Cubs Take 2-1 Win Over Nationals, Cardinals Beat Dodgers

Joe Maddon had no idea what two of his players were cooking up on the final play of the Chicago Cubs' 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.

With the tying run on second and the go-ahead run on first, catcher David Ross picked Washington's Clint Robinson off first base to seal the win. Jake Arrieta pitched six strong innings, and the Cubs made a pair of first-inning runs hold up thanks in part to Ross and first-baseman Anthony Rizzo.

"They saw something. They went with it," said Maddon, the Cubs manager. "It was all them. Spectacular."

Arrieta (5-4) rebounded from a pair of subpar outings, pitching six innings and giving up a run and six hits. Hector Rondon pitched the ninth for his 10th save.

Cardinals 7, Dodgers 1

The St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers are quite familiar with each other because of the last two postseasons, and they could be on course for another October showdown. Michael Wacha is certainly ready.

"That's a long time away, but both teams are playing good baseball and you never know what will happen," Wacha said Thursday night after pitching the Cardinals past the Dodgers 7-1 in the opener of a four-game series between the National League's top two teams. "There's definitely a good chance."

The Cardinals, who knocked the Dodgers out of the playoffs in each of the previous two seasons, increased their NL Central lead to 6 1/2 games over idle Pittsburgh. The Dodgers' advantage in the West shrunk to 1 1/2 games over San Francisco.

Rangers 2, White Sox 1

Shin-Soo Choo celebrated with his teammates after his 11th-inning walk-off single on Thursday night. After the burst of enthusiasm for the Texas Rangers' 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox, Choo downplayed his role.

"We used the bullpen, both teams. That's really more than one game, and I think everybody did a good job tonight."

Choo's single to left field ball beat Chicago's defensive shift, passing to shortstop Alexei Ramirez's right as he tried to scramble back from his temporary position near second base.

Thursday, June 4 Scoreboard

Oakland 7, Detroit 5

Baltimore 3, Houston 2

Minnesota 8, Boston 4

Chicago Cubs 2, Washington 1

Cincinnati 6, Philadelphia 4

Texas 2, Chicago White Sox 1 (F/11)

Cleveland 6, Kansas City 2 (F/8)

New York Mets 6, Arizona 2

Tampa Bay 2, Seattle 1

St. Louis 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

Friday, June 5 Schedule (All Times Central)

Los Angeles at New York, 6:05 p.m.

Chicago at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

San Francisco at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Houston at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

Oakland at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Baltimore at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

San Diego at Cincinnati 6:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Atlanta, 6:35 p.m.

Detroit at Chicago 7:10 p.m.

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

Milwaukee at Minnesota 7:10 p.m.

Miamiat Colorado 7:40 p.m.

New York at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Los Angeles, 9:10 p.m.