Baez, Russell Homers Lead Cubs to Win, Cardinals Edge Mets

By ESPN

The Chicago Cubs saved their scoring and drama until the later innings. Aroldis Chapman then capped it in his Cubs' debut, even in a non-save situation.

Javier Baez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer deep into Wrigley Field's left bleachers in the seventh, Addison Russell added a grand slam in a five-run eighth and the Cubs beat the White Sox 8-1 on Wednesday night.

Jason Hammel (10-5) allowed one run and five hits while striking out seven in seven innings. Hector Rondon pitched a perfect eighth, and Chapman pitched a 1-2-3 ninth -- striking out Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia -- while hitting speeds of 103 mph.

The sellout crowd of 41,116 buzzed when the hard-throwing lefty entered the game. Afterward, Chapman's teammates were talking as much about him as the late homers.

"I thought we were getting a guy who threw 105. We only got 103," Hammel joked. "That's impressive, jaw-dropping to see."

Chapman had 20 saves in 21 chances this season with the Yankees before the Cubs acquired the hard-throwing lefty on Monday for a package of prospects.

Manager Joe Maddon said it was easier for Chapman to debut when the game wasn't on the line, especially after the lefty struggled answering reporters' questions on Tuesday related to an altercation last year with his girlfriend and ensuing 29-game suspension.

Cardinals 5, Mets 4

Just shy of a year. That's how long Jeurys Familia's saves streak lasted -- until Yadier Molina ended it with one perfectly timed swing.

Molina and pinch hitter Kolten Wong each stroked an RBI double in the ninth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals snapped Familia's string of 52 straight saves in rallying to beat the New York Mets 5-4 on Wednesday night.

"A huge boost," Wong said. "We needed this."

Yoenis Cespedes hit a go-ahead homer off Adam Wainwright to cap a three-run comeback in the seventh that gave the Mets a 4-3 lead. But then Familia, who hadn't blown a regular-season save opportunity since July 30, 2015, finally faltered.

Jedd Gyorko drew a four-pitch walk with one out in the ninth and was replaced by pinch runner Randal Grichuk. Molina hit the next pitch to deep center field, and Grichuk scored standing up to tie it.

Molina was thrown out at third by Familia (2-2) on pinch hitter Jeremy Hazelbaker's comebacker. But Hazelbaker stole second, then he scored when Wong lined a double just inside the left-field line.

"That was probably one of the top, top things I've experienced in a while," said Wong, who lost his everyday job at second base this season and got demoted to the minors last month. "To see some kind of light at the end of the tunnel was definitely something I needed and something that I've been wanting for a long, long time."

Familia's franchise-record saves streak was the third longest in major league history, behind Tom Gordon (54) and Eric Gagne (84).

Wednesday, July 27 Scoreboard

Washington 4, Cleveland 1

Miami 11, Philadelphia 1

San Diego 8, Toronto 4

Detroit 4, Boston 3

Tampa Bay 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

Cincinnati 2, San Francisco 1

Colorado 3, Baltimore 1

Pittsburgh 10, Seattle 1

St. Louis 5, New York Mets 4

Chicago Cubs 8, Chicago White Sox 1

Oakland 6, Texas 4

Arizona 8, Milwaukee 1

Atlanta 9, Minnesota 7

Houston 4, New York Yankees 1

Kansas City 7, Los Angeles Angels 5

Thursday, July 28 Schedule (All Times Central)

Colorado at New York Mets, 12:10 p.m.

Arizona at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m.

Baltimore at Minnesota, 6:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 6:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

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

Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

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

Washington at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.

Friday, July 29 Schedule (All Times Central)

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

Baltimore at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

Oakland at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Houston at Detroit, 6:10 p.m.

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

St. Louis at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 6:35 p.m.

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

Pittsburgh at Milwaukee 7:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

Boston at Los Angeles Angels, 9:05 p.m.

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

Washington at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.

Cincinnati at San Diego, 9:40 p.m.

Saturday, July 30 Schedule (All Times Central)

Baltimore at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.

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

Washington at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay, 5:10 p.m.

Oakland at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Houston at Detroit, 6:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Milwaukee, 6:10 p.m.

Chicago white Sox at Minnesota, 6:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 6:10 p.m.

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

St. Louis at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

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

Cincinnati at San Diego, 7:40 p.m.

Boston at Los Angeles Angels, 8:05 p.m.

Arizona at Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:10 p.m.

Sunday, July 31 Schedule (All Times Central)

Baltimore at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.

St. Louis at Miami, 12:10 p.m.

Oakland at Cleveland, 12:10 p.m.

Houston at Detroit, 12:10 p.m.

Colorado at New York Mets, 12:10 p.m.

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay, 12:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 12:35 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Minnesota, 1:10 p.m.

Kansas City at Texas, 2:05 p.m.

Boston at Los Angeles Angels, 2:35 p.m.

Washington at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

Arizona at Los Angeles Dodgers, 3:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at San Diego, 3:40 p.m.

Seattle at Chicago Cubs, 7 p.m.