Cardinals Bats Hot In 10-3 Win, Cubs Drop Game To Padres

The St. Louis Cardinals started joking as Randy Choate put on Randal Grichuk's batting gloves in the ninth inning. The fun in the dugout increased as he took Michael Wacha's bat and headed to home plate for the first time in more than a decade, and there was lots of laughter when the reliever drew a walk. With an eight-run lead, it's pretty easy to kid around.

Grichuk had three extra-base hits and drove in three runs a night after striking out five times, Mark Reynolds homered among his three hits and the Cardinals teed off on Mets starter Jonathon Niese for a 10-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night.

"I just don't want to get hit," Choate said after his first plate appearance since April 26, 2004, with Arizona. "I'm not a good hitter."

He didn't need to be. After his team went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position in a 2-1, 14-inning loss Monday night, Cardinals manager Matheny loaded his lineup with right-handers to face the lefty Niese, leaving Jason Heyward, Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams on the bench.

Padres 4, Cubs 3

Derek Norris hit a two-run double with one out in the eighth and James Shields struck out 11 in seven innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 4-3 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. The Padres snapped a three-game losing streak in which they scored only six runs.

Although he got a no-decision, Shields reached double digits in strikeouts for the second time in five games. He held Chicago to two runs on six hits, including homers by Chris Coghlan and Dexter Fowler. Coghlan also homered off closer Craig Kimbrel with two outs in the ninth, his sixth. It was his fourth career multihomer game.

With runners on the corners in the eighth, Norris doubled to left off Pedro Strop, who had just replaced James Russell (0-1). Pinch-hitter Clint Barmes reached to open the inning when second baseman Addison Russell dropped his fly ball to shallow center for an error. Pinch-hitter Abraham Almonte beat out a bunt single before catcher Miguel Montero fielded Cory Spangenberg's bunt and threw out Almonte at second as Barmes reached third, bringing up Norris.

Indians 3, White Sox 1

Trevor Bauer just seems to be able to cool off the White Sox this season no matter what. Bauer pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning for his third straight solid outing against the White Sox, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 3-1 victory Tuesday night that snapped Chicago's season-high six-game winning streak.

Brandon Moss homered for Cleveland. Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez each drove in a run. Bauer (3-1) continued his mastery of the White Sox, retiring his first 11 batters. He allowed one run and struck out seven in 7 1/3 innings.

The right-hander improved to 2-0 against the White Sox this season. He has permitted just three runs and 12 hits while striking out 22 in 20 1/3 innings against them.

Tuesday, May 19 Scoreboard

Baltimore 9, Seattle 4

Washington 8, New York Yankees 6

Minnesota 8, Pittsburgh 5

Los Angeles Angels 3, Toronto 2

Milwaukee 8, Detroit 1

Boston 4, Texas 3

Tampa Bay 5, Atlanta 3

St. Louis 10, New York Mets 2

Arizona 4, Miami 2

Cleveland 3, Chicago White Sox 0

Kansas City 3, Cincinnati 0

Houston 6, Oakland 4

Colorado 6, Philadelphia 5

San Diego 4, Chicago Cubs 3

San Francisco 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 0

Wednesday, May 20 Schedule (All Times Central)

Oakland at Houston, 1:10 p.m.

Texas at Boston, 6:00 p.m.

Seattle at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

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

Minnesota at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Los Angeles at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

Milwaukee at Detroit 6:08 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.

St. Louis at New York 6:10 p.m.

Arizona at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Cleveland at Chicago, 7:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

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

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