Scherzer’s gem completes Mets’ doubleheader sweep
Max Scherzer tied a season high with 11 strikeouts over seven shutout innings and the New York Mets beat the visiting Atlanta Braves 6-2 Saturday night to complete a doubleheader sweep.
Francisco Lindor had three hits, a sacrifice fly and three RBIs as New York took the opener 8-5.
The Mets stretched their NL East lead over the Braves to 5½ games.
Pete Alonso had three singles in game two, including a bases-loaded hit to match Yankees star Aaron Judge for the major league lead with 93 RBIs.
Scherzer (8-2) allowed two doubles to Travis d’Arnaud among four hits. He produced his fourth scoreless outing this season and third since returning from an oblique injury July 5.
Scherzer retired his final nine hitters. He struck out the side on 15 pitches in the seventh.
The Braves’ Max Fried (10-4) allowed four runs (two earned) and six hits in six innings.
In the opener, Mets spot starter David Peterson (6-2) gave up three hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three. CARDINALS 1, YANKEES 0 » Jordan Montgomery blanked his old teammates over five innings and Nolan Arenado drove in the lone run as host St. Louis handed New York its season-high fourth straight loss.
Making his first start for St. Louis since being acquired at the trade deadline earlier in the week, Montgomery (4-3) was taken out after five innings for precautionary reasons due to cramping. He gave up two hits and a walk.
Four St. Louis pitchers held the Yankees to just two hits — singles in the first and third.
The only run came in the first inning as Paul Goldschmidt doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Arenado.
Domingo Germán (1-2) took the loss, giving up a run and four hits in five innings.
St. Louis has won a season-high six straight games, and eight of nine. PHILLIES 11, NATIONALS 5 » Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto and Matt Vierling homered and Philadelphia beat visiting Washington.
Realmuto also tripled and drove in three run as the Phillies won for the ninth time in 10 games to move a season-best 11-games over .500.
The Phillies improved to 38-19 since June 1, which was the final game for manager Joe Girardi before being replaced by interim manager Rob Thomson.
GUARDIANS 4, ASTROS 1 » Cal Quantrill tossed six scoreless innings and Amed Rosario had a two-run single, lifting Cleveland to a home win over Houston.
Quantrill (8-5) struck out four with a lone walk, extending his winning streak to four and remaining undefeated at Progressive Field. The right-hander is 11-0 in 36 career games at the ballpark, including 26 starts for Cleveland.
GIANTS 7, ATHLETICS 3 » LaMonte Wade Jr. and J.D. Davis homered on consecutive pitches in the sixth inning, Joey Bart also connected, and San Francisco beat host Oakland.
Carlos Rodón allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings for his 10th victory as the Giants won for just the fourth time in 16 games since the All-Star break.
TIGERS 9, RAYS 1 » Harold Castro drove in two runs and scored twice as Detroit ended a three-game skid with a win over AllStar Shane McClanahan and Tampa Bay.
McClanahan (10-5) gave up four runs on six hits overseven innings.
CUBS 4, MARLINS 0 » Drew Smyly tossed shutout ball into the seventh inning for his first win at Wrigley Field for the Cubs, leading Chicago past Miami.
P.J. Higgins homered and Nico Hoerner added three hits and an RBI to help the Cubs defeat Miami for a second straight day after losing five in a row.
The Marlins have lost six of seven and were shut out for the 12th time this season.
Smyly (4-6) finally prevailed at home in his sixth start this season at Wrigley after signing a oneyear, $5.25 million contract in March. The 33-year-old righty allowed five hits, struck out four and walked none before being replaced with two outs in the seventh. CUBS CUT SIMMONS » The Cubs reinstated 11-year veteran shortstop Andrelton Simmons from the injured list, then designated the four-time Gold Glove winner for assignment.
Simmons signed a $4 million deal with the Cubs in March and appeared to be slotted for a regular role. But the 32-year-old appeared in just 34 games with the Cubs because of two right shoulder injuries.
Simmons hit .173 with seven RBIs for the Cubs. He hadn’t appeared in a game since July 10 against the Dodgers but had just completed a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa.