Cubs Beat Pirates, Brewers Down Cardinals

By ESPN

On most days, Kris Bryant's three solid plays at third base would have covered the defensive highlights for the Chicago Cubs.

This time, Bryant had to settle for a perfect view of Addison Russell's sliding grab in the seventh inning.

"I had a front-row seat and that was one of the best catches I've seen," Bryant said.

Bryant hit his 36th homer and Russell drove in two runs to help the Cubs to a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night, completing a series sweep. But it was the defense by the left side of Chicago's All-Star infield that stole the show.

Andrew McCutchen's bases-loaded walk trimmed Chicago's lead to 5-2 with two outs in the seventh before Gregory Polanco hit a flare down the third-base line that looked like trouble for the Cubs.

Russell sprinted over from shortstop and made a terrific catch near the home bullpen, drawing a huge ovation from the crowd of 38,137 at Wrigley Field and several swear words from his incredulous teammates.

"It was an awesome moment for us," Russell said.

Brewers 3, Cardinals 1

Matt Garza is finally healthy and it's beginning to show.

The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander pitched into the eighth inning for the first time this season, leading his team to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

"I've just been trying to get back to normal," Garza said. "I finally feel back to where I should be. I'm not fighting my body anymore. I'm not fighting my pitches."

Garza missed more than two months at the start of the season with a strained right lat muscle and struggled in July before showing more consistency in August.

"I'm actually getting to be able to play pain-free and it's exciting for me," Garza said. "It's been three, four years since I have been like this. I found my slider, my breaking stuff. I'm just going to embrace the moment and go out there and have some fun."

Garza (5-6) gave up one run and three hits in seven-plus innings while walking two and striking out eight.

"It was another start where he was very good," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsel said. "He's got a little string going right now where he's really making pitches."

Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a three-run homer off Luke Weaver (1-2) in the third inning for the Brewers, who snapped a six-game losing streak.

Yadier Molina hit a solo home run in the fourth for the Cardinals giving them a homer in a franchise-record 20 consecutive games.

Tigers 3, White Sox 2

JaCoby Jones is the latest youngster to give the Detroit Tigers a boost in their push for a postseason spot.

Jones doubled twice in his second major league game, then dashed home for the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Collins in the ninth inning to lift the Tigers over the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday.

After a day after doubling, singling and driving in two runs in his debut, Jones scored twice to help the Tigers complete a three-game sweep.

"He's been a real spark plug for us -- a shot in the arm," teammate Justin Verlander said. "It's a lot of fun to watch, and hopefully it's the beginning of an amazing career."

The Tigers acquired Jones last year when they traded Joakim Soria to Pittsburgh. Around the same time, they also traded David Price and Yoenis Cespedes, receiving pitchers Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Michael Fulmer in those deals.

Fulmer has become a front-runner for rookie of the year this season, and Norris and Boyd have also made contributions. Now Jones is in the majors and off to a fine start.

Wednesday, August 31 Scoreboard

Detroit 3, Chicago White Sox 2

Boston 8, Tampa Bay 6

Texas 14, Seattle 1

Houston 4, Oakland 3

Colorado 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 0

San Francisco 4, Arizona 2

Toronto 5, Baltimore 3

Los Angeles Angels 3, Cincinnati 0

Washington 2, Philadelphia 1

Cleveland 8, Minnesota 4

Atlanta 8, San Diego 1

New York Mets 5,  Miami 2

Chicago Cubs 6, PIttsburgh 5

Milwaukee 3,  St. Louis 1

Los Angeles Dodgers 10, Colorado 8

New York Yankees 5, Kansas City 4 (F/13)

Thursday, September 1 Schedule (All Times Central)

San Diego at Atlanta, 11:10 a.m.

Miami at New York, 6:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Chicago, 7:05 p.m.

Chicago at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

Friday, September 2 Schedule (All Times Central)

San Francisco at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 p.m.

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

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Miami at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

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

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

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

Houston at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

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

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

Arizona at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

Boston at Oakland, 9:05 p.m.

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

San Diego at Los Angeles Dodgers, 9:10 p.m.

Saturday, September 3 Schedule (All Times Central)

San Francisco at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 p.m.

Houston at Texas, 3:05 p.m.

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 3:10 p.m.

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

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

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Miami at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

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

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

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

Arizona at Colorado, 7:10 p.m.

Boston at Oakland, 8:05 p.m.

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

San Diego at Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:10 p.m.

Sunday, September 4 Schedule (All Times Central)

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

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

New York Yankees at Baltimore, 12:35 p.m.

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 12:35 p.m.

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.

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

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

San Francisco at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 p.m.

Houston at Texas, 2:05 p.m.

Boston at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.

Miami at Cleveland, 3:10 p.m.

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

San Diego at Los Angeles Dodgers, 3:10 p.m.

Arizona at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

Washington at New York Mets, 7 p.m.