vargas tossed a complete-game shutout to lead the Royals to a 3-0 victory over the Athletics in the third of four games at Kauffman Stadium. Vargas allowed three hits and struck out four on his way to his ninth win. Omar Infante hit a two-run homer and Salvador Perez had the other RBI. Kansas City is a half-game ahead of the Tigers for first place in the AL Central with a 65-and-54 record. Scott Kazmir gave up three runs in seven innings to fall to 13-5. Josh Donaldson, Jonny Gomes and Jed Lowrie each had a hit for Oakland, which has lost three of four.

Tigers Double Up Pirates

(Detroit, MI) -- Nick Castellanos hit a go-ahead solo homer in the sixth inning as the Tigers went on to beat the Pirates 8-4 in the third installment of a four-game home-and-home series at Comerica Park.  Castellanos also tripled in a run, while Alex Avila hit a solo shot for the Tigers, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Victor Martinez went 3-for-4 with three RBI in the victory. Blaine Hardy picked up the win in relief. Travis Snider smacked a two-run homer and Jordy Mercer tripled in a run and scored for Pittsburgh, which won both games at home. Vance Worley allowed five runs, three earned, in 5 1/3 frames as he slipped to 5-2 with the loss.

Napoli Homer Lifts Red Sox Over Reds

(Cincinnati, OH) -- Mike Napoli snapped a 3-all tie with a two-run homer in the fifth inning and the Red Sox held on for a 5-4 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Yoenis Cespedes tied the game for Boston one batter earlier with an RBI single. Anthony Ranaudo pitched six innings of four-run ball to improve to 2-0. Edward Mujica gave up two hits in the ninth before notching his third save as the Sox swept the two-game set. Mike Leake allowed all five runs in five frames to slip to 9-and-11 with the loss. Leake and Skip Schumaker hit solo homers for the Reds in defeat.

Walters, Indians Walk-Off Diamondbacks

(Cleveland, OH) -- Zach Walters connected for a walk-off solo homer in the ninth as the Indians edged the Diamondbacks 3-2 in the opener of a doubleheader from Progressive Field. Walters went 2-for-4 at the dish with two runs, while Michael Brantley drove in a pair of runs. Former D'back Trevor Bauer didn't factor in the decision, but threw eight strong innings, and gave up two runs while strikings out nine. Cody Allen improved to 4-2 in relief of Bauer.  Randall Delgado fell to 1-3 after giving up the homer in the ninth. Aaron Hill drove in a run for the Snakes in the loss.

Angels Top Phillies

(Anaheim, CA) -- Howie Kendrick and Brennan Boesch each knocked in two runs to help the Angels drop the Phillies 4-3 from Anaheim. Jered Weaver gave up two runs in six innings as the Halos won their second straight. Weaver improved to 13-7. Huston Street locked up his seventh save.  A.J. Burnett allowed four runs in six frames for the loss.  Marlon Byrd, Jimmy Rollins and Domonic Brown knocked in the runs for Philadelphia, which has lost three in-a-row.

Wednesday, August 13 Scoreboard

MLB National League

San Diego Padres 5, Colorado Rockies 3

Atlanta Braves 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

Washington Nationals 3, New York Mets 2

St. Louis Cardinals 5, Miami Marlins 2

Chicago Cubs 4, Milwaukee Brewers 2

MLB American League

Minnesota Twins 3, Houston Astros 1

Baltimore Orioles 5, New York Yankees 3

Tampa Bay Rays 10, Texas Rangers 1

Kansas City Royals 3, Oakland Athletics 0

Seattle Mariners 2, Toronto Blue Jays 0

MLB Interleague

Boston Red Sox 5, Cincinnati Reds 4

San Francisco Giants 7, Chicago White Sox 1

Cleveland Indians 3, Arizona Diamondbacks 2 (G1)

Arizona Diamondbacks 1, Cleveland Indians 0 (G2, 12 inn)

Detroit Tigers 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 4

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3

Thursday, August 14 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB National League

11:10 a.m. - Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves

1:20 p.m. - Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs

6:10 p.m. - Washington Nationals at New York Mets

6:10 p.m. - Arizona Diamondbacks at Miami Marlins

7:15 p.m. - San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals

7:40 p.m. - Cincinnati Reds at Colorado Rockies

MLB American League

1:10 p.m. - Oakland Athletics at Kansas City Royals

6:10 p.m. - Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox

7:05 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers

MLB Interleague

12:08 p.m. - Pittsburgh Pirates at Detroit Tigers