Cubs Beat Brewers, Cardinals Edge Reds

The Chicago Cubs haven't played meaningful baseball in September for a while. But now that they are, confidence isn't at a shortage.

Anthony Rizzo had three hits and scored three runs, Jorge Soler hit a pinch-hit, 3-run homer and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-5 on Monday night.

The Cubs inched closer to a NL playoff berth as their magic number to clinch fell to four. Chicago, which last made the playoffs in 2008, entered Monday two games behind Pittsburgh for the first wild card berth and has now won six of seven, playing well when it matters.

Soler's first career pinch-hit home run broke the game open in the seventh inning after the Cubs snapped a 4-4 tie in the fifth with a pair of runs. Castro, who had two hits and two RBI for Chicago, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before Miguel Montero singled in Rizzo, who doubled.

Rizzo reached in all five of his at-bats after collecting two walks to go along with his three hits and extended his hitting streak to seven games.

Cardinals 2, Reds 1

Key hits from rookies helped the St. Louis Cardinals get to the Reds bullpen before Cincinnati could get to Aroldis Chapman. Trevor Rosenthal was ready for the ball.

Stephen Piscotty doubled in the go-ahead run in a two-run eighth inning, a rally that began with Tommy Pham's leadoff triple, and Rosenthal earned his 47th save in 49 chances to match the franchise record in a 2-1 victory on Monday night.

"As big of a mess as you could put yourself in, just keep trying to make pitches," Rosenthal said after working around two one-hit singles. "I've seen having a one-run lead and the bases loaded, nobody out, and somehow magically getting out of it when you feel like there's no way."

Rosenthal tied the record held by Lee Smith (1991) and Jason Isringhausen (2004). Manager Mike Matheny said in July, Isringhausen told him to "slow that kid down."

Rosenthal has balls from all of his saves this season, although he added, "I don't know why I kept them." He said he'll text Isringhausen, "and let him know I'm happy to be a part of that club."

White Sox 2, Tigers 0

White Sox 3, Tigers 2

A pair of strong pitching performances helped ease any fears the Chicago White Sox had about overworking their bullpen.

Erik Johnson followed a one-hitter by Jeff Smardzija with six solid innings Monday night, leading the White Sox to a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers for a doubleheader sweep.

"He threw great. Even when they got some guys on, he showed command," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Johnson. "He's aggressive in the zone and that's been the biggest thing since he's come back up here."

Samardzija allowed only a leadoff single to Victor Martinez in the fifth inning as the White Sox won the opener 2-0.

Gordon Beckham homered, Jose Abreu had an RBI double and Avisail Garcia a sacrifice fly in the night cap of the split-doubleheader. All the runs came off Detroit's Randy Wolf (0-4).

Monday, September 21 Scoreboard

Chicago White Sox 2, Detroit 0

Chicago White Sox 3, Detroit 2

Baltimore at Washington, Postponed

Toronto 4, New York Yankees 2

Boston 8, Tampa Bay 7

New York Mets 4, Atlanta 0

Chicago Cubs 9, Milwaukee 5

Houston 6, Los Angeles Angels 3

St. Louis 2, Cincinnati 1

Pittsburgh 9, Colorado 3

Arizona 8, Los Angeles Dodgers 4

Tuesday, September 22 Schedule (All Times Central)

New York at Toronto, 6 p.m.

Baltimore at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Chicago at Detroit, 6:08 p.m.

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

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

Philadelphia at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at Chicago, 7:05 p.m.

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

Cleveland at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

Los Angeles at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

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

Pittsburgh at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

Texas at Oakland, 9:05 p.m.

Arizona at Los Angeles, 9:10 p.m.

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