Phillies Crush Cubs, Dodgers Rip Cards, ML Roundup

Phillies Crush Cubs In Rubber Match

(Philadelphia, PA) -- Darin Ruf, Cody Asche and John McDonald all clubbed two-run homers as the Phillies crushed the Cubs 12-1 in the rubber match of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. Domonic Brown had two RBI and scored a run, while Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz drove in a run and scored twice for the Phils, who had lost five in-a-row coming into this series. Utley signed a two-year extension earlier in the day. Ethan Martin gave up just one run on four hits over five innings to even his mark at 1-1. Nate Schierholtz hit a solo homer for the Cubs, who have dropped six-of-seven. Jeff Samardzija was rocked for nine runs and 11 hits in less than four frames as he fell to 6-11 with the loss.

Phillies Reach Extension With Utley

(Philadelphia, PA) -- Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is staying in Philadelphia for at least two more years. The Phils have signed Utley to a contract extension through 2015.  FoxSports.com reports the deal is worth between $25 and $30-million with three vesting/club options. Utley was set to be a free agent after this season.  The 34-year-old is hitting .280 with 15 homers and 44 RBI in 85 games this season.

Dodgers Rip Cards

(St. Louis, MO) -- Hyun-Jin Ryu shut down the Cardinals' bats as the Dodgers picked up a 5-1 win to take three of four in St. Louis. Ryu pitched seven innings, allowing one unearned run and striking out seven to improve to 11-3. A.J. Ellis was 2-for-3 with a three-run homer for Los Angeles, which has won seven-of-eight. St. Louis' only run came because of a throwing error by Andre Ethier. Carlos Martinez took the loss and had to leave before the completion of the fifth inning with a right hand injury. The Cards are 2-4 in their last six.  

Tigers Trounce Indians

(Cleveland, OH) -- Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez each knocked in three runs to power the Tigers to a 10-3 win over the Indians in Cleveland. Max Scherzer improved to 17-1 after allowing two runs in seven innings for Detroit, which has won 12 straight. Prince Fielder added two RBI in the win, which moves the Tigers to seven games ahead of the Tribe in the AL Central. Zach McAllister allowed six runs in under three innings for the loss. Asdrubal Cabrera knocked in two runs for Cleveland, which had won 10-of-11 prior to this four-game sweep.

Royals Roll Red Sox

(Kansas City, MO) -- Bruce Chen tossed seven-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless ball to pace the Royals to a 5-1 win over the Red Sox in Kansas City. Chen allowed five hits and a walk as he improved to 5-0. Luke Hochevar picked up his second save for KC, which has won five-of-six. Billy Butler and Justin Maxwell each went deep in the win. Jon Lester allowed three runs, one earned, in seven innings for the loss. Stephen Drew knocked in a run for Boston, which had won two in-a-row.

Lincecum, Giants Cruise Past Brewers

(San Francisco, CA) -- Tim Lincecum fired eight scoreless innings as the Giants cruised past the Brewers 4-1 at AT&T Park. Lincecum struck out eight while giving up just one hit and one walk as he improved to 6-11. Brandon Belt smacked a three-run homer in the first inning and Brandon Crawford plated a run in the second for the Giants, who earned a split in the four-game set. Donovan Hand allowed all four runs in five frames as he fell to 0-4. Milwaukee had won the previous two games in the series.

Mets Sweep Rockies

(Flushing, NY) -- Dillon Gee fired 7 2/3 solid innings as the Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Rockies with a 2-1 win at Citi Field. Gee gave up just one run and eight hits as he evened his record at 8-8. LaTroy Hawkins closed it out for his second save. Wilmer Flores and Anthony Recker plated a run each in the fourth inning for the Mets, who had lost four-of-five before this series. Corey Dickerson hit a solo homer in the fourth for Colorado, which has lost five straight and nine of its last 10. Jeff Manship allowed two runs on four hits in five frames for his first loss.

Pirates Walk-Off Marlins In Ten

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- For the ninth time this season the Pirates have a walk-off victory.  Russell Martin hit a pinch-hit game-winning single to beat the Marlins 5-4 in 10-innings from PNC Park. Neil Walker was a perfect 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and three RBI. Garrett Cole put the Bucs in a 4-0 hole, giving up the four runs on six hits in five innings. The Pirates bullpen picked up the slack and threw five innings of shutout ball. Jared Hughes pitched a perfect 10th to earn his second win of the season. Pittsburgh has won five in-a-row. Steven Ames lost the first game of his career for Miami. Christian Yelich had three hits, including his first major league homer.

Thursday, August 8 Scoreboard

MLB NL

New York Mets 2, Colorado Rockies 1

Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Miami Marlins 4 (10 inn)

Philadelphia Phillies 12, Chicago Cubs 1

San Francisco Giants 4, Milwaukee Brewers 1

Los Angeles Dodgers 5, St. Louis Cardinals 1

MLB AL

Detroit Tigers 10, Cleveland Indians 3

Kansas City Royals 5, Boston Red Sox 1

MLB Interleague

No Games Scheduled

Friday, August 9 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB NL

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

6:10 p.m. - San Diego Padres at Cincinnati Reds

6:30 p.m. - Miami Marlins at Atlanta Braves

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

7:40 p.m. - Pittsburgh Pirates at Colorado Rockies

8:40 p.m. - New York Mets at Arizona Diamondbacks

MLB AL

1:10 p.m. - Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox

6:05 p.m. - Los Angeles Angels at Cleveland Indians

6:05 p.m. - Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees

6:07 p.m. - Oakland Athletics at Toronto Blue Jays

7:10 p.m. - Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals

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

7:10 p.m. - Texas Rangers at Houston Astros

MLB Interleague

9:10 p.m. - Milwaukee Brewers at Seattle Mariners

9:10 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Los Angeles Dodgers

9:15 p.m. - Baltimore Orioles at San Francisco Giants