Arrieta, Cubs Stop Pirates Win Streak, Cardinals Lose To Brewers

The numbers are growing more ridiculous with each start, and the Chicago Cubs are running out of ways to describe the brilliance of Jake Arrieta.

The ace right-hander pitched seven dominant innings and homered in his major league-best 21st win, and Chicago stopped Pittsburgh's eight-game win streak with a 4-0 victory over the Pirates on Sunday night.

"No doubt in my mind he's the best right-handed pitcher in the game right now," catcher Miguel Montero said.

Arrieta (21-6) retired his first 18 batters before Gregory Polanco grounded a leadoff single into left field in the seventh. He struck out nine and walked none while improving to 15-1 with a dazzling 0.89 ERA in his last 19 starts.

Pittsburgh (95-61) and Chicago (90-65) each have clinched a playoff spot and lead the NL wild-card standings, so the Pirates could see Arrieta again in the first game of the postseason on Oct. 7. But they likely would have Gerrit Cole for that one -- the All-Star pitched seven crisp innings in a 3-2 victory over the Cubs in the series opener on Friday.

Arrieta improved to 6-1 with a 1.68 ERA in nine career starts against the Pirates.

Brewers 8, Cardinals 4

Jason Rogers feels right at home in the spoiler role. The Milwaukee rookie hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth inning off St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal to lift the Brewers to an 8-4 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday.

The Cardinals' NL Central lead is three games over Pittsburgh. The Cardinals' magic number for clinching the crown was cut to four after the Pirates lost to Chicago later Sunday.

St. Louis has lost two of three heading into a three-game showdown in Pittsburgh starting Monday.

"It's always good to beat guys at the end and maybe try and ruin their season," Rogers said. "It was special, a grand slam off a tough righty, one of the best in the game."

Khris Davis homered twice and drove in four runs for the Brewers, who scored seven runs in the ninth.

Yankees 6, White Sox 1

Dustin Ackley was a surprise trade-deadline acquisition by New York, arriving in a season-long slump with few credentials to support the early hype of a No. 2 overall draft pick. Then he got hurt.

Three weeks back from a stint on the disabled list, Ackley has hit his way into the conversation for a spot on the Yankees' playoff roster, especially with an ailing Stephen Drew unavailable down the stretch.

Ackley homered in the sixth to spark New York's late-waking offense Sunday and back Luis Severino's six innings of five-hit ball as the Yankees moved closer to a playoff berth with a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Severino (5-3) induced three double plays in shutting down the White Sox in his 10th big league start, helping the Yankees cut their magic number for clinching at least a wild card to three and move within one of the franchise's 10,000th regular-season victory.

Sunday, September 27 Scoreboard

New York Yankees 6, Chicago White Sox 1

Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 4

Minnesota 7, Detroit 1

New York Mets 8, Cincinnati 1

Miami 9, Atlanta 5

Boston 2, Baltimore 0

Philadelphia 12, Washington 5

Houston 4, Texas 2

Kansas City 3, Cleveland 0

Milwaukee 8, St. Louis 4

Los Angeles Angels 3, Seattle 2

San Francisco 5, Oakland 4

Arizona 4, San Diego 2

Colorado 12, Los Angeles Dodgers 5

Chicago Cubs 4, Pittsburgh 0

Monday, September 28 Schedule (All Times Central)

Cincinnatiat Washington, 2:05 p.m.

St. Louis at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

Toronto at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

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

Minnesota at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Detroit at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

Kansas City at Chicago, 7:05 p.m.

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

Houston at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

Los Angeles at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.