Lackey Guides Cardinals To Win Over Cubs, MLB Scores

John Lackey gave the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen a much needed break. He made his own breaks, too. Lackey drove in a run for the third time in his big league career and struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings, helping the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 Thursday for their ninth win in 10 games.

"I'd like to finish them all," Lackey said. "There might be a little bit more importance on it because of the last few days, I guess."

St. Louis relievers worked 35 innings the previous seven days. Three pitchers failed to make it through the fifth during that stretch.

"All the way around, just exactly what our staff needed," manager Mike Matheny said. "Today was one of his best."

Jason Heyward singled three times with an RBI, and Peter Bourjos hit a run-scoring triple for the NL Central leaders, who took three of four from the second-place Cubs and improved their record to a major league-best 21-7.

Lackey had been 6 for 67 at the plate in 13 major league seasons before a two-out, opposite-field RBI double to right in the fourth. He wasn't exactly bragging about getting the best of Jake Arrieta.

"That guy's got great stuff," Lackey said. "I was late and got lucky and went down the line."

Tigers 4, White Sox 1

Kyle Lobstein is content to let batters make contact -- weak contact. Lobstein allowed five hits in 7 2/3 innings, Miguel Cabrera scored twice and drove in a run and the Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 Thursday to salvage the finale of a three-game series.

"He was outstanding," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He located, mixed speeds, threw his cutter in on right-handed batters and changeup away from right-handed batters. He had as good an outing as I've seen from him. The last month of 2014 and the first month this season he's pitched pretty well for us."

Lobstein (3-2) threw 100 pitches and lasted at least seven innings for the third straight start. The run he allowed was unearned, leaving him with a 3.00 ERA.

Lobstein's only jam came in the fourth inning, when Chicago tied the score and loaded the bases with no outs. Alexei Ramirez grounded sharply to third baseman Nick Castellanos, who stepped on the bag and threw home in time for Alex Avila to tag Jose Abreu.

Thursday, May 7 Scoreboard

Minnesota 6, Oakland 5

Los Angeles Dodgers 14, Milwaukee 4

St. Louis 5, Chicago Cubs 1

Detroit 4, Chicago White Sox 1

Kansas City 7, Cleveland 4

New yOrk Yankees 4, Baltimore 3

Pittsburgh 7, Cincinnati 2

Texas 5, Tampa Bay 4

Arizona 11, San Diego 0

Houston 3, Los Angeles Angels 2

Miami 7, San Francisco 2

Major League Weekend Schedule (All Times Central)

Friday, May 8

Baltimore at New York, 6:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

New York at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

St. Louis at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Boston at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

Kansas City at Detroit, 6:08 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Texas at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at Chicago, 7:10 p.m.

Chicago at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.

Los Angeles at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

San Diego at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

Houston at Los Angeles, 9:05 p.m.

Oakland at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

Miami at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.

Saturday, May 9

Baltimore at New York, 12:05 p.m.

Boston at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.

Kansas City at Detroit, 12:08 p.m.

Atlanta at Washington, 3:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland 3:10 p.m.

Texas at Tampa Bay, 5:10 p.m.

New York at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

St. Louis at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Chicago 6:10 p.m.

Chicago at Milwaukee, 6:10 p.m.

Los Angeles at Colorado, 7:10 p.m.

San Diego at Arizona, 7:10 p.m.

Houston at Los Angeles, 7:05 p.m.

Miami at San Francisco, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, May 10

Baltimoret New York, 12:05 p.m.

Boston at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 12:10 p.m.

Texas at Tampa Bay, 12:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Washington, 12:35 p.m.

New York at Philadelphia, 12:35 p.m.

St. Louis at Pittsburgh 12:35 p.m.

Cincinnati at Chicago, 1:10 p.m.

Chicago at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m.

Houston at Los Angeles, 2:35 p.m.

Miami at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

Oakland at Seattle, 3:10 p.m.

Los Angeles at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

San Diego at Arizona, 3:10 p.m.

Kansas City at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Oakland at Seattle, 8:10 p.m.