Lynn Pitches Cardinals To Win, Dodgers Blank Cubs

When Lance Lynn threw his final pitch Thursday for strike three to escape a jam, he turned toward center field and screamed something with adrenaline-fueled fervor. Was it rated PG?

"I don't remember," he said, poker-faced.

Whatever Lynn hollered, he earned his moment of triumph, pitching six shutout innings in his first outing since June 7 to help the St. Louis Cardinals complete a three-game sweep by beating Miami 5-1. Lynn (5-4), who had been on the disabled list with a strained forearm, allowed only two hits and lowered his ERA to 2.84.

"That was a good one to come back to," he said.

"He was awesome," teammate Pete Kozma said. "He was doing what he did before he went on the DL."

Backup infielder Kozma, who came into the game hitless in his past 21 at-bats, singled three times, scored twice and drove in a run for his second RBI this year. His average rose to from .093 to .140.

Dodgers 4, Cubs 0

Jon Lester's first season with the Chicago Cubs is not going as planned. Lester's winless streak stretched to seven starts when he lasted four innings in his shortest outing in more than three years, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-0 Thursday for a four-game split.

Signed to a $155 million, six-year contract, Lester (4-6) allowed four runs, four hits and four walks, while striking out five. He is 0-4 with a 4.43 ERA since beating Pittsburgh on May 16.

"It just comes down to the things I keep preaching and harping on, is fastball location and executing pitches," Lester said. "That's what it comes down to, and I'm not doing it consistently enough right now to help this team."

Lester had not gotten that few outs in a start since lasting two-plus innings for Boston in an 18-3 loss to Texas on April 17, 2012.

White Sox 8, Tigers 7

Up a run in the 10th, Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura didn't think twice about walking Miguel Cabrera to load the bases.

"It's always risky because you put the winning run at second, but you don't tug on Superman's cape too often," Ventura said of the two-time AL MVP. "We're going to take our chances with the next guy."

David Robertson struck out Josh Wilson to end the game, finishing an 8-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers.

With the score 5-all, Joba Chamberlain (0-2) walked Melky Cabrera with one out in the 10th, hit Avisail Garcia with a pitch and then allowed pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck's two-out infield single to shortstop. Sanchez tripled past Miguel Cabrera at first and all the way to the right-field wall on a 1-2 pitch, putting Chicago ahead 8-5.

Robertson gave up a two-run single to Bryan Holaday with one out in the bottom half, then retired Ian Kinsler on a flyout. Wityh runners at first and second, Ventura decided to give Miguel Cabrera the free pass

"I want to win the game, so I think I take the bat away from the best hitter in the game," Robertson said.

Wilson took a ball, then swung and missed at three straight pitches, giving Robertson his 15th save in 19 chances.

Thursday, June 25 Scoreboard

Chicago White Sox 8, Dieterich 7 (F/10)

Baltimore 8, Boston 6

Oakland 6, Texas 3

New York Mets 2, Milwaukee 0

Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Chicago Cubs 0

Colorado 6, Arizona 4

San Francisco 13, San Diego 8

Washington 7, Atlanta 0

Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 4 (F/13)

St. Louis 5, Miami 1

Houston 4, New York Yankees 0

Friday, June 26 Schedule (All Times Central)

Cleveland at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Texas at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

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

Los Angeles at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

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

Minnesota at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.

New York at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

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

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

Kansas City at Oakland, 9:05 p.m.

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

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