Padres Hand Cubs Two Losses, Cardinals Beat Angels

Injuries gave Brett Wallace the chance to play every day. His performance is likely to keep him in the lineup even after the injured players return.

Wallace hit a three-run homer in San Diego's four-run seventh inning, and the Padres stopped the Chicago Cubs' eight-game win streak with a 7-4 victory on Wednesday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.

"Offensively, you have to love his at-bats," Padres manager Andy Green said. "They're high quality, he takes his walks, he's got power and any time he can do something.

"As the year progresses and we finally get healthy, whenever that wonderful day comes, we'll find a way to get him on the field more often, whether it's at first base or third base. He's proven to be incredibly valuable in the lineup."

Wil Myers had two hits and scored two runs for San Diego, which had lost three in a row. Carlos Villanueva (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win, and Fernando Rodney got three outs for his ninth save.

The Cubs, who have the best record in the major leagues at 25-7, had been 18-2 this season when leading after six innings. But Pedro Strop (1-1) failed to retire any of the five batters he faced in the seventh and was charged with three runs and three hits.

In game two, Drew Pomeranz can't explain his surprising start. He simply wants to keep it going.

Pomeranz tied a career high with 10 strikeouts in six scoreless innings and Christian Bethancourt hit a long solo home run to give the San Diego Padres a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night and a sweep of a day-night doubleheader.

In the first game, Brett Wallace hit a three-run homer in San Diego's four-run seventh inning, and the Padres stopped the Cubs' eight-game win streak with a 7-4 victory.

Pomeranz (4-3) allowed just three hits and walked three in lowering his ERA to 1.80. No Chicago runner advanced past second base while the left-hander was on the mound.

"In pro ball, this is the best I've ever felt," he said. "I felt strong and I was almost getting better as the game went along. That's a positive for me. Early in my career, I'd kind of burn out early and taper off."

Brad Hand worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning, and Fernando Rodney got the final three outs for his 10th save in as many chances. He also picked up the save in Game 1.

Cardinals 5, Angels 2

Since the calendar turned to May, Jaime Garcia has been just about untouchable. Garcia allowed just four hits in seven innings to lead the St. Louis Cardinals past the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 on Wednesday night.

The left-hander gave up two unearned runs and struck out eight to win his second straight start. He has yet to allow an earned run in 14 innings this month.

"Everything feels good right now," Garcia said. "I've been able to make pitches and keep the ball down and keep them off balance. Simple stuff for the most part."

Kevin Siegrist pitched a perfect eighth and Trevor Rosenthal retired the side in the ninth to complete the four-hitter.

Garcia (3-2) was dominant from the outset. He retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced, sat down six of seven after C.J Cron's two-run home run in the fourth ended his no-bit bid, and pitched out of his lone jam with a pair of clutch strikeouts in the seventh.

With runners on second and third and one out in the seventh, Garcia struck out Johnny Giovatella and Shane Robinson swinging on offspeed pitches in the dirt to escape unscathed.

"In that situation right there I was trying to not to let any emotions get to me," Garcia said. "I've had games in the past where I've tried to do too much, so I just tried to keep my emotions down and just worried about making one pitch."

The Cardinals scored four times in the second inning against Matt Shoemaker (1-5) to jump out to an early lead and never trailed. Stephen Piscotty, Yadier Molina and Randal Grichuk had two hits apiece to lead the offense.

Rangers 6, White Sox 5

Adrian Beltre and the Texas Rangers sure know how to make a comeback, or three.

Beltre had the tiebreaking RBI single soon after his long errorless streak ended and his team fell behind, and the Rangers overcame three deficits for the second consecutive game in less than 24 hours against the American League's top team, beating the Chicago White Sox 6-5 on Wednesday.

"To keep grinding away . we never gave up," outfielder Ian Desmond said. "We had a goal to win that series and we came out and did it. It's a good sign."

The Rangers (20-15) moved a season-high five games over .500, while the White Sox still had the AL's best record at 23-12.

In an eventful game for third basemen, Beltre had a throwing error in top of the sixth to end his streak of 44 games without an error that dated back to last September and was the second longest in the career for the four-time Gold Glove winner -- he had a 53-game streak in 2006.

Wednesday, May 11 Scoreboard

San Diego 7, Chicago Cubs 4

San Diego 1, Chicago Cubs 0

Baltimore 9, Minnesota 2

Texas 6, Chicago White Sox 5

Houston 5, Cleveland 3 (F/16)

Colorado 8, Arizona 7

Seattle 6, Tampa Bay 5 (F/11)

San Francisco 5, Toronto 4 (F/13)

Kansas City 7, New York Yankees 3

Washington 3, Detroit 2    

Boston 13, Oakland 3

Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 1

Pittsburgh 5, ,Cincinnati 4

Miami 3, Milwaukee 2

St. Louis 5, Los Angeles Angels 2

New York Mets 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 3

Thursday, May 12 Schedule (All Times Central)

Kansas City at New York, 6:05 p.m.

Detroit at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

Houston at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 6:10 p.m.

San Diego at Milwaukee 7:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

St. Louis at Los Angeles, 9:05 p.m.

New York at Los Angeles, 9:10 p.m.

Friday, May 13 Schedule (All Times Central)

Pittsburgh at Chicago, 1:20 p.m.

Detroit at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

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

Miami at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Houston at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

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

Toronto at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

San Diego at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.

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

New York at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

San Francisco at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

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

St. Louis at Los Angeles, 9:10 p.m.

Saturday, May 14 Schedule (All Times Central)

Houston at Boston, 12:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m.

Miami at Washington, 12:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 3:10 p.m.

Oakland at Tampa Bay, 5:10 p.m.

Detroit at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Miami at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

San Diego at Milwaukee, 6:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Kansas City, 6:15 p.m.

Toronto at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

New York Mets at Colorado, 7:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Arizona, 7:10 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Seattle 8:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:10 p.m.

Sunday, May 15 Schedule (All Times Central)

Chicago White Sox at New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 12:10 p.m.

Oakland at Tampa Bay, 12:10 p.m.

Detroit at Baltimore, 12:35 p.m.

Houston at Boston, 12:35 p.m.

Miami at Washington, 12:35 p.m.

Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 12:35 p.m.

San Diego at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Kansas City, 1:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 p.m.

Toronto at Texas, 2:05 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Seattle, 3:10 p.m.

New York Mets at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Arizona, 3:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Los Angeles Dodgers, 7 p.m.