Brewers drop Cards out of first

Mike Moustakas highlighted a four-run first inning with a three-run home run, and the Brewers avoided a three-game sweep with a 5-3 victory Wednesday against the Cardinals in a game called by rain after 7½ innings.

The result dropped the Cardinals, whose three-game winning streak was snapped, a half-game behind the Cubs in the battle for first place in the National League Central.

♦ Justin Verlander pitched a twohit complete game with 11 strikeouts and no walks but lost, allowing solo homers to Ronny Rodriguez in the fifth inning and John Hicks in the ninth in the Astros’ 2-1 loss to the visiting Tigers. Verlander leads the majors with 239 strikeouts.

♦ The host Orioles tied a majorleague record by allowing their 258th homer of the season — with 35 games left — but they hit four round-trippers of their own in an 8-1 victory against the Royals. The 2016 Reds also allowed 258 homers.

♦The Rockies put right-hander Jon Gray (11-8, 3.84 ERA) on the 60-day injured list with a stress fracture in his left foot, ending his season.

♦The Pirates put right-hander Chris Archer (3-9, 5.19 ERA) on the 10-day IL with inflammation in his right shoulder.

NHL Wild hire Guerin as GM

The Wild hired Bill Guerin as their general manager and signed him to a multiyear contract. Guerin won Stanley Cup titles as a player with the Devils in 1995 and the Penguins in 2009 and two more as the Penguins’ assistant GM in 2016 and 2017.

SOCCER Red Stars fall to Pride

Rachel Hill scored in the first half and Chioma Ubogagu in the second to lead the Pride to a 2-1 victory against the host Red Stars (9-7-2). Tierna Davidson scored in the sixth minute of injury time for the Red Stars.