Cards Edge Mets, Cubs Rally In Ninth For Win

By ESPN

No blown leads this time. The Cardinals' bullpen made one big inning stand up.

Brandon Moss drove in a pair of runs during St. Louis' four-run first inning, extending his season-long streak against the Reds, and the Cardinals held on for a 5-4 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday night to even their series.

St. Louis had lost back-to-back games on walk-off hits, including a 7-5 loss to the Reds on Tuesday night that ended with a three-run homer off Seung Hwan Oh. The Cardinals' fill-in closer was the one celebrating this time after getting his eighth save in 10 chances.

"Some games you need to remember, and also there are some games you need to forget," Oh said, through the team's translator. "I want to remember that (loss) and move forward."

St. Louis sent nine batters to the plate against Cody Reed (0-6) in the first inning, with Moss and Greg Garcia each driving in a pair of runs. Stephen Piscotty added a solo homer, the Cardinals' fifth in two games.

Moss and Jhonny Peralta returned from the disabled list at the start of the series and have contributed as the teams split the first two games. Moss is 5 for 9 with three doubles and a homer.

For the season, he's 12 of 28 (.429) against the Reds with three doubles and five homers.

"He's taking some great swings," manager Mike Matheny said. "In the first inning, that was a great at-bat he put together."

Michael Wacha (7-7) gave up a pair of runs in five innings as he won his fifth straight decision, and the bullpen took it from there.

Cubs 5, Marlins 4

The winning rally lacked a signature hit, and that was just fine with the Chicago Cubs. To them, Wednesday's comeback was a testament to the team's collective resolve.

Matt Szczur scored on A.J. Ramos' wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, capping a three-run rally that gave the Cubs a 5-4 victory and a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins.

Chicago tied it when Ramos (1-1) walked Ben Zobrist with the bases loaded and two outs.

"I think we've got a good group," Cubs starter John Lackey said. "A group that keeps fighting."

Chicago manager Joe Maddon also credited those among the Wrigley Field crowd of 41,147 who stayed until the end.

"They had so much energy," Maddon said. "It was a long day and it was hot out there and we have to get on the road. All those different mental factors, and our fans picked us up."

It was Ramos' second blown save in 33 chances this season.

Miguel Montero started the rally with a leadoff double and went to third on a single by Javier Baez. Szczur was pinch-hitting when he drew a walk from Ramos that loaded the bases. Dexter Fowler made it 3-2 with a sacrifice fly, and all the runners advanced.

Kris Bryant struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch for the second out, and Anthony Rizzo was intentionally walked to load the bases again. The strategy backfired when Ramos, who threw just 13 strikes in 35 pitches, walked Zobrist and then unloaded a game-ending wild pitch with Willson Contreras at the plate.

Tigers 2, White Sox 1

After the eighth inning, the Comerica Park scoreboard greeted J.D. Martinez with a highlight reel set to the theme song from "Welcome Back, Kotter."

Martinez hadn't played since fracturing his elbow June 16, but he pinch-hit in the eighth inning and hit Chris Sale's first pitch into the shrubs above the centerfield fence to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

"I saw the pitch coming and it looked nice and slow, and I just knew," he said.

The homer turned out to be the winning run as Detroit won its eighth straight and moved within two games of first-place Cleveland in the AL Central.

"That was like a movie," Detroit infielder Ian Kinsler said. "That was something I've never seen before. It is certainly good to have him back."

Martinez received a long standing ovation when he made his way to the plate to hit for James McCann, and it only got louder as he launched Sale's fastball an estimated 434 feet.

"That was probably the coolest moment of my career," he said. "I tried to go up there with a plan, but it was so crazy that I just decided to see the ball and hit the ball."

Yankees 9, Mets 5

Mark Teixeira brought the Subway Series to life with his bat, his legs, his temper and even some head games that caused him to grin like the Cheshire Cat.

Teixeira hit a tiebreaking, three-run drive off Steven Matz in the second inning for his first home run against a left-hander in more than a year, then got hit by a pitch that sparked a bench-clearing dustup in the New York Yankees' 9-5 win over the Mets on Wednesday night.

Two innings later, Mets reliever Hansel Robles lost his composure at Yankee Stadium and started shouting when he thought Teixeira was stealing signs while taking a lead off second base.

"If you think I have them, then change the signs," Teixeira said. "Don't try to challenge me to a duel."

Teixeira's home run, the first for the switch-hitter off a lefty since July 31 last year, put the Yankees ahead 6-3. When he batted in the fifth, Matz's first pitch hit Teixeira on the left shin.

"Are you kidding me!" Teixeira yelled.

"I know Matz is a good kid. I like him a lot. I've talked to him a few times, but listen, when you hit a home run and the next pitch is not even close to the plate and hits you, it just looks bad," Teixeira said after the game. "If it was on purpose, it's uncalled for. If it wasn't, it just looked really bad."

Effingham's Chad Green and Matz (8-8) both struggled, and Luis Severino (1-6) came out of the bullpen with 4 1/3 innings of one-hit relief for his first big league win since last Sept. 27. Green pitched in the slot of traded Ivan Nova, and it is possible Severino will take the next turn.

Wednesday, August 3 Scoreboard

Chicago Cubs 5, Miami 4

San Diego 12, Milwaukee 3

Washington 8, Arizona 3

New York Yankees 9, New York Mets 5

Baltimore 3, Texas 2

Philadelphia 5, San Francisco 4 (F/12)

Minnesota 13, Cleveland 5

Detroit 2, Chicago White Sox 1

Atlanta 8, Pittsburgh 4

St. Louis 5, Cincinnati 4

Tampa Bay 12, Kansas City 0

Toronto 3, Houston 1

Colorado 12, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

Los Angeles Angels 8, Oakland 6

Seattle 3, Boston 1

Thursday, August 4 Schedule (All Times Central)

Minnesota at Cleveland, 11:10 a.m.

Kansas City at Tampa Bay, 11:10 a.m.

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 11:35 a.m.

San Francisco at Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Detroit, 12:10 p.m.

Texas at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

Oakland at Los Angeles Angels, 6:05 p.m.

New York Mets at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Atlanta, 6:10 p.m.

Toronto at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

Boston at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.