Lester leads Cubs past Cards
CHICAGO — Jon Lester was dominant through six innings of two-hit ball in his 100th start as Cub, Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer and Chicago defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 8-5 on Thursday.
Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber each had two RBIs as Chicago took a 6-1 lead after two innings. Every Cubs starter had a hit, including three by Anthony Rizzo and two each by Heyward, Schwarber and Javier Baez.
Lester (2-0) didn’t allow a hit until Jedd Gyorko lined a single to left with one out in the fifth. The left-hander gave up a firstinning unearned run, struck out seven and walked one.
Brandon Morrow pitched a perfect ninth to complete a five-hitter and remain perfect in three save chances.
ASTROS 9, MARINERS 2: In Seattle, Charlie Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Jose Altuve hit a three-run double and Houston beat Seattle.
The Astros won their third straight behind another impressive pitching performance. Morton allowed singles to Robinson Cano, Mitch Haniger and Nelson Cruz, and otherwise baffled Seattle’s lineup.
TIGERS 13, ORIOLES 8: In Detroit, Leonys Martin hit his first big-league grand slam, Jeimer Candelario had four hits and three RBIs, and Detroit beat Baltimore to extend the Orioles’ losing streak to six.
The Tigers’ Jordan Zimmermann (1-0) gave up four runs and seven hits in 5⅓ innings, allowing two home runs to Manny Machado and one to Chris Davis. Zimmermann was pitching for the first time since being hit in the jaw by a line drive off the bat of Cleveland’s Jason Kipnis on April 11. YANKEES 4, BLUE JAYS 3: In New York, Aaron Judge hit his fifth home run for a 4-2 lead in seventh and David Robertson pitched out of an eighth-inning jam.
CC Sabathia allowed two unearned runs over 4⅓ innings in his first start since straining his right hip on April 6. Chad Green (1-0) retired five straight batters, Dellin Betances pitched a perfect seventh and Robertson delivered a lead to Aroldis Chapman, who struck out the side on 12 pitches for his third save, twice topping 100 mph.
Giancarlo Stanton had an infield single to snap an 0-for15 skid. He was 1-for-3 with a walk and is 4-for-38 with 20 strikeouts at Yankee Stadium this season.
PHILLIES 7, PIRATES 0: In Philadelphia, Jake Arrieta (2-0) struck out 10 and tossed one-hit ball over seven innings. Yacksel Rios allowed a hit in the eighth and Victor Arano finished the two-hitter with a perfect ninth.
Rhys Hoskins homered and Cesar Hernandez had a threerun single.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, GIANTS 1: In Phoenix, Zack Greinke pitched seven dominant innings and Arizona won its sixth straight series with a victory over San Francisco.
Greinke (2-1) gave up a solo homer to Brandon Belt but not much else, allowing just three hits to win his second straight start.
BRAVES 12, METS 4: In Atlanta, Preston Tucker drove in a career-high five runs, and Matt Wisler (1-0) allowed one run two hits in seven innings after being called up from the minors.
Kurt Suzuki had three hits and drove in three runs, including a two-run homer in the first off Matt Harvey (0-2).
BREWERS 12, MARLINS 3: In Milwaukee, Lorenzo Cain homered, doubled twice and scored four times, and pinch-hitter Ryan Braun launched a threerun homer that gave him 1,000 RBIs and powered Milwaukee to a victory over Miami.
Lewis Brinson, acquired from Milwaukee in the offseason trade for Christian Yelich, celebrated his return to Miller Park with his first two homers of the season for Miami.
REDS: Cincinnati’s worst start since the Great Depression prompted a quick hook for Bryan Price. The Reds fired their fifth-year manager Thursday because of their 3-15 start, the first managerial change in the major leagues this season.