Wisdom’s 2 HRs help Cubs top White Sox

With every drive, every sharp play on defense, the Chicago Cubs’ Patrick Wisdom is making the most of his best big-league shot so far.

The former St. Mary’s player backed Alec Mills with two homers and the visiting Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox for the first time this season, winning 7-0 on Saturday night.

“What he’s doing is so impressive,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “When he touches the ball, it just doesn’t come down. It explodes off his bat.”

Rafael Ortega connected for a grand slam against Lance Lynn as the Cubs improved to 6-19 in August. They dropped their first four games against the crosstown White Sox this year, including a 17-13 loss Friday night.

Mills (6-6) worked into the ninth inning in his first win since Aug. 4.

Wisdom hit solo drives in the fourth and fifth innings in his fourth multihomer game — all this season. He went deep twice Friday night on his 30th birthday.

“I think it’s just kind of slowing things down, you know, taking it pitch by pitch,” said Wisdom, who robbed Tim Anderson of a hit with a nice play at third in the third. “I get frustrated with a certain at-bat and I got to flush it and move on.”

Wisdom has seven homers in his past eight games and 25, tops among NL rookies, in 82 games. He had four homers in 43 big-league games before this season.

“It’s unbelievable,” Mills said. “Obviously, you know I think in other spots he wasn’t given the most chances. In a situation like this, given everyday playing time and stuff, it’s special to watch.”

Mills, 29, struck out three and walked two. He threw 103 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Will Smith hit a tie-breaking tworun single in the eighth inning for host Los Angeles. Dodgers leadoff man Trea Turner went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run.

Jared Walsh went 3-for-3 with a double, a homer and three RBIs for host Los Angeles.

Yordan Alvarez homered for the fifth time in eight games, Carlos Correa also went deep and visiting Houston beat Texas.

Salvador Perez homered for the third straight game, lining a two-run shot off the top of the fence for his 37th of the season for visiting Kansas City.

J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer in the 10th for visiting Boston.

Didi Gregorius hit three doubles, Kyle Gibson pitched six sharp innings and host Philadelphia beat Arizona.

Sandy Alcantara had a career-high 12 strikeouts in seven innings for host Miami.

Corey Dickerson’s third oppositefield single of the game scored Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 10th inning for visiting Toronto.

Cardinals 13, Pirates 0:

Adam Wainwright pitched seven innings and reserve infielder Edmundo Sosa had two triples and five RBIs for visiting St. Louis.

Randy Arozarena hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning and visiting Tampa Bay improved to 17-1 against Baltimore this year, including 10 comeback wins.

Miguel Sano drove in a pair of runs and host Minnesota outlasted the rain and Milwaukee.

Pinchhitter Michael Conforto hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning for host New York. Ex-Giant Kevin Pillar hit two solo shots for the Mets, who broke a four-game slide.