Cubs Get Past Mets, Cardinals Clip Reds

Rizzo, Baez Homers Boost Cubs By Mets

(Flushing, NY) -- Anthony Rizzo hit the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and Javier Baez added a two-run shot in the ninth as the Cubs beat the Mets 4-1 at Citi Field. Luis Valbuena tied the game at one for Chicago with an RBI single in the sixth. Kyle Kendricks pitched seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball to improve to 5-1. Hector Rondon notched his 18th save as the Cubs earned a split of the four-game series. Buddy Carlyle took the loss in relief of starter Carlos Torres, who pitched five innings of three-hit, shutout ball. Lucas Duda hit a solo homer in the fourth to stake New York to an early 1-0 lead.

Cardinals Clip Reds In 10 Innings

(St. Louis, MO) -- Jhonny Peralta hit a walk-off RBI-single in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Cardinals past the Reds 6-5 in the opener of a three-game set at Busch Stadium.  Peralta had three hits and two RBI, while Matt Holliday drove in a run and scored twice for the Redbirds, who have won five of their last six. Matt Adams added three hits, an RBI and scored in the victory. Nick Greenwood picked up the win after Trevor Rosenthal blew his fifth save. Jay Bruce doubled in the tying run in the ninth and had a three-run homer in the fifth for the Reds, who have dropped three straight six of seven.  Logan Ondrusek suffered the loss.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha looked strong in his second throwing session since being placed on the disabled list on June 18. Manager Mike Matheny said while he was only throwing at about 75-percent speed, it looked he was throwing it with little effort or discomfort. There is no set timetable for Wacha's return, but Matheny stated the club wants him to face live competition firSt.

The Cardinals play game-two of their three-game set against the Reds tonight. St. Louis is 67-57 and sits two-and-a-half games behind Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central. The Cards will march John Lackey out to the mound. Lackey is 1-1 in three starts since being traded from Boston. Cincinnati counters with 12-8 Alfredo Simon.

Orioles Club White Sox

(Chicago, IL) -- Nick Markakis hit a two-run homer after robbing one at the wall as the Orioles downed the White Sox 8-2 at U.S. Cellular Field. J.J. Hardy and Nelson Cruz hit solo shots while Jonathan Schoop ripped a three-run double. Bud Norris improved to 11-and-7 with seven innings of two-run ball as Baltimore won its fourth in six games. Chris Sale fell to 10-3 after allowing three runs in six innings and striking out eight for Chicago. Avisail Garcia singled in two for the Sox, who have lost three of five.

Jackie Robinson Little League Squad Rallies For Win

(Williamsport, PA) -- The Jackie Robinson West Little League team from Chicago rallied for an 8-7 win over New England last night at the Little League World Series. The team has advanced in the loser's bracket to face Texas tonight. The contest starts at 6:30 on ESPN.

Braves Dump Pirates

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- A six-run first inning was all the Braves would need to defeat the Pirates, 7-3, in the first of three games at PNC Park. Jason Heyward and Andrelton Simmons hit back-to-back solo homers in the opening frame. Heyward finished 3-for-4 with two RBI for Atlanta, which has won four in-a-row and five of six.  Ervin Santana improved to 13-6 giving up three solo shots in 5 1/3 innings. Starling Marte belted two home runs and Neil Walker added his 17th homer of the season in the defeat. Vance Worley took the loss allowing six runs, five earned in six innings. The Pirates have lost six straight.

Nationals Walk Off Diamondbacks

(Washington, DC) -- Adam LaRoche blasted a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Nationals to a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. Wilson Ramos went 2-for-4 with a two-run shot and Anthony Rendon tripled in a run as Washington extended its winning streak to seven. Jayson Werth chipped in an RBI and Craig Stammen picked up the win. Will Harris took the loss for Arizona after Vidal Nuno struck out seven in seven innings of work. Didi Gregoriusand David Peralta both went deep for the D'backs, who have lost three in-a-row.

Angels Double Up Red Sox

(Boston, MA) -- Mike Trout and Albert Pujols plated a run each in the third inning as the Angels doubled up the Red Sox 4-2 in the first of four at Fenway Park. Chris Iannetta and Kole Calhoun both scored on an error in the eighth for LA, which has won five of six to move a half-game over Oakland for first place in the AL West. Calhoun ended 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs. C.J. Wilson tossed 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball to improve his mark to 10-8. Kevin Jepsen gave up a run in the ninth but held on for his first save. Brock Holt and Yoenis Cespedes drove in a run each for the Sox, who have dropped three of four since a four-game winning streak. Brandon Workman allowed two runs in seven frames to fall to 1-7 with the loss.

Royals Hold Off Twins

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Erik Kratz hit a pair of solo homers to lead the Royals to a 6-4 win over the Twins at Target Field. Kratz replaced catcher Salvador Perez, who had two hits and two RBI before leaving in the seventh inning with right knee discomfort. Jarrod Dyson drove in a run and scored for KC, which took three of four from Minnesota and increased its AL Central lead to two games over Detroit. Jason Vargas hurled seven innings of one-run ball to up his record to 10-5. Greg Holland closed it out for his 38th save. Trevor Plouffe hit a three-run homer in the ninth and Oswaldo Arcia had a solo shot in the seventh for the Twins, who have lost four of six. Trevor May yielded three runs in 4 2/3 frames as he dipped to 0-and-2.

Blanco's Blast Lifts Phillies Past Mariners

(Philadelphia, PA) -- Andres Blanco blasted a three-run homer in the fifth to power the Phillies to a 4-1 win over the Mariners at Citizens Bank Park.  Marlon Byrd also doubled in a run for Philadelphia, which had lost five of six. Jerome Williams tossed seven innings of one-run ball for the victory while Jonathan Papelbon notched his 29th save. Roenis Elias lasted just four innings and gave up one run to fall to 9-10 for Seattle. Dustin Ackley doubled in a run for the Mariners, who have dropped two of three since a five-game win streak.

Monday, August 18 Scoreboard

MLB National League

Chicago Cubs 4, New York Mets 1

Atlanta Braves 7, Pittsburgh Pirates 3

Washington Nationals 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 4 (11 inn)

St. Louis Cardinals 6, Cincinnati Reds 5 (10 inn)

MLB American League

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4, Boston Red Sox 2

Baltimore Orioles 8, Chicago White Sox 2

Kansas City Royals 6, Minnesota Twins 4

MLB Interleague

Philadelphia Phillies 4, Seattle Mariners 1

Tuesday,August 19 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB National League

6:05 p.m. - Atlanta Braves at Pittsburgh Pirates

6:05 p.m. - Arizona Diamondbacks at Washington Nationals

7:05 p.m. - San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs

7:15 p.m. - Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals

9:10 p.m. - San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers

MLB American League

6:05 p.m. - Houston Astros at New York Yankees

6:10 p.m. - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Boston Red Sox

6:10 p.m. - Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays

7:10 p.m. - Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Sox

7:10 p.m. - Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins

MLB Interleague

6:05 p.m. - Seattle Mariners at Philadelphia Phillies

6:10 p.m. - Texas Rangers at Miami Marlins

7:10 p.m. - Toronto Blue Jays at Milwaukee Brewers

7:40 p.m. - Kansas City Royals at Colorado Rockies

9:05 p.m. - New York Mets at Oakland Athletics