Brewers overpower Cubs

CHICAGO — Ryan Braun homered to ignite a seven-run third inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs 11-2 on Thursday for their fourth straight victory.

The Brewers opened a 4½-game lead over the secondplace Cubs in the NL Central and are guaranteed to hold the top spot at the All-Star break. This was a makeup of a May 20 rainout.

Braun went 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs before being lifted following the sixth because of the lopsided score. Domingo Santana had four hits and two RBIs, and Jesus Aguilar added three hits and an RBI.

Willson Contreras homered for the Cubs, who have not won consecutive games since a three-game winning streak June 18-20.

RAYS 4, RED SOX 1: Wilson Ramos homered and drove in three against Chris Sale despite the All-Star’s record-setting performance, and rookie Jake Faria remained unbeaten as Tampa Bay beat visiting Boston. Sale (11-4) struck out 12 while giving up four runs and seven hits in seven innings. He became the first Red Sox pitcher to strike out 10 or more in 12 games before the All-Star break, surpassing the 11 games of Pedro Martinez in 1999.

INDIANS 11, PADRES 2: Edwin Encarnacion homered, All-Star Jose Ramirez hit a home run and had three RBIs, and host Cleveland defeated San Diego.

TIGERS 6, GIANTS 2: Anibal Sanchez pitched six strong innings, and Dixon Machado hit his first career home run to lift host Detroit to a victory over San Francisco.

PIRATES 6, PHILLIES 3: Gregory Polanco had four hits with a home run and two RBIs, and Josh Bell homered and drove in three runs to lift Pittsburgh to a win at Philadelphia.

TWINS 6, ORIOLES 4: Eduardo Escobar’s two-run triple highlighted a six-run third inning as host Minnesota rallied for a victory over Baltimore.

REDS 6, ROCKIES 3: Sal Romano went five innings to net his first big league victory as Cincinnati won at Colorado.

CARDINALS 4, MARLINS 3: Luke Voit homered and had three RBIs, and host St. Louis beat Miami.