Carpenter, Cardinals Beat Phillies, MLB Scores

Dropping Matt Carpenter to second in the batting order is working for the St. Louis Cardinals. Carpenter doubled, singled and walked twice, and the Cardinals overcame a short outing by Tim Cooney in his major league debut to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 Thursday for their third straight win.

Carpenter scored in his first three times on base and has 21 runs in 21 games. St. Louis averaged 3.7 runs during a 12-8 start and has scored 25 runs in three games since Carpenter was dropped from the leadoff spot.

"When you get this offense really going, it's one of the best in the majors, and right now everybody it seems is producing," Matt Adams said,

Adams had three hits and drove in three runs -- two on a tiebreaking homer. He had just three extra-base hits in the Cardinals' first 18 games, but has three doubles and the homer in the last three.

Twins 12, White Sox 2

Like most of the American League, the Minnesota Twins have had their share of difficulties with Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale. So when they finally had a chance to get to him early on Thursday, they didn't let it go to waste.

Brian Dozier had a homer and four RBIs and the Twins roughed up Sale in a 12-2 victory over the White Sox. Trevor May (2-1) gave up two runs on 10 hits and struck out four in 5 2/3 innings and the Twins knocked Sale out of the game with a seven-run third inning.

"He had good stuff," Dozier said. "He was pumping 97 in there. I just think he got a little frustrated when he started getting runners on in scoring position. Then he started leaving some stuff out over the middle of the plate."

Joe Mauer added three hits and two RBIs for Minnesota (10-12).

Thursday, April 30 Scoreboard

St. Louis 9, PHiladelphia 3

Los Angeles Angels 6, Oakland 5

Toronto 5, Cleveland 1

Cincinnati 5, Atlanta 1

Washington 8, New York Mets 2

Kansas City 8, Detroit 1

Minnesota 12, Chicago White Sox 2

Houston 3, Seattle 2

Friday, May 1 Schedule (All Times Central)

Milwaukee at Chicago, 1:20 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

New York at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Toronto at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Washington at New York, 6:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at Atlanta, 6:35 p.m.

Oakland at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

Detroit at Kansas City, 7:10 p.m.

Chicago at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

Seattle at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.

Arizona at Los Angeles, 9:10 p.m.

Colorado at San Diego, 9:10 p.m.

Los Angeles at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.