Cubs, Cardinals Lose, White Sox Claim Win

By ESPN

Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam off Kyle Hendricks that helped quiet all the Chicago Cubs fans at Petco Park and overshadow a shaky day by San Diego Padres pitchers.

Renfroe's slam pushed the Padres over the Cubs 5-2 on Monday, handing Chicago its fourth straight loss.

As big as that hit was, both teams marveled at how the Cubs had only three hits yet drew 10 walks and had two batters hit by pitches.

"It was enough from an offensive standpoint to overcome what should have been probably a disaster pitching-wise," San Diego manager Andy Green said. "You get to 12 free passes, 10 walks, two hit batters, you don't win baseball games like that. It's an aberration. It's not going to be a successful formula to winning more baseball games."

The defending World Series champion Cubs have lost six straight road games. They were coming off a three-game sweep at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Said Cubs skipper Joe Maddon: "We had about 11 or 12 left on base and only three hits. That's the real tale of the tape, more so than Kyle's performance. We just have to be more efficient. We need to hit like we're capable of."

Hendricks (4-3) retired his first 10 batters before allowing seven of his final 11 to reach.

With one out in the fourth, Hendricks gave up singles to Yangervis Solarte and Wil Myers, and hit Ryan Schimpf with a pitch before Renfroe drove a 1-1 pitch into the seats in left. It was Renfroe's 10th this season and his second career grand slam.

"There were a lot of Cubs fans there and they were rooting on their team and it was loud," Renfroe said. "Obviously it quieted down real quick and Padres fans started picking up a little bit. You always want to quiet the crowd as much as possible and when you're doing that, obviously you're doing well."

Renfroe hit an inside pitch that probably was a ball. "It was the same pitch they threw me the first at-bat. I was late on the first one. I waited too long. I figured he'd come back there eventually and I got that pitch."

Renfroe's other slam was in his sixth major league game, against the Dodgers on Sept. 27, when he hit two homers and drove in seven runs. He hit four homers and drove in 14 runs in 11 games after he was called up.

Hendricks loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth and Myers drove in a run on a fielder's choice.

Hendricks was charged with five runs and six hits in five innings, struck out five and walked none.

San Diego starter Jarred Cosart allowed Jason Heyward's two-run single with two outs in the first.

Cosart lasted only four innings, giving up two runs, three hits and five walks and striking out two.

Jose Torres (3-2) pitched two scoreless, hitless innings for the win. He walked two and struck out one. Brandon Maurer pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

With San Diego leading 5-2, Padres reliever Ryan Buchter loaded the bases on three walks with one out in the seventh before Brad Hand came on and got Heyward to ground into a double-play.

Dodgers 5, Cardinals 1

With every ball that sails over the fence, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gets a little more encouraged that his lineup is finding its groove.

Not that the rookie leading the charge seems to be feeling any pressure.

Cody Bellinger, Chase Utley and Logan Forsythe hit solo home runs, leading Rich Hill and the Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 Monday for their fifth straight victory.

"We're starting to hit the ball out of the ballpark," Roberts said. "To see Logan get a homer, obviously Cody's been doing it. Chase (Utley has had) really quality at-bats and starting to hit the ball out of the ballpark, but I think if you look at our lineup, there's guys that are really grinding that aren't swinging the way we're capable of."

Los Angeles is within a half-game of the Colorado Rockies for the NL West lead, and they've powered nearer to the top of the standings behind Bellinger's early contributions.

Bellinger connected in the fourth -- it was his ninth home run in May, tying Joc Pederson and James Loney for the Dodgers rookie record for home runs in a month. Bellinger leads the team with 11 home runs and 29 RBI, thriving in his first exposure in the major leagues.

"I just try to be consistent every day," Bellinger said. "Sometimes in the outfield I kind of just look around, but, yeah, it's real, and I just try to keep going."

Hill (2-2) recovered from a bout of wildness in his last start to pitch five innings, giving up one run and two hits. In his previous outing, also against the Cardinals, he permitted five runs on four hits and seven walks in four innings.

Hill held the Cardinals hitless until Aledmys Diaz singled to lead off the fifth.

"We made some adjustments this week, mechanical adjustments, and proved to be successful and feel much more comfortable where I'm at now," Hill said. "Getting my hand out of my glove, getting timing down, and all that stuff was huge."

Mike Leake (5-3) entered the game leading the majors with a 1.91 ERA, but allowed a season-high four runs in 6 2/3 innings.

