Cubs Win Battle Of Aces Over Cardinals, Major League Roundup -- June 18

(St. Louis, MO) -- Jeff Samardzija pitched eight-and-one-third innings and allowed two runs on seven hits to get the win, as the Cubs topped the Cardinals and ace Adam Wainwright 4-2 at Busch Stadium. Ryan Sweeney and Cody Ransom hit home runs for the Cubs. Sweeney had two runs driven in. Carlos Beltran had two hits including a home run for the Cards and Yadier Molina had three hits. Wainwright allowed four runs on seven hits in seven innings but took to the loss to snap a five-start winning streak. He's 10-4 on the season.

Phillies' Big Inning Leads To Win Over Nats

(Philadelphia, PA) -- Michael Young had three hits and Kevin Frandsen drove in two runs, backing the pitching of Cliff Lee in a 4-2 win for the Phillies over the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Lee allowed two runs on five hits over eight innings and struck out nine to improve to 9-2. Jonathan Papelbon earned his 14th save. Jason Werth and pinch-hitter Jeff Kobernus hit home runs for the Nationals off Lee but that was all of their offense. Ross Detwiler took the loss and fell to 2-5.

Harvey Flirts With No-Hitter As Mets Beat Braves

(Atlanta, GA) -- Matt Harvey took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Mets held on to beat the Braves 4-3 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader at Turner Field. Jason Heyward broke up the bid with an infield single leading off the seventh for Atlanta. Harvey struck out a career-high 13 while allowing three runs in seven-plus frames to improve to 6-1. Bobby Parnell got the final four outs for his 10th save. Marlon Byrd singled in a run and John Buck homered for New York, which led 4-0 before the Braves scored three times in the eighth. Alex Wood took the loss for Atlanta. Jordan Schafer singled in two and Heyward doubled in a run for the Braves.

Zack Wheeler fired six shutout innings in his Major League debut as the Mets cruised past the Braves 6-1 to sweep the doubleheader at Turner Field. Wheeler struck out seven while giving up four hits and five walks to earn the win. Anthony Recker smacked a two-run homer and Omar Quintanilla also drove in two for the Mets, who have won three-of-four. Justin Upton drove in the lone run for the Braves, who had won three in-a-row coming into the day. Paul Maholm fanned seven over seven innings of two-run ball but fell to 7-6 with the loss.

Pirates Blank Reds

(Cincinnati, OH) -- Pedro Alvarez drove in two as the Pirates took a 4-0 win over the Reds at Great American Ballpark. Starling Marte and Russell Martin also recorded an RBI while Charlie Morton tossed five-and-a-third innings of three-hit ball for his first win. Pittsburgh has won two-of-three as the team's split the first pair in this four-game set. Mat Latos gave up three runs over five innings and struck out nine but fell to 6-1 with the loss for Cincinnati. The Redlegs managed just three hits in the loss. Cincy had won three out of four.

Goldschmidt Lifts D'backs Past Marlins

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Paul Goldschmidt smacked a walk-off solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Diamondbacks to a 3-2 win over the Marlins in the middle of a three-game series at Chase Field.  Martin Prado hit a two-run home run in the fourth for the D'backs, who snapped a four-game skid. David Hernandez was credited with the victory. Derek Dietrich tripled in a run and Adeiny Hechavarria also plated a run for Miami, which had won its previous two. Chad Qualls fell to 2-1 with the loss.

Indians Top Royals

(Cleveland, OH) -- The Indians scored three times in the bottom of the eighth to go ahead and beat the Royals 4-3 in Cleveland. Michael Bourn, Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley each knocked in a run in the decisive inning for Cleveland, which has won two-of-three. Cody Allen picked up the win in relief. Vinnie Pestano earned his second save. Eric Hosmer knocked in and scored a run for Kansas City, which had won two in-a-row. Kelvin Herrera suffered the loss in relief.

Orioles Handle Tigers

(Detroit, MI) -- Adam Jones clubbed a three-run homer and J.J. Hardy added a two-run shot to lead the Orioles in a 5-2 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park. Zach Britton tossed 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball to pick up his first win while Jim Johnson nailed down his major-league leading 26th save. Baltimore has won four of its last six and beat Justin Verlander for the first time in club history. Verlander was touched up for five runs in as many innings as he fell to 8-5 for Detroit. Matt Tuiasosopo hit a solo homer for the Tigers, who had won three of their previous four.

Red Sox Walk Off On Rays

(Boston, MA) -- Jonny Gomes belted a two-run homer to lift the Red Sox to a 3-1 win over the Rays to sweep a doubleheader in Boston. Daniel Nava blasted a solo shot in the second for Boston, which has won three-of-four. Andrew Bailey held on for his third win despite allowing a solo homer from Kelly Johnson to tie the game in the ninth. Tampa Bay prospect Wil Myers picked up his first career hit in the night cap. Joel Peralta suffered the loss in relief. The Rays have lost three in-a-row, including a 5-1 setback in the first game.  David Ortiz went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Red Sox in the opener. Alfredo Aceves pitched five innings of one-run ball to improve to 4-1. Chris Archer was charged with four runs in less than five frames to take the loss for Tampa Bay.

