Stephens gives Reds good outing in major league debut
CINCINNATI — Right-hander Jackson Stephens lasted five innings in his major league debut and drove in the go-ahead runs with a bases-loaded single on Saturday, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-3 victory over the struggling Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs' fourth loss in five games dropped them to 40-41, well off their pace from a year ago (51-30) when they were on their way to an NL Central title and a World Series championship.
Stephens (1-0) gave up a solo homer by Jon Jay and a two-run shot by Willson Contreras. He was called up to help the Reds fill an opening in the rotation created by Brandon Finnegan's arm injury.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth, Stephens singled up the middle off Eddie Butler (4-3) for two runs and a 4-3 lead, smacking his hands together as he reached base with his first major league hit. He gave up six hits and struck out eight in five innings.
Raisel Iglesias escaped a two-on threat in the eighth and got the last four outs for his 15th save in 16 chances.
The Cubs got Kris Bryant back after the third baseman missed two games with a sprained right ankle. He singled in four at-bats.
Chicago managed only three singles while losing the series opener 5-0 on Friday night. The Cubs got to Stephens the second time through the order for a 3-0 lead. Jay led off the third inning with his first homer since May 24 of last season, and Contreras added a tworun shot.
Cincinnati sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth. Adam Duvall doubled home a run, and Butler walked Tucker Barnhart to force in a run with two outs and bring up Stephens, who singled on the first pitch.
Giants 2, Pirates 1, 11 innings
PITTSBURGH — Denard Span scored on a wild pitch in the 11th inning to give San Francisco a win over Pittsburgh.
Span walked against Daniel Hudson (1-4) and stole second. Joe Panik singled, and Buster Posey faced a full count when Hudson's pitch got past catcher Elias Diaz, allowing Span to score.
Josh Osich (2-1) got the win. Sam Dyson pitched a scoreless 11th for his first save since being acquired from the Texas Rangers in early June.
In the ninth, Giants reliever Hunter Strickland walked the bases loaded but got Diaz to strike out looking. Diaz finished 0 for 5 with two strikeouts and left eight men on base.
Mets 7, Phillies 6
NEW YORK — Asdrubal Cabrera hit a go-ahead homer on his bobblehead day, part of a four-run rally in the seventh inning that carried the New York Mets past the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Mets overcame three errors and a shaky start by Zack Wheeler in his return from the disabled list to win their second straight against Philadelphia. They have won four consecutive games overall and seven of their last eight.
The Phillies, who at 26-53 have the worst record in the majors, dropped to 20-45 against the Mets since 2014. Jeremy Hellickson left with a 6-4 lead in the seventh after giving up seven hits, including solo homers by Lucas Duda and T.J. Rivera.
After entering with one out and nobody on, reliever Pat Neshek (2-2) gave up three hits. Travis d'Arnaud doubled and scored on a single by pinch-hitter Wilmer Flores. With two outs, Cabrera drove an 85 mph slider to right-center to give New York a 7-6 lead.
Brewers 8, Marlins 4
MILWAUKEE — Domingo Santana hit a two-run homer off Giancarlo Stanton's glove, sparking a seven-run second inning that lifted the Milwaukee Brewers over the Miami Marlins.
Santana tied it with a home run to right off Tom Koehler (1-3), who walked Travis Shaw to start the second. Stanton jumped and got the tip of his mitt on the ball, but it bounced off and fell into the seats. Stanton put his hands on his head as Santana circled the bases.
Shaw had a two-run single later in the inning. Brewers starter Zach Davies drove in a run on a fielder's choice, Stephen Vogt drew a bases-load walk and Jonathan Villar added a run-scoring single as Milwaukee sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning.
Davies (9-4) struggled a bit with his control early but retired his last 10 batters. He gave up four runs and five hits over six innings. He pitched seven shutout innings in his previous start Sunday at Atlanta.
Koehler, making his first start since May 16, last just 1 2/3 innings. He gave up six hits and seven runs (three earned).
Miami jumped ahead in the first on Justin Bour's two-run double. The Marlins added two more runs in the third off Davies to make it 7-4.
Orlando Arcia's homer leading off the fifth gave the Brewers a four-run cushion.