O’Neill homers as Cardinals top Dodgers for series split

ST. LOUIS >> Tyler O’Neill hit a tiebreaking homer, and the St. Louis Cardinals salvaged a split of their fourgame series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 2-1 win on Thursday.

The Cardinals climbed within three games of idle San Diego for the second NL wild card, while the Dodgers fell 2 ½ games behind the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants.

O’Neill’s fifth-inning drive off Phil Bickford (32), his 25th homer this season, barely cleared the wall in left, inching past the outstretched glove of Steven Souza Jr.

The homer made a winner out of Alex Reyes (6-8), who pitched two scoreless innings in his fifth appearance since being demoted from the closer’s role. Giovanny Gallegos earned his sixth save with a perfect ninth.

The Dodgers mustered just four hits against five Cardinals pitchers. ROCKIES 4, PHILLIES 3 >> Pinch-hitter Ryan McMahon and Sam Hilliard hit back-to-back home runs with two outs in the ninth inning, rallying the Rockies to the victory.

Bryce Harper hit his 30th homer to bolster his MVP candidacy, and the Phillies looked as if they were going to start a pivotal home stretch with a victory before their bullpen faltered.

Philadelphia began the day 2½ games behind firstplace Atlanta in the NL East.

With a 2-1 lead, closer Ian Kennedy (1-1) retired the first two Colorado batters in the ninth. After Colton Welker singled, McMahon drove an 0-2, 80-mph curveball over the wall in right.

Lucas Gilbreath (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth, and Carlos Estévez got out of a jam in the ninth to earn his sixth save. Colorado snapped a four-game losing streak.

MARLINS 3, METS 2 >> Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning, sending Miami to the win.

INDIANS 4, TWINS 1 >> Franmil Reyes, Oscar Mercado and José Ramirez homered, and Cleveland scored for the first time in three games.

ROYALS 6, ORIOLES 0 >> Carlos Hernández pitched six impressive innings for Kansas City, and Nicky Lopez and Hunter Dozier homered.

BLUE JAYS 6, YANKEES 4 >> Bo Bichette thumped a leadoff homer in the first inning and singled in the tiebreaking run in the seventh, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 42nd homer, and Toronto Blue held off skidding New York for their eighth straight win.

BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 6 (10 INNINGS) >> Joc Pederson hit a tiebreaking single with two out in the 10th inning, lifting Atlanta to a victory over Washington.