Cubs hold off Padres’ rally

CHICAGO — Javier Baez tied his career high with his 23rd home run and took over the National League lead with 84 RBIs, helping the Chicago Cubs defeat the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Friday.

Jose Quintana (10-7) allowed one run and four hits in six innings, leaving with a 3-1 lead.

Pedro Strop nearly wasted a 5-2 advantage, allowing Cory Spangenberg’s RBI double and Travis Jankowski’s runscoring grounder before third baseman David Bote threw out Spangenberg at the plate trying to score on Manuel Margot’s grounder. Baez had thrown out Jankowski at the plate in the eighth when Jankowski tried to score on Hunter Renfroe’s grounder to second.

Strop struck out pinch-hitter Austin Hedges with a man on for his sixth save in nine chances.

Anthony Rizzo homered and had three hits, and Ben Zobrist drove in two runs for the NL Central-leading Cubs, who entered one game ahead of Milwaukee.

Baez’s solo shot in the second inning gave the All-Star 84 RBIs.

Tyson Ross (6-9) gave up three runs and six hits in five innings as the Padres lost for the eighth time in their last nine games.

Baez led off the second with an opposite-field drive into the right-field bleachers, and Zobrist hit a sacrifice fly in the third.

RED SOX 4, YANKEES 1: Rick Porcello pitched a one-hitter, Steve Pearce homered for the fourth time in two nights and Boston beat New York after manager Alex Cora’s ejection in the first inning. Cora was ejected one pitch into the bottom of the first. Porcello (13-4) hit Brett Gardner starting the game, and New York’s Luis Severino (14-5) answered with a high-and-inside fastball when Mookie Betts led off the bottom half. PIRATES 7, CARDINALS 6: Adam Frazier’s RBI single in the eighth inning helped Pittsburgh win in Chris Archer’s debut, beating St. Louis. Pittsburgh overcame a rough outing by Archer as gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 innings. RAYS PLACE PHAM ON DISABLED LIST: The Tampa Bay Rays placed recently acquired outfielder Tommy Pham on the 10-day disabled list with a fractured right foot. Pham was hit on the foot by a pitch on Thursday. Tampa Bay obtained the 30-year-old Tuesday from St. Louis.