Homers Lead Cardinals to Win, Cubs Split

PHILADELPHIA -- Home runs came easily after weeks of alarming non-hitting from the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday.

St. Louis had three home runs and edged the Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 at Citizens Bank Park.

Down two runs in the seventh, Matt Carpenter got the Cardinals going in the right direction with a two-run double and that tied the game. Two batters later, Jose  Martinez nailed a double that gave the Cardinals the lead.

Matt Carpenter came through again with the game-winner in the eighth, nailing a fastball inside the right-field foul pole.

Tommy Pham and Kolten Wong contributed solo home runs.

Jordan Hicks finished out to earn the win as he put the Phillies down in order in the top of the ninth.

Dodgers 4, Cubs 3

Cubs 2, Dodgers 1

Albert Almora Jr. nailed a walk-off single in the 10th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 win in the second game of a doubleheader for a split against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field Tuesday.

Kris Bryant led off the 10th with a triple before the Dodgers intentionally walked Javier Baez to set up the game-winner from Almora. Almora came back from hitting a pop fly in the eighth inning of the first game with the bases loaded. This time around he proved he could come through.

Kyle Schwarber tied the game in the seventh at 1-1 when he pounded out a home run to right field. It was his 13th homer of the season.

Mike Montgomery escaped trouble most of the night. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the 10th against Justin Hancock before Rob Zastryzny came in and got Yasmani Grandal to fly out to end the frame.

In the opener, Kyle Farmer hit a two-run double with two outs that gave the Dodgers a 4-3 victory.

Bryant had another double in the eighth. The Cubs loaded the bases that inning, but Anthony Rizzo flied out to right to end that threat.

Tyler Chatwood struck out six in the no-decision, including Matt Kemp to end the fifth. Kemp and Manager Dave Roberts voiced their displeasure at the call and were ejected.

With one out in the second, the Cubs loaded the bases on a single by Kyle Schwarber, a single by Addison Russell and a walk to Chris Gimenez. Bryant came through with a slice down the left-field line for a ground rule double, driving in both runners.

Giants' Strickland Breaks Hand

San Francisco Giants closer Hunter Strickland pulled a LeBron James on Monday night and broke his pitching hand by punching a wall in the clubhouse after a blown save. Strickland will need surgery and will be out six to eight weeks.

Rangers Send Mendez Back Down

The Texas Rangers sent rookie left-hander Yohander Mendez back to Triple-A Round Rock yesterday for violating team rules. GM Jon Daniels didn’t say which rule Mendez violated, but said, “It’s not criminal, nothing involving MLB or the police.”

Pitcher Brault Sings National Anthem

The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t have to look for to find someone to sing the national anthem before Tuesday’s game. Pitcher Steven Brault handled the duties. Brault has the chops as he studied theater in school, although it was the only action he saw as he wasn’t used in the game.

Tuesday, June 19 Scoreboard

Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Chicago Cubs 3

Chicago Cubs 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 1 (F/10)

St. Louis 7, Philadelphia 6

Cleveland 6, Chicago White Sox 3

New York Yankees 7, Seattle 2

Washington 9, Baltimore 7

Milwaukee 3, Pittsburgh 2

Atlanta 11, Toronto 4

Cincinnati 9, Detroit 5

Tampa Bay 2, Houston 1

Minnesota 6, Boston 2

Colorado 10, New York Mets 8

San Francisco 6, Miami 3

Oakland 4, San Diego 2 (F/10)

Wednesday, June 20 Schedule (All Times Central)

Detroit at Cincinnati, 11:35 a.m.

Atlanta at Toronto, 11:37 a.m.

St. Louis at Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m.

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

Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs, 1:20 p.m.

Oakland at San Diego, 2:40 p.m.

Miami at San Francisco, 2:45 p.m.

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

Milwaukee at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Baltimore at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Boston at Minnesota, 7;10 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Houston, 7;10 p.m.

Texas at Kansas City, 7;15 p.m.

New York Mets at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.