Martinez Leads Cardinals To Win, Pirates Trounce Cubs

By ESPN

Carlos Martinez was having no problem hitting 98 and 99 mph with his fastball in the eighth and ninth innings.

It was a message, all right.

"I think he was trying to show us he was still OK," manager Mike Matheny said after Martinez threw a three-hitter and struck out 10 to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-0 victory Monday over the San Diego Padres.

"He did it in the eighth, too. That was for me, I think, just to show me he wasn't tired," Matheny said. "Believe me, I was cheering him on. I always am. It was set up for Carlos. He did a great job finishing it."

The right-hander was remarkably efficient, allowing only three singles and three walks while throwing 109 pitches. The Padres didn't get a runner into scoring position the whole game and never had two runners on in any inning.

Catcher Yadier Molina fielded Cory Spangenberg's soft grounder and threw him out to end the game, and then wrapped Martinez in a big hug. Molina hit a two-run, bases-loaded single in the fourth.

Martinez smiled when asked about still throwing hard in the final innings.

"In the eighth inning he asked if I was tired and I said, `No, I'm going to finish my game,' `' he said through a translator. "That was my way of showing I'm not tired.' `'

It was the second career shutout and complete game for Martinez (11-10). He got his first of each on June 10 when he threw a four-hitter and struck out 11 in a 7-0 victory against Philadelphia. He also pitched nine scoreless innings against San Francisco on May 20 in a game the Cardinals lost 3-1 in the 13th.

Martinez earned a big hug from Molina after the catcher threw out Cory Spangenberg to end the game.

Martinez said he's motivated by going deep into games.

"Complete games, or games where I'm really effective, I need that mentally to use that for my benefit," he said. "It shows me what I'm capable of and what kind of season I want to have and what I aspire to do."

The Cardinals remained three games behind Colorado in the race for the NL's second wild card.

"We just couldn't get anything going against Carlos Martinez today," Padres manager Andy Green said. "I thought he was really, really good. His slider was really good. Stuff was coming out great. Probably just not enough battle at-bats against him."

Luis Perdomo (7-9) pitched well except for the fourth, when the first four Cardinals reached base. Tommy Pham singled, Paul DeJong walked and Jose Martinez singled to load the bases. Molina hit a fly ball to left-center field that bounced off the glove of left fielder Jose Pirela after a long run.

Green said it was a tough play.

"It's a play I think he thinks he should make," the manager said. "It wasn't by any means an easy catch. He ran a really long way. He kind of opened that gap with Yadi. He kind of hit it right in the perfect spot."

Perdomo allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings, struck out six and walked three.

Pirates 12, Cubs 0

Jake Arrieta let the ball go and his right leg seized up in pain. And all of a sudden, Arrieta's sizzling second half came to an abrupt halt.

Just, the Chicago Cubs ace hopes, a temporary one.

Arrieta gave up home runs to Pittsburgh rookies Josh Bell and Max Moroff before exiting in the third inning with a cramp in his right hamstring and the Pirates piled on late in a 12-0 victory over Chicago on Monday.

Arrieta (14-9) was already trailing 3-0 with one out in the third when his first pitch to Bell sailed up and in. The 2015 Cy Young Award winner clutched his leg in obvious pain . He attempted to stretch it out during a visit by manager Joe Maddon and Chicago's trainers but a test pitch ended with Arrieta unable to let go of the ball and in obvious pain.

"As I started my drive to the plate, it really grabbed pretty good and I tried to throw a warm up pitch and it just wasn't going to happen," Arrieta said. "It's unfortunate but I think it's going to be OK."

Arrieta believes he will be able to make his next scheduled start on Saturday against Milwaukee.

"I don't forsee it being a serious deal," Arrieta said.

Arrieta began the day in the middle of a blazing second half reminiscent of the tear he put together in 2015 on his way to the Cy Young, coming in 6-1 with a1.59 ERA since the All-Star break to help the World Series champions break out of a funk and move atop the NL Central. Despite the loss, the Cubs maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over the Brewers, who lost to Cincinnati.

