Mets Score in Ninth To Beat Cubs, Cardinals Postponed

BY ESPN

New York's closer escaped a bases-loaded jam with a game-ending double play after Rene Rivera drove in the tiebreaking run with two outs in the top of the ninth, lifting New York over the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Familia walked Addison Russell and Miguel Montero to start the ninth, then Javier Baez reached on a bunt single when third baseman Jose Reyes threw wide to first. Pinch-hitter Matt Szczur hit a grounder to first baseman James Loney, and Loney threw out Russell at the plate.

Kris Bryant then hit into a 5-4-3 double play to give Familia his 33rd save in 33 chances this season and 49th straight dating to Aug. 1, 2015.

"I just always try in a situation like that, to throw my sinker down and let them make contact with a groundball and believe in myself," Familia said. "I just try to believe and think I can do it."

Familia's teammates kept their cool, too

"I know Familia is going to do it," catcher Rivera said. "I know he has been there before. After the first couple of batters, I went out there and gave him support."

Rivera had the third single in the ninth -- following hits by Loney and Asdrubal Cabrera -- off Hector Rondon (1-2) as the Mets beat the Cubs for the fifth time in six games after sweeping them in last year's NL Championship Series.

Hansel Robles (4-3) pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the win.

All-Star right-handers Jake Arrieta of the Cubs and Noah Syndergaard of the Mets returned to dominant form in no decisions.

Arrieta retired 14 of the first 15 Mets hitters, including 12 straight following Yoenis Cespedes' single in the first. He allowed one run and struck out eight in seven innings, his longest outing since June 11. Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner got back on track after allowing four or more earned runs in three consecutive starts for the first time since 2012.

Cardinals, Padres Postponed

The San Diego Padres juggled their rotation after Tuesday night's game against the St. Louis Cardinals was postponed because of anticipated storms that finally materialized about one hour and 45 minutes after the scheduled start.

Busch Stadium was dry but empty when heavy rains began.

The Tuesday night pitching matchup, Colin Rea vs. Carlos Martinez, moves to the Wednesday opener at 2:15 p.m. ET. Paul Clemens gets a spot start in the second game set for 8:15 p.m. ET and will oppose Jaime Garcia.

Andrew Cashner gets bumped back a day to the series finale on Thursday, opposing Adam Wainwright.

Clemens (1-0, 4.73) made two starts for Miami, the most recent one on June 25, three days before being claimed by the Padres. In 14 starts for Triple-A New Orleans he's 6-4 with a 4.30 ERA.

Both clubhouses were closed after the postponement was announced.

White Sox 6, Mariners 1

Melky Cabrera's home run gave Chicago the lead. Todd Frazier's shot in the ninth gave the White Sox a much needed opportunity to relax.

Cabrera hit a tie-breaking homer leading off the seventh inning, Frazier added a two-run shot in the ninth and the White Sox snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

After sputtering to open the second half of the season, the White Sox used three home runs and a strong performance from lefty Jose Quintana to finally snap their skid.

"It's good to get the one out of the way and kind of be able to relax again and hopefully get on a roll," center fielder J.B. Shuck said.

Cabrera lined his ninth home run of the season -- and second batting right-handed -- just over the wall in left field off Seattle starter Wade Miley (6-7) to snap a 1-1 tie. Shuck added an RBI single later in the seventh inning and Frazier capped the White Sox's first win since July 9 with his 27th home run in the ninth.

Brett Lawrie also hit a solo home run, his 12th.

Tuesday, July 19 Scoreboard

New York Mets, Chicago Cubs 1

New York Yankees 7, Baltimore 1

Los Angeles Dodgers 8, Washington 4

Miami 2, Philadelphia 1 (F/10)

Pittsburgh 3, Milwaukee 2

Boston 4, San Francisco 0

Minnesota 6, Detroit 2

Atlanta 5, Cincinnati 4 (F/11)

Cleveland 7, Kansas City 3

St. Louis, San Diego, Postponed

Tampa Bay 10, Colorado 1

Toronto 5, Arizona 1

Los Angeles Angels 8, Texas 6

Oakland 4, Houston 3 (F/10)

Chicago White Sox 6, Seattle 1

Wednesday, July 20 Schedule (All Times Central)

Atlanta at Cincinnati, 11:35 a.m.

Minnesota at Detroit, 12:10 p.m.

New York at Chicago, 1 p.m.

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

San Diego at St. Louis, 1:15 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Colorado, 2:10 p.m.

Houston at Oakland, 2:35 p.m.

Chicago at Seattle, 2:40 p.m.

Toronto at Arizona, 2:40 p.m.

San Francisco at Boston, 6 p.m.

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

Los Angeles at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Miami at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

San Diego at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.

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