Yu ends Wrigley hex
Yu Darvish tossed six innings of two-hit, shutout ball to finally earn his first win at Wrigley Field as a Cub, 5-2 over the Cincinnati Reds yesterday in Chicago.
Kris Bryant and Addison Russell homered for the only hits off Sonny Gray (5-6) as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games.
Jason Heyward drove in two insurance runs with a double as the NL Central leaders took 2-of-3 from the Reds to win just their second series since sweeping St. Louis on June 7-9.
Entering yesterday, Darvish was 0-5 with a 5.50 ERA in 13 starts at the iconic ballpark after signing a six-year, $126 million contract with Chicago in February 2018.
So when the normally stoic right-hander fanned Yasiel Puig for his final out in the sixth and a runner on base, Darvish turned to the outfield, hollered and pumped his fist.
It’s amazing,” said Darvish, who kept the game ball and joked he might give it to his wife. “I was always looking for that first win. Puig is good hitter, if I give up a homer it’s going to be a tie game, so I threw 100 percent.”
Darvish (3-4) was sharp for the second straight start and didn’t allow a hit until catcher Juan Graterol lined a soft single to center with two outs in the fifth.
“He kind of had no-hit stuff,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I was thinking that, but so did their guy. Again, Yu just keeps trending in the right direction.”
Cardinals 6, Pirates 5 — Paul Goldschmidt hit a goahead, three-run homer off Michael Feliz in the seventh inning, and host St. Louis handed Pittsburgh its fifth loss in six games.
St. Louis trailed 4-3 when Tommy Edman singled off Francisco Liriano (4-2) with one out in the seventh and José Martinez walked. Feliz relieved, and Goldschmidt followed with his 18th homer.
Brewers 5, Braves 4 — Josh Hader struck out Ozzie Albies with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth to preserve host Milwaukee’s win over Atlanta.
Christian Yelich hit his 34th homer of the season to tie the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger for the major league lead. It was Yelich’s third home run in four games.
Padres 3, Marlins 2 — Rookie right-hander Chris Paddack took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and two relievers got the final four outs to complete a three-hitter and help visiting San Diego beat Miami.
The Padres, who played their first game in 1969, are the only major league team never to have thrown a nohitter.
After Starlin Castro homered leading off the eighth, Paddack (6-4) retired the next two batters and then departed, matching the longest outing of his career.
Giants 11, Rockies 8 — Donovan Solano had four hits, including a tiebreaking home run leading off the sixth inning, and San Francisco beat Colorado to complete a four-game series sweep, its first in Denver in nearly eight years.
Pablo Sandoval sparked a three-run first inning with a two-run double and Stephen Vogt also homered for the surging Giants, who have won five straight and 12 of their last 14.
American League
Indians 7, Tigers 2 — Mike Clevinger matched his career high with 12 strikeouts in six innings, Oscar Mercado drove in two runs and host Cleveland beat Detroit.
Clevinger (3-2) struck out the side in the first two innings and had nine strikeouts through four — one against each batter in Detroit’s lineup.
Athletics 10, Mariners 2 — Homer Bailey shook off a rocky start to go six innings in his Oakland debut, Mark Canha and Jurickson Profar both homered twice and the host Athletics beat Seattle.
Chad Pinder and Ramón Laureano also went deep as the A’s matched their season high with six home runs despite losing Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman to an ankle injury after two innings.
Rays-Yankees, ppd. — The game between Tampa Bay Rays and host New York was postponed due to a forecast of thunderstorms and severe weather.
It will be made up today as part of a single-admission doubleheader.
Before the postponement, speedy outfielder Terrance Gore was traded to the Yankees by the Royals for cash.
Interleague
Mets 14, Twins 4 — In Minneapolis, Dominic Smith put New York in front with a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh inning, and Home Run Derby champion Pete Alonso added a 474-foot shot halfway up the third deck in a rout of Minnesota.
Amed Rosario went 4 for 4 with a home run and three RBI for the Mets.
Elsewhere in baseball — Phillies closer Héctor Neris has been suspended for three games and fined an undisclosed fine for intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head of the Dodgers’ David Freese Tuesday night . . . .
Angels pitcher Noé Ramirez has been suspended for three games and fined for throwing a pitch in the area of Houston outfielder Jake Marisnick’s head, and Los Angeles manager Brad Ausmus has been suspended a game and fined.