Fowler hits first two HRs for Cards

Former Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler hit his first two home runs for the Cardinals, who swept the three- game series against the visiting Pirates with their third straight 2- 1 victory.

Fowler had three of the Cardinals’ eight hits, hitting a third- inning drive into the right- field bullpen and a shot down the right- field line in the fifth, both off Gerrit Cole ( 1- 2).

Josh Bell had tied the score with a fourth- inning homer to center against Michael Wacha ( 2- 1), who had retired his first 10 batters.

St. Louis is 6- 9, winning its opener and losing nine of 11 before the sweep.

Nationals 14, Braves 4

Bryce Harper had two homers, including a grand slam, among four hits, and the Nationals overwhelmed Julio Teheran and the host Braves.

Harper drove in five runs. His seven career homers off Teheran are his most against any pitcher.

Ryan Zimmerman added an eighth- inning grand slam. The Nationals had 20 hits.

The Nationals removed Blake Treinen from the closer’s role. Treinen has a 7.11 ERA with three saves in four chances in eight games.

Royals 2, Giants 0

Jason Vargas dazzled for the third straight start, the Royals finally scored off Giants ace Madison Bumgarner and Kansas City beat visiting San Francisco to split their two- game series. Vargas ( 3- 0) scattered four hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts and no walks, his 12th straight start allowing two runs or fewer — the longest streak by a left- hander in franchise history.

Orioles 2, Reds 0

Ubaldo Jimenez pitched two- hit ball into the eighth inning, and the visiting Orioles overcame a dominating performance by rookie Amir Garrett, who struck out 12 in seven innings. Jimenez ( 1- 0) held the Reds to a pair of singles in the second inning and four walks overall in 7⅔ innings, striking out three. Brad Brach pitched the ninth for his first save.

Mariners 10, Marlins 5

Rookie Mitch Haniger extended his hitting streak to 13 games with three hits and four RBI, and the Mariners beat the visiting Marlins for their fifth win in six games. In what could have been his final at- bat at Safeco Field, longtime Mariners and current Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki hit a home run in the ninth inning.

Mets 5, Phillies 4

Jay Bruce homered twice and drove in five runs, including a tiebreaking shot in the eighth inning that sent the Mets to a victory over the visiting Phillies and halted their four- game losing streak.