Molina Hits 100th Career HR in Win, Tigers Trounce Cubs

St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny guessed right batting Yadier Molina cleanup for the first time all season.

Molina capped an impressive game with his 100th career homer in the bottom of the eighth that snapped a tie in a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night.

"Good timing," Molina said, encapsulating the day. "I got to help my team win."

Molina added an RBI single in the first and, from his knees, threw out Kelby Tomlinson trying to steal in the seventh. Molina has done that a handful of times this season.

Tigers 15, Cubs 8

The home run that pitcher Daniel Norris hit in his first career plate appearance more than lived up to his childhood dreams. The injury that followed put a damper on his night.

Norris homered in his first career plate appearance, Nick Castellanos went deep twice, one a grand slam, and the Detroit Tigers pounded Jon Lester in a 15-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

The Tigers set season highs in runs and hits (21) and tied one with five homers -- three off Lester. It was also the second time this season that they reached double digits in scoring in consecutive games after winning 10-8 on Tuesday.

The Cubs dropped their third straight after winning nine in a row and 15 of 16, with Lester (8-9) making his earliest exit of the season.

Lester lasted just 2⅔ innings in his shortest outing since 2012 while allowing a season-high seven runs.

Norris became the 19th pitcher and first since 2011 to homer in his first major league at-bat, according to STATS, when he lined a two-run drive in the second inning. He left the game in the fifth because of a strained right oblique and is likely headed to the disabled list, manager Brad Ausmus said.

Angels 1, White Sox 0

Joe Smith had to wait 3 1-2 agonizing minutes to learn whether his fancy footwork at first base had turned into a game-ending double play.

By the smallest of margins on the scoreboard and on the bag, the Los Angeles Angels did it again.

Jered Weaver pitched five-hit ball into the seventh inning, and Carlos Perez homered in the Angels' third straight victory over the Chicago White Sox, 1-0 on Wednesday night.

Phillies Trade Utley

Saying "it's time," veteran second baseman Chase Utley prepared to leave Philadelphia, after the Phillies traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for two minor leaguers.

The Phillies also will send $4 million to Los Angeles to offset the $6 million remaining on Utley's $15 million salary. The Dodgers will send utility player Darnell Sweeney and right-handed pitcher John Richy to Philadelphia.

The Dodgers designated third baseman Alberto Callaspo for assignment to clear room on the roster for Utley.The trade came a day after Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Utley was likely to stay in Philadelphia for the remainder of the season.

"Three weeks ago or so, I had a conversation with Ruben," Utley said during a news conference in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, according to MLB.com. "We put our heads together and decided it might be best for us to part ways. I gave them a list of a handful of teams that I would consider playing for, and then it was Ruben's job to find the best deal he could for the organization. And ultimately it came down to the Dodgers, a team I grew up watching."

Wednesday, August 19 Scoreboard

New York Yankees 4, Minnesota 3

Texas 7, Seattle 2

Milwaukee 8, Miami 7

Oakland 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

San Diego 3, Atlanta 2

Baltimore 5, New York Mets 4

Philadelphia 7, Toronto 4

Pittsburgh 4, Arizona 1

Boston 6, Cleveland 4

Kansas City 4, Cincinnati 3

St. Louis 4, San Francisco 3

Detroit 15, Chicago Cubs 8

Houston 3, Tampa Bay 2 (F/13)

Washington 4,Colorado 1

Los Angeles Angels 1, Chicago White Sox 0

Thursday, August 20 Schedule (All Times Central)

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

Minnesota at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

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

Texas at Detroit, 6:08 p.m

Kansas City at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Arizona at Cincinnati, 6:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Chicago, 7:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

Washington at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

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