Cardinals Clinch Central Division Crown

>>Cards Blank Cubs, Clinch NL Central

(St. Louis, MO)  --   Lance Lynn and four St. Louis relievers led the Cardinals to an easy 7-0 victory over the Cubs at Busch Stadium.  Lynn went six innings and gave up four hits as the Cardinals clinched the National League Central.  Yadier Molina went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and three RBI in the win.  David Freese also left the park for the Cards.  Travis Wood gave up three runs in just an inning of work for the loss as the Cubs have lost four-of-five.  Starlin Castro collected three hits in the loss.

Today: Cubs at Cardinals, 3:15pm (Earlier start time due to concerns over approaching storms)

>>Burnett, Bucs Beat Reds

(Cincinnati, OH)  --  The Pirates scored twice in the third and twice in the sixth to down the Reds 4-1 at Great American Ballpark.  Marlon Byrd had three hits and knocked in two runs while Pedro Alvarez smacked a two-run homer for Pittsburgh, which has won three out of four.  A.J. Burnett delivered eight solid innings, surrendering one run on five hits.  Todd Frazier lifted a solo homer for the Reds, who have dropped three-straight.  Homer Bailey pitched five-plus innings and was responsible for four runs on four hits.  A Reds' loss to the Bucs gives Pittsburgh home field advantage in the NL Wild Card game.

Today: Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 3:10pm

>>Royals Dump White Sox

(Chicago, IL)  --  James Shields allowed one run and struck out 10 over seven innings as the Royals downed the White Sox, 6-1, at U.S. Cellular Field.  Shields improved to 13-and-9.  Billy Butler went 3-for-5 with two RBI for Kansas City, which won its 85th game of the season.  Gordan Beckham's solo homer in the sixth accounted for Chicago's only run.  Chris Sale took the loss giving up four runs and nine hits in five-and-one-third innings.  Chicago is two losses away from 100.

Today: Kansas City at White Sox, 6:10pm