Cardinals, Cubs Drop Decisions, MLB Scores

Max Scherzer always makes sure to eat some toasted ravioli when he comes back to Missouri.

After he pitched seven strong innings Sunday to beat his hometown team for the first time, maybe Scherzer should have the St. Louis specialty more often.

"That's the best I've seen Max this year," Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker said after his team completed a three-game sweep of the Cardinals with a 6-1 victory. "Sharp with the breaking ball, good velocity. . It was Max's day. Max kept us in the game until our offense did something."

Clint Robinson and Danny Espinosa hit back-to-back home runs, providing the power for Washington on a day when NL MVP Bryce Harper struck out all four times up.

Scherzer (3-1), who grew up in suburban St. Louis, struck out nine and scattered four singles. He didn't allow a runner past first base, earning his first win in five career starts against the Cardinals.

"I instantly could feel like I was on top of the ball and anytime I needed it the fastball was down at the knees," Scherzer said. "That's when I'm at my best. When I can throw the fastball early in the counts and throw strikes in and away, it just sets up all my stuff."

By finishing the weekend sweep, the Nationals emphatically ended years of frustration at Busch Stadium. It was their first series win in St. Louis since May 2007. Washington improved to 17-7 overall, the best start in club history through 24 games.

The Cardinals have lost four straight and dropped to 5-7 at home this season. St. Louis went 55-26 at home in 2015.

Braves 4, Cubs 3

Then the struggling Braves showed some fight to pick up a rare victory under odd circumstances.

Daniel Castro singled and scored on Nick Markakis' sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the Braves beat the major league-leading Chicago Cubs 4-3 on Sunday.

Jason Grilli pitched a scoreless 10th for his second save and Atlanta secured its sixth win in 24 games despite squandering a 3-0 lead after Teheran's seven scoreless innings.

"I was able to go out there for (as long) as I can," said Teheran, who struck out nine. "Seven innings, that's pretty good for a team and we're glad we didn't miss the guy that was missing."

Atlanta's morning transaction snafu -- Major League Baseball voided Emilio Bonifacio's promotion from the minors because he wasn't eligible for the 25-man roster -- left the Braves down a player.

"We're going to battle with what we've got," said Mallex Smith, who had three hits, including a single in the 10th while batting ninth, behind the pitcher.

Addison Russell's one-out single in the ninth off Arodys Vizcaino (1-0) tied it for the Cubs, who scored two in the eighth.

But then Hector Rondon (0-1) allowed two hits in the 10th as Chicago's four-game winning streak was snapped.

White Sox 7, Orioles 1

Even when he's not at his best, Chris Sale is usually good enough to carry the Chicago White Sox to victory.

Such was the case Sunday, when the left-hander grinded through an up-and-down outing.

Sale took a shutout into the sixth inning, Brett Lawrie homered for the third straight day and the White Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-1 for a split of the four-game series.

Off to the best start of his career, Sale (6-0) allowed one run, five hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings. He's the first White Sox pitcher to win his first six starts in a season since Jon Garland went 8-0 in 2005.

Sale did not have a perfect inning, and the four walks were only one less than he totaled in his first five starts. But the Orioles didn't get a runner to third base until after he left.

"I was erratic today. I didn't really quite have my sharpness. I walked a few too many guys," Sale acknowledged.

Sunday, May 1 Scoreboard

San Francisco 6, New York Mets 1

Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 1

Chicago White Sox 7, Baltimore 1

Cincinnati 6, Pittsburg 5 (F/11)

Milwaukee 14, Miami 5

Detroit 6, Minnesota 5

Washington 6, St. Louis 1

Atlanta 4, Chicago Cubs 3

Philadelphia 2, Cleveland 1

Los Angeles Angels 9, Texas 6

Houston 2, Oakland 1

Kansas City 4, Seattle 1

Los Angeles Dodgers 1, San Diego 0

Colorado 6, Arizona 3

Boston 8, New York Yankees 7

Monday, May 2 Schedule (All Times  Central)

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

Texas at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

San Francisco at Cincinnati, 6:10 p.m.

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

Los Angeles Angels at Milwaukee, 6:20 p.m.

Minnesota at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

Washington at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m.

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

Seattle at Oakland, 9:05 p.m.

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