Cardinals Sweep Phillies, Soriano Headed To Yankees, ML Roundup

Cards Sweep Phils

(St. Louis, MO) -- Lance Lynn fired seven strong innings as the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep of the Phillies with a 3-1 win at Busch Stadium. Lynn struck out six while giving up just one run on five hits as he improved his mark to 12-and-5.  Edward Mujica closed it out for his 30th save. Jon Jay tripled in a run during a three-run third inning for the Redbirds, who have won four in-a-row and are 5-1 since the All-Star break. Cardinals second baseman Matt Carpenter says they are not worried about the standings.

Carpenter and Matt Adams also plated a run each in the victory. Erik Kratz knocked in the lone run for the Phils, who have lost five in-a-row since opening the second half with a win.  Kyle Kendrick permitted three runs in six frames as he slipped to 9-7.

D'backs Down Cubs To Earn Series Split

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Aaron Hill homered and doubled in a run as the Diamondbacks defeated the Cubs 3-1 to split the four-game series at Chase Field. Cliff Pennington doubled in the other run for the D'backs, who are 3-4 since the All-Star break. Wade Miley tossed seven-and-two-thirds innings of one-run ball as he improved to 7-8 with his third win in four starts. Brad Ziegler closed it out for his fifth save.  Welington Castillo doubled in the lone run for the Cubs, who are 3-and-4 since the break.  Carlos Villanueva allowed three runs in five frames as he fell to 2-7 with the loss.

Soriano Headed To Yankees

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Outfielder Alfonso Soriano is heading back to the New York Yankees. Multiple reports have Soriano on a redeye flight out of Phoenix, where the Chicago Cubs were playing the Diamondbacks. He was not in the lineup in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the D'backs. Soriano says it's tough to leave, but he is happy he is going back to the Yankees.

The 37-year-old Dominican is hitting .254 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI this season.  Reports had Soriano handing Chicago president Theo Epstein a list of teams he would ok a trade to and the Yankees were on the list. Soriano played the first five seasons of his career in New York from 1999-2003.

White Sox Beat Verlander To Salvage Finale Against Tigers

(Chicago, IL) -- Tyler Flowers homered and Alexei Ramirez drove in two runs at the White Sox topped the Tigers 7-4 at U.S. Cellular Field. Jake Peavy struck out seven over seven-plus innings of four-run ball for his eighth win as Chicago salvaged the finale of the four-game series. Addison Reed collected his 26th save. Justin Verlander was touched for seven runs in six frames to fall to 10-8 for Detroit.  Torii Hunter, Brayan Pena and Victor Martinez homered for the Tigers, who had won four straight.

Mets Beat Braves To Earn Series Split

(Flushing, NY) -- Daniel Murphy singled in the go-ahead run to ignite a three-run sixth inning as the Mets beat the Braves 7-4 at Citi Field.  David Wright added an RBI triple and John Buck doubled home a run for New York, which earned a split of the four-game series. Zack Wheeler pitched six innings of four-run ball for the win and Bobby Parnell posted his 20th save. Kameron Loe took the loss in relief for Atlanta. Dan Uggla and Freddie Freeman hit home runs for the Braves.

Harper Walk-Off Propels Nats Past Bucs

(Washington, DC) -- Bryce Harper belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning for his first career walk-off as the Nationals beat the Pirates 9-7 in D.C.  Pittsburgh scored four times in the top of the ninth to tie the game at seven.  Adam LaRoche had a two-run triple for Washington, which led 4-0 in the first and 7-3 in the ninth. Ian Krol got credit for the win, while Bryan Morris was saddled with the loss. Josh Harrison went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI for the Bucs.

Marlins Sneak By Rockies

(Denver, CO) -- Giancarlo Stanton doubled in a run to kickoff a four-run ninth inning as the Marlins defeated the Rockies 5-3 in Denver. Donovan Solano hit a two-run homer for Miami, which took three-of-four in the series. Nate Eovaldi allowed three hits and a pair of walks in six innings for a no decision while Dan Jennings picked up the win. Steve Cishek earned his 20th save. Juan Nicasio struck out nine over seven innings of two-hit, shutout ball but was not part of the decision. Adam Ottavino suffered the loss. Michael Cuddyer and Wilin Rosario each knocked in a run and scored a run in the ninth for Colorado.

Reds Cool Off Dodgers

(Los Angeles, CA) -- Jay Bruce smacked a two-run homer and Xavier Paul added a solo shot, as the Reds cooled off the red-hot Dodgers with a 5-2 win at Chavez Ravine.  Cesar Izturis and Shin-Soo Choo also plated a run each for the Reds, who are 6-and-2 since the All-Star break. Mat Latos permitted two runs, just one earned, in seven-and-two-thirds innings as he improved to 10-3. Aroldis Chapman closed it out for his 24th save. Adrian Gonzalez drove in both runs for the Dodgers, who had won six straight to open the second half. Zack Greinke gave up four runs in seven frames as he fell to 8-3 with the loss.

Yankees Shut Out Rangers

(Arlington, TX) -- Hiroki Kuroda combined with two relievers on a seven-hit shutout as the Yankees blanked the Rangers 2-0 in Texas. Kuroda allowed six hits over seven innings to improve to 10-6 with the win. Mariano Rivera gave up a hit in the ninth before notching his 33rd save. Brent Lillibridge doubled home a run in the sixth and Eduardo Nunez plated another in the eighth as New York salvaged a split of the four-game set. Derek Holland took the loss for Texas.

