Cardinals Win Fourth Straight, Cubs Postponed

Yadier Molina finally got ahold of one, and the six-time All-Star catcher called a pretty good game, too. Molina homered for the first time this season and John Lackey worked eight strong innings for the St. Louis Cardinals, who won their fourth in a row with a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

Manager Mike Matheny said it's been a bigger issue outside the team, but noted "Sooner or later that wears on you, especially a guy that's been able to hit 20 before.

"And everybody wants to talk about everything on the outside that might be influencing it, whether it's his diet or his exercise program -- whatever it is that's not giving him the power."

Molina left Busch Stadium without speaking with reporters. His manager said it for him.

"He hit four balls on the button and finally got one that carried a little better," Matheny said.

Mark Reynolds connected three pitches ahead of Molina in the fourth, giving the Cardinals back-to-back homers.

Cubs, Indians Game Postponed

The Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs didn't force local fans to miss the Blackhawks' clincher in the Stanley Cup. For that, everybody could thank the weather.

Monday night's interleague game at Wrigley Field was postponed about 90 minutes before the scheduled first pitch because of heavy rain and severe weather. At times, tornado-warning sirens went off around the ballpark.

The game will be made up on Aug. 24. And on that date there won't be a conflict with the Chicago Blackhawks, who beat the Tampa Bay Lightning at the United Center in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to win their third title in six years.

Pirates 11, White Sox 0

The conversation was brief and Francisco Liriano didn't put up much of a fight. Staked to a massive lead and three outs shy of just the second shutout of his career, Liriano wouldn't have minded one more inning of work. Catcher Francisco Cervelli wasn't so sure. Neither was Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. At that point, arguing would have been useless.

"He's in place with us for three years, he's in a good spot," Hurdle said. "I imagine the opportunity to throw a complete game will come again."

The way Liriano is dealing at the moment, perhaps sooner rather than later. The left-hander allowed two singles in eight dominant innings and the Pirates ran their winning streak to five with an 11-0 romp over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.

Monday, June 15 Scoreboard

Atlanta 4, Boston 2

Baltimore 4, Philadelphia 0

Pittsburgh 11, Chicago White Sox 0

Detroit 6, Cincinnati 0

New York Mets 4, Toronto 3 (F/11)

Miami 2, New York Yankees 1

Tampa Bay 6, Washington 1

Texas 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

Cleveland at Chicago Cubs, postponed

Kansas City 8, Milwaukee 5

Houston 6, Colorado 3

St. Louis 3, Minnesota 2

Arizona 7, Los Angeles Angels 3

Oakland 9, San Diego 1

Seattle 5, San Francisco 1

Tuesday, June 16 Schedule (All Times Central)

Minnesota at St. Louis, 12:45 p.m.

Colorado at Houston, 1:10 p.m.

Oakland at San Diego, 2:40 p.m.

Seattle at San Francisco, 2:45 p.m.

Atlanta at Boston, 3:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

Chicago at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Detroit, 6:08 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Cleveland at Chicago 7:05 p.m.

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

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