CUBS RALLY IN NINTH, BEAT BREWERS 5-3 IN 10TH TO EXTEND LEAD
Javier Baez grounded a tying single with two outs in the ninth inning, Kris Bryant hit a two-run homer in the 10th and the Cubs widened their NL Central lead over Milwaukee, beating the Brewers 5-3 on Thursday night.
The Cubs now are 4½ games ahead of the Brewers after winning the opener of a four-game series.
Milwaukee was in position to win it in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with one out. But Wade Davis (4-1) struck out Domingo Santana and then, after falling behind 3-1 in the count to Orlando Arcia, came back to retire him on an easy comebacker on a full-count pitch.
The Cubs trailed 3-2 when Ian Happ led off the ninth by hitting a grounder that first baseman Neil Walker fielded wide of the bag. Reliever Jeremy Jeffress covered first and Happ was called safe in a close play, a ruling upheld on replay.
Happ moved to second on a one-out grounder and scored when Baez, down to his last strike, singled up the middle.
Bryant hit his 28th homer, connecting off Oliver Drake (3-5).
THURSDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
Dexter Fowler delivered again, getting three hits and driving in two runs as the Cardinals overcame Scott Schebler’s two home runs to beat the Reds 8-5 for a threegame series sweep. … Pinch-hitter Andre Ethier and Curtis Granderson homered as the Dodgers clinched a tie for the NL West title, ending a four-game losing streak by beating the Phillies 5-4. The Dodgers can win their fifth straight division crown Friday night with either a victory at home over San Francisco or a loss by second-place Arizona to Miami. … Shortstop Francisco Lindor homered to lead the Indians to a 4-1 victory and threegame sweep of the Angels, Cleveland’s 27th win in its last 28 games. The record for most victories with only one loss is 29, set by the 1884 Providence Grays. After hitting a two-run homer Wednesday night, Lindor came back with a game-winning, three-run homer in the fifth Thursday afternoon off Parker Bridwell (8-3) to break up a 1-1 game. … Gabriel Ynoa pitched eight innings of five-hit ball and Manny Machado homered as the Orioles beat the Rays 3-1 in a matchup of fading AL East teams. Machado’s two-run homer in the first inning off Matt Andriese (5-4) propelled the Orioles to their third win in 15 games. … Jason Vargas and four relievers combined on a two-hitter, Melky Cabrera had three hits and the game’s only RBI, and the Royals beat the Blue Jays 1-0. … R.A. Dickey frustrated Washington with his knuckleball for eight innings, Ozzie Albies had three hits and the Braves beat the Nationals 3-2. After Ryan Zimmerman’s leadoff homer in the second inning, the 42-year-old Dickey gave up only one hit — a two-out single by Trea Turner in the third — over the next five innings. Turner was picked off first base. Dickey (10-10) gave up two runs, four hits and no walks. He made a strong case that the Braves should pick up his $8 million club option for 2018. … Joe Mauer and Jorge Polanco each had three hits, and the Twins extended their lead for the American League’s second wild card by beating the Tigers 12-1. The Twins are 2½ games ahead of the Angels in the race for the AL’s final postseason berth. … Chris Volstad and Chicago’s bullpen covered 8M innings after starter Carson Fulmer left with a blister, and the White Sox beat the 3-1. — The Associated Press