"He's been terrific. Seven innings and six hits, he gives us a chance there," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "We just couldn't get anything going offensively. Those are the days we need to offensively pick him up because he's been so shutdown."

Los Angeles got all the offense it needed in the third as Utley opened with his third home run of the season and second against St. Louis. Corey Seager later drove in Yasiel Puig with a two-out single.

Puig's sacrifice fly in the seventh snapped Leake's streak of nine quality starts to open the season.

Paul DeJong got two hits in his first career major league start after making his debut Sunday for the Cardinals.

Brandon Morrow pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth in his season debut for the Dodgers after having his contract purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

White Sox 5, Red Sox 4

David Price felt healthy and strong. Dustin Pedroia had a swollen left wrist after an awkward tumble.

Reasons for hope and concern for the Red Sox.

Price lasted five innings in his season debut in Boston's 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Monday, but the left-hander's encouraging outing took a back seat to another injury for a key teammate.

Pedroia bounced to first in the first inning and Jose Abreu slid into the bag for the out. Pedroia went right over the top of the big first baseman while trying to beat out the grounder for a hit, putting his hands on the ground to brace for the fall .

The Red Sox then pulled Pedroia in the second with a sprained wrist, and manager John Farrell said the 2008 AL MVP was headed back to Boston for tests.

"It's hard to say right now, and I think until we get the information, we'll know more then," Farrell said. "But I think anytime you're dealing with a position player's wrist, a hitter's wrist, that's always cause for concern."

Melky Cabrera homered and drove in four runs for the White Sox, who rallied for their fourth win in five games. Juan Minaya (1-0) and Tommy Kahnle each pitched a scoreless inning before David Robertson got three outs for his eighth save in nine chances.

Boston almost got a tying homer in the eighth, but Mitch Moreland's drive hooked foul in right.

"Things are going well for us right now," Cabrera said.

Price, who missed the first part of the year with a strained left elbow, walked two, hit two batters and surrendered Cabrera's three-run homer in the third. But the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner had some nice moments as well, allowing just two hits and striking out four while throwing 88 pitches, 58 for strikes.

"It's definitely a step in the right direction," said Price, in the second season of a $217 million, seven-year contact. "I felt good. Just command the baseball a little bit better with my fastball and I think things will take off for me."

Price was in line for the win before Kevan Smith hit an RBI double off Matt Barnes (3-2) in the seventh, tying it at 4. With two outs and Smith still on second, Cabrera hit a soft liner up the middle that landed in between shortstop Xander Bogaerts and second baseman Josh Rutledge.

Third base coach Nick Capra motioned for Smith to head for home. Rutledge's throw beat him to the plate, but it skipped away from catcher Christian Vazquez.

"Nicky saw what was going on," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He knew it was going to be a bang-bang play to put is in a position where he was moving, had to be a perfect throw, actually. There was a lot of moving parts over on that side."

Mookie Betts homered for Boston, which has dropped two in a row after a six-game win streak. Bogaerts had a sacrifice fly and a slick stop that started an inning-ending double play in the fifth.

Next up is a fun little Tuesday night when Chris Sale faces his former team for the first time since he was traded to Boston over the winter. Jose Quintana pitches for Chicago in a matchup of All-Star left-handers.

The White Sox saluted Sale with a highlight video during the first inning of the series opener, and the pitcher waved to the cheering crowd.

Monday, May 29 Scoreboard

Baltimore 3,  New York Yankees 2

Chicago White Sox 5, Boston 4

Houston 16, Minnesota 8

Los Angeles Dodgers 5, St. Louis 1

Seattle 6, Colorado 5

Washington 3, San Francisco 0

Pittsburgh 4, Arizona 3

Cleveland 5, Oakland 3

New York mets 4, Milwaukee 2

San Diego 5, Chicago Cubs 2

Detroit 10, Kansas city 7

Toronto 17, Cincinnati 2

Miami 4, Philadelphia 1

Tampa Bay 10, Texas 8

Atlanta 6, Los  Angeles Angels 3

Tuesday, May 30 Schedule (All Times Central)

Oakland at Cleveland, 5:10 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis, 6 p.m.

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

Arizona at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

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

Seattle at Colorado, 6:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

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

Houston at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

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

Washington at San Francisco, 9 p.m.

Atlanta at Los Angeles Angels, 9:07 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at San Diego, 9;10 p.m.