Cardinals’ Fowler delivers in win vs. Reds

CINCINNATI — Dexter Fowler delivered again, hitting two doubles and a single as the St. Louis Cardinals overcame Scott Schebler’s two home runs to beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-5 Thursday night for a three-game sweep.

The Cardinals began the day 2 games behind Colorado for the second NL wild-card spot and five games behind the Centralleading Chicago Cubs.

Fowler drove in two runs. He went 7 for 13 with two home runs and six RBIs in the series.

Yadier Molina drove in two runs as the Cardinals completed their first sweep in Cincinnati since 2010.

Carlos Martinez (1211) lasted 6 innings on a muggy night with a gametime temperature of 85 degrees, allowing four runs and nine hits.

Martinez improved to 3-1 in his last four starts. He gave up Phillip Ervin’s two-run homer in the fourth and a drive by Schebler in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Andre Ethier and Curtis Granderson homered as Los Angeles clinched a tie for the NL West title, ending a fourgame losing streak by beating Philadelphia.

Gabriel Ynoa pitched eight innings of five-hit ball, Manny Machado homered and Baltimore beat Tampa Bay in a matchup between fading AL East teams. Jason Vargas and four relievers combined on a two-hitter, Melky Cabrera had three hits and the game’s only RBI, and Kansas City beat Toronto.

R.A. Dickey frustrated Washington with his knuckleball for eight innings, Ozzie Albies had three hits and Atlanta beat the Nationals.

Joe Mauer and Jorge Polanco had three hits each, and Minnesota extended its lead for the American League’s second wild card by beating Detroit.