Baez powers up Cubs
Javier Báez homered and drove in three runs, and the Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 yesterday in Chicago.
José Quintana pitched solidly into the seventh inning and Jason Heyward also went deep to help Chicago move within one-half game of first-place St. Louis in the NL Central. The third-place Brewers fell 2½ games back of the Cardinals, who had a rare Friday off before starting a twogame series at Oakland.
Báez ripped two doubles and scored twice. Quintana (9-7) also singled in a run as he won his fifth straight decision. The left-hander allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out five, and was given a five-run lead as Cubs came out swinging at home following a 3-6 trip that ended with an 8-0 drubbing at St. Louis on Thursday.
The Cubs improved to 3718 at home. They’re 21-33 away from Wrigley Field.
Three Cubs relievers finished with three scoreless innings, yielding just one single and one walk.
Ryan Braun hit a solo shot and doubled as Milwaukee lost for the fourth time in five games. Zach Davies (8-5) was roughed up for third straight start, allowing four runs in four innings.
Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, ending his career-best 19-game hitting streak.
Heyward hit his 16th homer in the first, his first leadoff blast at home since August 2014 with Atlanta.
Braun tied it in the second on his 16th homer.
The Cubs announced Ben Zobrist, who left the team three months ago to deal with a divorce, will begin his minor league assignment in South Bend, Ind.
Zobrist has been on the restricted list since May 8. The team says he would start his assignment with the South Bend Cubs yesterday.
Cubs president Theo Epstein says the 38-year-old Zobrist will eventually progress to Triple A.
Pirates 8, Mets 4 — Starling Marte’s three-run homer in the seventh inning broke open a tight game and host Pittsburgh snapped New York’s sevengame winning streak.
The Pirates led 5-4 when Marte turned on a pitch from Tyler Bashlor and sent it into the seats in left field for his 19th home run of season.
Melky Cabrera hit a tworun double during Pittsburgh’s five-run fourth inning against Steven Matz (6-7). José Osuna, starting at third base after the Pirates designated Jung Ho Kang for assignment, had two hits and an RBI for the Pirates.
Trevor Williams (4-4) overcame a shaky start to pick up his first victory since May 10.
Reds 5, Braves 2 — Joey Votto homered and drove in three runs, Alex Wood pitched 6⅔ strong innings and Cincinnati beat host Atlanta.
Wood (1-0) was sharp in his second start since returning from a season-long back injury, allowing five baserunners and solo homers to Austin Riley in the fifth and Ronald Acuña Jr. in the sixth. Wood struck out five.
Raisel Iglesias earned his 21st save in 24 chances by facing the minimum in the ninth, retiring Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman and Josh Donaldson.
American League
Indians 7, Angels 3 — Yasiel Puig drove in his first two runs for Cleveland, Mike Clevinger won his fifth consecutive decision and the Indians beat visiting Los Angeles.
Puig, acquired from Cincinnati in a blockbuster trade Wednesday, had RBI singles in the first and second, helping Cleveland take an early 6-1 lead.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound right fielder also showed off his defensive skills. He made a leaping catch on the warning track of Andrelton Simmons’ line drive in the fourth and ran down Kole Calhoun’s fly ball in the corner in the eighth.
Puig is 3-for-7 in two games for the Indians.
Clevinger (6-2) gave up one run in 6⅓ innings — a solo homer to Mike Trout in the first. The blast was Trout’s 36th of the season and moved him into a tie for the major league lead with Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich.
Indians manager Terry Francona returned, a day after missing a game because of surgery for a tear in his retina.
Astros 10, Mariners 2 — Wade Miley had another solid start and host Houston backed him up with a season-high six homers to rout Seattle.
Yordan Alvarez, Jake Marisnick, Martin Maldonado and Jose Altuve all connected off starter Yusei Kikuchi (4-8) to leave him tied with Justin Verlander for most home runs allowed in the majors with 28.
Carlos Correa and Aledmys Diaz also homered for Houston, which is 10-1 against the M’s this season.
Blue Jays 5, Orioles 2 — Freddy Galvis had a home run among his three hits, Brandon Drury also went deep and Toronto beat host Baltimore for its seasonhigh fifth straight victory.
Galvis hit his 17th homer in the fourth inning off Aaron Brooks (2-5) and Drury connected in the sixth for a 4-0 lead. Toronto has seven home runs in the first two games of the series and a major league-leading 81 since June 16.