A's Increase Division Lead With Win Over Rangers

(Arlington, TX) -- Brandon Moss and John Jaso hit home runs off Rangers ace Yu Darvish, leading the Athletics to a 6-2 win over Texas at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Jarrod Parker won his fifth straight start with a three-hit, two-run performance over seven innings. A.J. Pierzynski drove in a pair of runs with one hit for the Rangers, who fell three games back of Oakland for the AL West lead.  Darvish took the loss to fall to 7-3. Parker improved to 6-6.

Twins Wash White Sox

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Joe Mauer went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer to power the Twins in a 7-5 win over the White Sox at Target Field.  Ryan Doumit added a pair of RBI while going 3-for-4 and Trevor Plouffe also knocked in a couple of runs for Minnesota. Jared Burton recorded the win in relief while Glen Perkins notched his 17th save as the Twins won their second in three games. Conor Gillaspie hit a two-run homer for Chicago while Paul Konerko went 4-for-4 with an RBI in defeat. Ramon Troncoso suffered the loss in relief for the Pale Hose, who have lost five of their last six.

Mariners Drop Angels In Ten

(Anaheim, CA) -- Kendrys Morales singled in the winning run in the top of the 10th inning to give the Mariners a 3-2 win over the Angels in Anaheim. Raul Ibanez and Justin Smoak hit back-to-back solo homers in the second inning for Seattle, which snapped a two-game slide. Charlie Furbush picked up the win and Yoervis Medina added his first save.  Mark Trumbo homered to make it 2-1 in the second and Albert Pujols tied the game in the eighth for Los Angeles, which has lost two-of-three.  Garrett Richards suffered the loss in relief.

Blue Jays Roll Rockies

(Toronto, Ontario) -- Edwin Encarnacion lifted a two-run homer and knocked in three runs as the Blue Jays beat the Rockies 8-3 in Toronto.  J.P. Arencibia added three hits, a solo shot and two RBI for Toronto, which has won seven in-a-row. Maicer Izturis also left the ballpark in the win. Esmil Rogers struck out five over 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball for the victory. Jeff Francis gave up all eight runs in six frames for the loss. Wilin Rosario drove in and scored a run for Colorado, which has lost the first two of this three-game series.

Astros Rout Brewers

(Houston, TX) -- Matt Dominguez hit a grand slam and Carlos Pena hit a three-run shot to lead the Astros to a 10-1 drubbing of the Brewers at Minute Maid Park. Dominguez set a new career high for RBI in a single game.  Starting pitcher Jordan Lyles allowed one run on seven hits in seven innings to improve to 4-1. Alfredo Figaro took the loss for the Brewers and fell to 1-1. Scooter Gennett drove in their only run of the game. The Astros have won five of their last six games.

Tuesday, June 18 Scoreboard

MLB NL

New York Mets 4, Atlanta Braves 3 (G1)

Philadelphia Phillies 4, Washington Nationals 2

New York Mets 6, Atlanta Braves 1 (G2)

Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Cincinnati Reds 0

Chicago Cubs 4, St. Louis Cardinals 2

Arizona Diamondbacks 3, Miami Marlins 2

San Francisco Giants 5, San Diego Padres 4

MLB AL

Boston Red Sox 5, Tampa Bay Rays 1 (G1)

Cleveland Indians 4, Kansas City Royals 3

Baltimore Orioles 5, Detroit Tigers 2

Oakland Athletics 6, Texas Rangers 2

Boston Red Sox 3, Tampa Bay Rays 1 (G2)

Minnesota Twins 7, Chicago White Sox 5

Seattle Mariners 3, Los Angeles Angels 2 (10 inn)

MLB Interleague

Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees (PPD)

Toronto Blue Jays 8, Colorado Rockies 3

Houston Astros 10, Milwaukee Brewers 1

Wednesday, June 19 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB NL

2:40 p.m. - Miami Marlins at Arizona Diamondbacks

2:45 p.m. - San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants

6:05 p.m. - Washington Nationals at Philadelphia Phillies

6:10 p.m. - New York Mets at Atlanta Braves

6:10 p.m. - Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds

7:15 p.m. - Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals

MLB AL

12:08 p.m. - Baltimore Orioles at Detroit Tigers

6:05 p.m. - Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians

6:10 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox

7:05 p.m. - Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers

7:10 p.m. - Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins

9:05 p.m. - Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels

MLB Interleague

6:05 p.m. - Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees

6:07 p.m. - Colorado Rockies at Toronto Blue Jays

7:10 p.m. - Milwaukee Brewers at Houston Astros