Cashner near-perfect vs. Pirates

Former Cubs right-hander Andrew Cashner took a perfect game into the seventh inning and faced the minimum 27 batters in a one-hitter that led the visiting San Diego Padres past the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 on Monday.

Cashner (10-8) retired the first 18 batters he faced before Jose Tabata grounded a clean single to right leading off the seventh. Tabata was erased when Andrew McCutchen grounded into a double play, and Cashner cruised the rest of the way for his first complete game.

The Cubs traded Cashner for Anthony Rizzo after the 2011 season.

Best of the rest

Charlie Blackmon had three hits and three RBI, and the host Colorado Rockies scored four runs in the eighth inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2. The loss kept the Cardinals tied with the Pirates atop the National League Central.

Wil Myers drove in three runs with a home run and a double, Alex Cobb (9-3) struck out 10 in eight innings and the Tampa Bay Rays topped the visiting Texas Rangers 6-2 to take the lead in the American League wild-card battle.

James Shields (12-9) struck out 10 in six innings, and Salvador Perez had three hits and two runs scored to lead a 14-hit attack that fueled the host Kansas City Royals past the Cleveland Indians 7-1.

Nats postpone game

The Washington Nationals postponed their game against the Atlanta Braves after the shootings at the nearby Navy Yard. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader Tuesday.