Buehrle, Blue Jays Blank Astros

(Toronto, Ontario) -- Mark Buehrle fired his ninth career complete game shutout as the Blue Jays blanked the Astros 4-0 in the opener of a four-game series at Rogers Centre.  Buehrle struck out nine while giving up just two hits and two walks as he upped his mark to 6-7. Maicer Izturis had a two-run single, while Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind both doubled in a run and scored a run for the Jays, who snapped a season-high seven-game losing streak. Erik Bedard allowed just one run on three hits in five frames as he slipped to 3-8 with the loss. Houston is just 1-6 since the All-Star break.

Royals Rout O's

(Kansas City, MO) -- Alex Gordon and David Lough drove in two runs apiece to lead the Royals to a 7-1 rout of the Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. Billy Butler homered and scored twice for KC, which won three-of-four in the series and is 5-2 since the All-Star break.  Jeremy Guthrie tossed six innings of one-run ball as he improved to 10-7. Brian Roberts doubled in the lone run for the O's, who have lost three in-a-row after opening the second half with four straight wins. Miguel Gonzalez was tagged for six runs in less than five frames as he slipped to 8-4 with the loss.

Angels Sink Athletics

(Oakland, CA) -- Albert Pujols was 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI as the Angels sank the Athletics 8-3 in Oakland. Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo also had a pair of RBI each for Los Angeles, which has won two in-a-row. J.B. Shuck went 2-for-5 and scored three times in the win. C.J. Wilson gave up three runs in seven innings as he moved to 11-6. Dan Straily gave up five runs in 4 1/3 frames as he slipped to 6-4. Derek Norris lifted a solo shot and knocked in two runs for Oakland, which has lost two-of-three.

Mariners Mash Twins

(Seattle, WA) -- Hisashi Iwakuma struck out nine over six innings of four-hit, shutout ball to pace the Mariners to an 8-2 win over the Twins at Safeco Field.  Nick Franklin belted a three-run home run for Seattle, which rebounded from Wednesday's loss that ended an eight-game win streak. Dustin Ackley went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI in the win.  Chris Herrmann was 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI for Minnesota, which has lost two straight. Kevin Correia allowed six runs in under two frames for the loss.

Brewers Down Padres

(Milwaukee WIS) -- The Brewers' depleted offense found a way to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard, but so did a couple of pitchers on the trading block. Two days ago after Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin referred to right-hander Yovani Gallardo as "not somebody I'm motivated to move," Gallardo pitched like he wasn't going anywhere -- regardless of the team's non-waiver Trade Deadline intentions. Left-handed reliever Michael Gonzalez did not fare much better in a 10-8 loss to the Padres on Thursday afternoon at Miller Park.

Buehrle's two-hit shutout lifts Toronto from slump

(Toronto, CAN) -- It's been four years since Mark Buehrle last threw a shutout, and it seems like it's been just as long since the Blue Jays walked away with a victory. On Thursday night in Toronto, both streaks were broken. The Blue Jays were mired in a season-high seven-game slump, but Buehrle's best effort in a Toronto uniform was enough to snap the funk. The veteran southpaw took a no-hitter into the fifth and was able to complete the two-hit shutout as the Blue Jays defeated the Astros, 4-0, in front of 24,188 at Rogers Centre

Braves' Hudson On DL, Out For Season

(Flushing, NY) -- Braves pitcher Tim Hudson is lost for the season with a broken ankle.  The Braves have placed the 38-year-old right-hander on the disabled list and recalled lefty Alex Wood from Triple-A. Hudson was injured when the Mets' Eric Young Jr. stepped on the back of his right leg while the pitcher was covering first base in Wednesday night's game. Hudson was 8-7 with a 3.97 ERA this season for the NL East leaders.

Yankees May Discipline "A-Rod" Over Second Opinion

(Arlington, TX) -- ESPN New York quotes a team source as saying the Yankees are considering disciplining Alex Rodriguez for failing to tell them he was getting a second opinion on his injured quad. The Yankees' team doctor diagnosed the rehabbing third baseman with a Grade 1 quad strain last weekend, but "A-Rod's" own doctor said he found nothing wrong. Rodriguez has yet to play for the Yankees this season. He has since taken a five-day rehab assignment.

Thursday, July 25 Scoreboard

MLB NL

New York Mets 7, Atlanta Braves 4

Washington Nationals 9, Pittsburgh Pirates 7

San Diego Padres 10, Milwaukee Brewers 8

Miami Marlins 5, Colorado Rockies 3

St. Louis Cardinals 3, Philadelphia Phillies 1

Arizona Diamondbacks 3, Chicago Cubs 1

Cincinnati Reds 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

MLB AL

New York Yankees 2, Texas Rangers 0

Chicago White Sox 7, Detroit Tigers 4

Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox, (PPD)

Toronto Blue Jays 4, Houston Astros 0

Kansas City Royals 7, Baltimore Orioles 1

LA Angels of Anaheim 8, Oakland Athletics 3

Seattle Mariners 8, Minnesota Twins 2

MLB Interleague

No Games Scheduled

Friday, July 26 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB NL

12:35 p.m. - New York Mets at Washington Nationals (G1)

6:05 p.m. - New York Mets at Washington Nationals (G2)

6:10 p.m. - Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins

6:30 p.m. - St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves

7:40 p.m. - Milwaukee Brewers at Colorado Rockies

8:40 p.m. - San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks

9:10 p.m. - Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers

9:15 p.m. - Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants

MLB AL

6:05 p.m. - Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles

6:05 p.m. - Texas Rangers at Cleveland Indians

6:05 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees

6:07 p.m. - Houston Astros at Toronto Blue Jays

7:10 p.m. - Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox

9:05 p.m. - Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics

9:10 p.m. - Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners

MLB Interleague

6:08 p.m. - Philadelphia Phillies at Detroit Tigers