Nats capitalize on Cards’ errors
Mistakes by Wacha, Molina cost St. Louis
WASHINGTON — Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina’s throwing error combined with Michael Wacha’s wild pitch to allow two unearned runs in the seventh inning, breaking a tie and helping Gio Gonzalez and the Washington Nationals beat St. Louis 3-1 Friday night.
Gonzalez (3-1) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings, retiring the last 11 batters he faced. He finished with seven strikeouts and one walk as Washington ended an eight-game losing streak against St. Louis that dated to Game 5 of the teams’ 2012 NL division series.
Wacha (2-1) gave up five hits and one earned run. But a night after the Nationals made three errors — they initially were charged with four, but one was changed to a hit Friday — it was the Cardinals’ turn to be sloppy.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brewers 5, Pirates 3 at Pittsburgh: Kyle Lohse pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Carlos Gomez homered and Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh.
Lohse (3-1) improved to 11-2 in his career against the Pirates, allowing one earned run in a win against them for the second time in six days.
Reds 4, Cubs 1 at Chicago: Alfredo Simon lowered his ERA to 0.86, and Cin- cinnati beat Chicago for its 16th win in its last 17 games at Wrigley Field.
Making his third start, Simon (2-1) allowed an unearned run in six-plus innings and sent the Cubs to their fifth straight loss.
Braves 6, Mets 0 at New York: Aaron Harang threw no-hit ball for seven innings but was pulled after 121 pitches, and reliever Luis Avilan gave up David Wright’s two-out single in the eighth as Atlanta beat New York.
Harang (3-1) left for a pinch hitter during a long, four-run eighth.
Rockies 12, Phillies 1 at Denver: Troy Tulowitzki hit a three-run home run after No. 3 hitter Carlos Gonzalez was intentionally walked in front of him, Tyler Chatwood pitched seven strong innings for his first win of the season, and Colorado defeated Philadelphia.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Blue Jays 3, Indians 2 at Cleveland: Melky Cabrera had four hits and scored Toronto’s go-ahead run in the seventh inning on Edwin Encarnacion’s single, and the Blue Jays held on for a win over Cleveland.
Rays 11, Yankees 5 at St. Petersburg, Fla.: James Loney drove in four runs and Tampa Bay overcame a four-run deficit to beat New York.
Pinch-hitter Desmond Jennings had an RBI single before Loney’s two-run single off Adam Warren (0-1) in the seventh inning that gave Tampa Bay a 6-5 lead. Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run homer during a five-run eighth that made it 11-5.
Angels 11, Tigers 6 at Detroit: Albert Pujols hit his 497th home run and Howie Kendrick added two of his own to lead Los Angeles over Detroit.
The Angels chased Detroit starter Drew Smyly (1-1) after three innings and then added seven runs off reliever Luke Putkonen. Los Angeles finished with 13 hits, 10 for extra bases.
Jered Weaver (1-2) allowed a run and three hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out three.
Orioles 8, Red Sox 4 at Boston: Jonathan Schoop went 4 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs, and Baltimore pounded Red Sox starter John Lackey in a victory over Boston.
Every Orioles starter had at least one hit except for Chris Davis. The Orioles collected 10 of those hits off Lackey (2-2), who surrendered six earned runs over 5 ¥ innings.
Rangers 12, White Sox 0 at Arlington, Texas: Martin Perez pitched a threehitter for his first career shutout, Leonys Martin drove in four runs and Texas routed Chicago.
Perez (3- 0) retired his last 12 batters and struck out eight in his second complete game.
Royals 5, Twins 0 at Kansas City, Mo.: Jason Vargas pitched seven shutdown innings, Mike Moustakas cracked a two-run homer and Kansas City romped to a victory over Minnesota.
Ricky Nolasco (1-2) gave up five runs on 11 hits in 5 ¦ innings for the Twins.
Vargas (2- 0) allowed seven hits while striking out four.
INTERLEAGUE
Marlins 8, Mariners 4 at Miami: Giancarlo Stanton hit a grand slam with none out in the ninth inning, and Miami took advantage of an overturned call on a replay review to beat Seattle.
Stanton had five RBIs to increase his total to 26, most in the majors.
The Mariners lost their fourth game in a row.