Cardinals claim 14th straight win
CHICAGO » The surging St. Louis Cardinals emphatically matched a team record with their 14th straight win on Friday night, pounding Chicago Cubs 12-4 in the second game of doubleheader behind Tyler O’Neill’s three-run homer and a pair of solo shots by Lars Nootbaar.
Harrison Bader added a solo drive, double and single as St. Louis batters went deep five times in the nightcap to sweep the twinbill and equal a run set in July 1935. The win streak has rocketed the Cards into control of the second NL wild card, leading Philadelphia by five games.
Paul DeJong also went deep and Nootbaar added a single for three hits in his first multihomer game as St. Louis pulled away. O’Neill’s homer was his 31st of the season, second of the day and 10th in September.
The Cardinals powered past the Cubs 8-5 in the opener, riding O’Neill’s and Paul Goldschmidt’s 30th homers and José Rondon’s pinch-hit two-run shot.
DODGERS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2»
A.J. Pollock hit a two-run homer, Chris Taylor robbed a pair of potential extrabase hits on defense in the ninth inning and Los Angeles kept pace in the NL West race by beating Arizona.
The Dodgers (99-55) remained one game back of the San Francisco Giants (100-54) with eight games left for both teams. The Giants beat the Rockies 7-2. RAYS 8, MARLINS 0 » Ryan Yarbrough allowed two hits over six innings of splendid relief and AL East-leading Tampa Bay beat Miami.
The Rays got three RBIs apiece from Randy Arozarena and Kevin Kiermaier, who was a homer short of the cycle.
YANKEES 8, RED SOX 3 » Gerrit Cole took a two-hit shutout into the sixth inning and Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run homer to lead the Yankees, snapping Boston’s seven-game winning streak and pulling New
York within one game of the Red Sox atop the wild-card standings.
With Boston in its lucky yellow jerseys and Fenway Park sold to capacity for just the third time this season, Cole (16-8) no-hit the Red Sox for 3 2/3 innings and New York coasted to its fourth straight win. In a potential preview of the AL wild-card matchup, BREWERS 5, METS 1 » Christian Yelich hit one of Milwaukee’s three home runs and Eric Lauer turned in a much-needed strong outing for the Brewers.
PADRES 6, BRAVES 5 » Fernando Tatis Jr. homered leading off the top of the seventh inning and staggering San Diego beat NL
East-leading Atlanta in the resumption of a game that was suspended due to rain in Atlanta on July 21.
WHITE SOX 1, INDIANS 0 » Chicago starter Dylan Cease left after being struck on the right arm by a comebacker in the sixth inning as the Chicago White Sox beat Cleveland. The White Sox said Cease has a right triceps contusion and that X-rays were negative.
RANGERS 8, ORIOLES 5 » Adolis García hit a go-ahead two-run double in a fiverun ninth inning and Texas snapped a five-game losing streak.
PHILLIES 8, PIRATES 6 » Didi Gregorius hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the seventh inning, Bryce Harper had an RBI double and Philadelphia pulled closer to first place in the NL East.
ROYALS 3, TIGERS 1 » Carlos Hernandez pitched five shutout innings and Whit Merrifield drove in a pair of runs as Kansas City beat Detroit.
TWINS 3, JAYS 1 » Byron Buxton’s two-run homer spoiled José Berríos’ return to Minnesota and dealt a blow to Toronto’s postseason hopes.
REDS 8, NATIONALS 7 (11 INN.)
Aristides Aquino drove in TJ Friedl from second base with a game-ending single off the glove of second baseman Luis Garcia, and Cincinnati beat Washington.