Cubbies turn things around
Kris Bryant hit his 24th home run before leaving with a bruised leg, Willson Contreras and Addison Russell also went deep, and the Cubs pounded the Cincinnati Reds, 10-4, yesterday in Chicago.
Playing the NL Central’s last-place team was just what the MLB-best Cubs needed after getting outscored 32-11 in a fourgame sweep by the Mets.
Bryant hit a two-run drive in the second inning and scored three times before exiting with a bruised lower left leg in the fifth.
The Reds fired pitching coach Mark Riggins.
Pirates 4, Cardinals 2 — Gregory Polanco homered twice and Jonathon Niese (7-6) turned in his best start in almost a month to power Pittsburgh past St. Louis for its fifth straight win, all on the road.
Brewers 1, Nationals 0 — Junior Guerra (6-1) outdueled Max Scherzer (9-6), Martin Maldonado homered and visiting Milwaukee edged Washington to snap a four-game losing streak.
Mets 8, Marlins 6 — Yoenis Cespedes hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning, and host New York extended its winning streak to five by rallying from six runs down to beat Miami.
Giants 3, Rockies 1— Angel Pagan hit a two-run home run, Buster Posey also connected to back Jake Peavy (5-7), and San Francisco beat visiting Colorado, which has lost six straight.
Phillies 8, Braves 2 — Jerad Eickhoff (6-9) pitched into the eighth inning, Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco hit two-run homers and host Philadelphia beat Atlanta.
Padres 8, Diamondbacks 4— Derek Norris drove in three runs with a home run and a double before being struck in the arm by a bat on a follow-through, and San Diego dropped Arizona to 14-31 at home, second-worst in the National League.
Dodgers 7, Orioles 5 — Corey Seager tripled and scored the tiebreaking run on Justin Turner’s sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to lead Los Angeles past Baltimore for its fifth straight victory.
J.J. Hardy and Joey Rickard drove in two runs apiece for the AL Eastleading Orioles, who have lost five straight.
Blue Jays 6, Royals 2 — Aaron Sanchez (9-1) pitched eight innings to win his eighth straight decision, Josh Donaldson and Darwin Barney each hit two-run singles in a four-run seventh and host Toronto knocked off Kansas City.
White Sox 8, Yankees 2— Tim Anderson and Dioner Navarro each hit a two-run homer off CC Sabathia, helping James Shields and host Chicago beat New York.
Indians 5, Tigers 3 — Mike Napoli hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning and Cleveland remained perfect in 10 games against Detroit this season by winning a 12th straight at home.
Before the game, Cleveland designated veteran reliever Joba Chamberlain for assignment and Detroit placed today’s scheduled starter Jordan Zimmermann on the disabled list with a neck strain.
Rays 4, Angels 2 — In St. Petersburg, Fla., Logan Morrison homered and had two RBI to help Matt Moore (5-5) and struggling Tampa Bay end a four-game skid with a victory against Los Angeles.
Astros 2, Mariners 1 — Lance McCullers (42) struck out 10 in seven strong innings and George Springer homered for the second straight day to give Houston a victory against visiting Seattle.
Athletics 3, Twins 1 — Coco Crisp snapped a seventh-inning tie with a tworun single, and Oakland ended a four-game losing streak by beating Minnesota in Minneapolis.