Pirates Blank Cardinals, Cubs Sweep Brewers

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Nick Kingham carried a perfect game into the seventh inning in his major league debut Sunday on the way to a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

No pitcher had taken a perfect game bid so far in his debut since the modern era began in 1961. But it ended in the seventh when Cardinals Paul DeJong singled with two outs.

The Pirates took a three-game sweep and now stand in first place in the NL Central.  The Cardinals fell to third.

Cardinals Luke Weaver gave up only three hits and walked one. But in the sixth, he gave up a pair of singles then loaded the bases with a walk. Pittsburgh's Elias Diaz hit a single that drove in two runs and two more came home off reliever Jordan Hicks.

Cubs 2, Brewers 0

The Chicago Cubs completed a four-game sweep Sunday over the Milwaukee Brewers, winning 2-0.

It was the first time the Cubs have won four in a row despite the fact they scored three or less runs in all four games since at least 1908.

Tyler Chatwood gave up only two hits over seven innings and also had an RBI single.

Danny Winkler Dependable Reliever

Danny Winklerm an Effingham St. Anthony graduate, has been one of the Atlanta Braves most dependable relievers this season . . . tweeted Braves reporter Grant McAuley.

Winkler struck out two batters and stranded two runners to protect a 4-1 lead heading into the ninth of Saturday's game against Philadelphia. The Braves won 4-1.

Winkler has a 1-0 record and a 1.38 ERA.

Dodgers pulls Rookie of Year

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled 2017 rookie of the year Cody Bellinger from Sunday’s game against the Giants after he didn’t run hard on a deep drive and then got doubled off on a liner to shortstop. The Dodgers have stumbled out of the gate to a 12-15 record.

Sunday, April 29 Scoreboard

Pittsburgh 5, St. Louis 0

Chicago Cubs 2, Milwaukee 0

Kansas City 5, Chicago White Sox 4

Baltimore 5, Detroit 3

Toronto 7, Texas 2

Boston 4, Tampa  Bay 3

Seattle 10, Cleveland 4

Washington 3, Arizona 1

Miami 3, Colorado 0

Atlanta 10, Philadelphia 1

Cincinnati 8 Minnesota 2

Houston 8, Oakland 4

New York Mets 14, San Diego 2

San Francisco 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

New York Yankees 2, Los Angeles Angels 1

Monday, April 30 Schedule (All Times Central)

Texas at  Cleveland, 5:10 p.m.

Colorado at Chicago Cubs, 6 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

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

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

Milwaukee at Cincinnati, 6:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Toronto at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

New York Yankees at Houston, 7;10 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

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