Miller dominates, Cards top Braves
ST. LOUIS — Rookie Shelby Miller worked seven innings of three-hit ball, Matt Carpenter and Carlos Beltran each homered and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves for the third straight time, 6-2 Saturday night.
Freddie Freeman homered for the NL East-leading Braves, who totaled five runs while dropping three in a row for the first time since July 3-5. Julio Teheran (10-7) allowed a season-worst five walks and was charged with four runs.
Miller (12- 8) worked more than six innings for the first time in 13 starts since June 1. He struck out six without walking a batter while pitching with no more than a one-run cushion against a fellow 22-year-old right-hander. Center fielder Jon Jay made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Brian McCann of at least extra bases in the seventh.
The Cardinals, who began the night a game back in the NL Central, go for a four-game sweep Sunday with Lance Lynn (13-7) opposing Mike Minor (12-5).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Marlins 3, Rockies 0 at Miami: Rookie Jose Fernandez struck out eight in seven innings, leading Miami over Colorado. Fernandez (10-5) allowed four hits and did not walk a batter as he lowered his ERA to 2.30.
Cubs 3, Padres 2 at San Diego: Jeff Samardzija pitched eight impressive innings and Darwin Barney homered and drove in two runs as Chicago beat San Diego.
Reds 6, Brewers 3 at Cincinnati: Ryan Ludwick hit his first homer since last October, another indication his swing is coming around, and former Collierville High star Zack Cozart had a tiebreaking two-run shot, powering Cincinnati over Milwaukee.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Athletics 2, Orioles 1 at Baltimore: Coco Crisp hit a tiebreaking home run leading off the ninth inning and Jarrod Parker earned his eighth straight win as Oakland beat Baltimore. Parker (10- 6) gave up one run, five hits and three walks.
Indians 7, Twins 2 at Cleveland: Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis hit two-run homers, Zach McAllister won his third straight start and Cleveland defeated Minnesota.
McAllister (7-7) allowed two runs in 7¥ innings.
Astros 8, Blue Jays 5 at Houston: Jason Castro homered twice and drove in three runs to lead Houston over Toronto.
Brad Peacock (3- 4) allowed six hits and four runs in 5 ¦ innings for the win. Chia-Jen Lo pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Rays 4, Yankees 2 at St. Petersburg, Fla.: David Price outpitched CC Sabathia and Tampa Bay rallied to beat New York to hang on to first place in the AL East.
White Sox 3, Rangers 2 at Chicago: Rookie Josh Phegley singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth to lift Chicago over Texas.
INTERLEAGUE
Tigers 3, Mets 0 at New York: Max Scherzer outpitched Matt Harvey in their All-Star rematch, striking out 11 and hitting a stunning RBI double that sent Detroit over New York.
Scherzer (19-1) joined Rube Marquard in 1912 and Roger Clemens in 2001 as the only major league pitchers to win 19 of their first 20 decisions in a season.
Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2 at Los Angeles: Jon Lester pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning, Jonny Gomes’ three-run homer capped a four-run first, and Boston beat Los Angeles, snapping the Dodgers’ four-game winning streak.
Nationals 7, Royals 2 at Kansas City, Mo.: Jordan Zimmermann rebounded from one of his worst career outings to go 7 ¦ strong innings, Ian Desmond hit his 18th home run, and Washington beat Kansas City.
Zimmermann ( 1 5-7) tied St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright for the league lead in wins.