Long before the pain arrived, Arrieta's usual crispness was missing and Bell pounced.

The 25-year-old first baseman is one of the bright spots on an uneven season for Pittsburgh. Bell's two-run homer to the seats in right field off Arrieta in the first inning gave him 24 on the season, breaking the National League record for most home runs by a rookie switch hitter set by former Atlanta star Chipper Jones in 1995. Bell never hit more than 13 home runs in the minors.

"I'm definitely excited about laying that foundation for myself," Bell said. "It's something that I always wanted in the minor leagues but never really harnessed. But I'm just laying that foundation and hopefully, I can continue to grow on it."

Moroff entered hitting .160 on the season but went 3 for 5 with his third home run and four RBI. Chad Kuhl (7-10) allowed four hits in seven innings for the Pirates, striking out a career-high eight. Pittsburgh has won three straight following a four-game losing streak.

Indians 5, White Sox 3

It's been nearly two weeks since the Cleveland Indians lost a game.

Trevor Bauer's winning streak dates all the way to July.

Bauer won his eighth decision in a row, and the Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Monday for their 12th straight victory.

Bauer (15-8) gave up two runs on three hits with nine strikeouts and one walk over 6 1/3 innings. A day after tying the major league record with five extra-base hits, including two homers, Jose Ramirez homered again for the Indians, his 23rd of the year .

Carlos Santana added his 22nd home run for the AL Central-leading Indians, who are two shy of the team-record 14 consecutive wins set last season.

"It's been great," Bauer said. "Everyone is playing so well. Staff as a whole, the bullpen, everyone has been hitting. Everyone is having fun. Winning is fun. It is contagious."

James Shields (2-6) kept the White Sox in the game before taking a line drive by Francisco Mejia off the knee in the top of the seventh. Shields limped off the field and is considered day-to-day.

The veteran right-hander allowed four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, extending his streak to 11 starts without a win.

The 21-year-old Mejia, a top catching prospect, had a run-scoring single in the fourth for his first hit and RBI in his first career start for the Indians.

"He squared up three balls today," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He's just a good hitter."

The White Sox also received a shot in the arm from newcomer Rymer Liriano, who drove in all three runs with a two-run homer in the fifth -- his first hit with Chicago -- and a run-scoring double in the seventh.

The 26-year-old outfielder's only other career home run came with the San Diego Padres in 2014. He hadn't appeared in the major leagues since then until being called up on Saturday.

"We're happy for him," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He has battled through a lot in his career. He had an injury a few years ago that could have put him out of the game. But he has battled through it, and it was nice to have him contribute like he did today."

Relievers Joe Smith, Tyler Olson and Bryan Shaw set up Cody Allen, who survived two walks to pitch a scoreless ninth for his 24th save in 28 chances.

Monday, September 4 Scoreboard

Cincinnati 5, Milwaukee 4

Kansas City 7, Detroit 6

New York Mets 11, Philadelphia 7

New York Yankees 7, Baltimore 4

Cleveland 5, Chicago White Sox 3

Colorado 4, San Francisco 3

Pittsburgh 12, Chicago Cubs 0

Los Angeles Angels 11, Oakland 9 (F/11)

St. Louis 2, San Diego 0

Houston 6, Seattle 2

Toronto 10, Boston 4

Washington 7, Miami 2

Tampa Bay 11, Minnesota 4

Texas 8, Atlanta 2

Arizona 13, Los Angeles Dodgers 0

Tuesday, September 5 Schedule (All Times Central)

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

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Toronto at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Kansas City at Detroit, 6:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at Cincinnati, 6;10 p.m.

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

Washington at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

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

Texas at Atlanta, 6:35 p.m.

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

San Francisco at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

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

Houston at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

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

St. Louis at San Diego, 9:10 p.m.