Reds play spoiler to Cards, wrapping up 3-game sweep
CINCINNATI — St. Louis’ drive toward a Central Division championship hit a Cincinnati speed bump.
Johnny Cueto pitched eight scoreless innings to beat Lance Lynn and send the Cardinals to their third consecutive loss, 1-0, Thursday.
Cueto (18- 8) allowed just three hits and hit a batter to help the Reds win their second series in the last 13 against Central Division-leading St. Louis. The Cardinals have lost three straight for the first time since a four-game losing streak Aug. 26-30 and finished their eight-game road trip 4- 4 after winning three out of four in Milwaukee.
A roldis Chapma n pitched the ninth for his 33rd save and third in the last three games.
Lynn (15-9) retired 15 straight before Brandon Phillips led off the eighth inning with the Reds’ first walk of the game.
The Reds have won three straight games for the first time since Aug. 5-7 against Cleveland. They finished their home stand 4-3 after losing two out of three against the Mets.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Giants 6, Diamondbacks 2 at San Francisco: Jake Peavy struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter to win his third start in a row and San Francisco beat Arizona for its ninth straight home victory.
San Francisco, which leads the NL wild- card standings, pulled within two games of the idle Dodgers a day before a key weekend series against the NL West leaders at AT&T Park.
Nationals 6, Mets 2 at New York: Adam LaRoche and Anthony Rendon had two-run homers off Bartolo Colon, who was ejected after hitting the following batter both times, and Washington beat New York.
Pirates 4, Phillies 1 at Philadelphia: Francisco Liriano struck out a season-high 12 in eight dominant innings, and Pittsburgh beat Philadelphia.
Brewers 4, Marlins 2 at Milwaukee: Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton was hit under the left eye by a fastball and bleeding from the face as he was taken off the field in an ambulance.
The Marlins said the major league RBI leader was being treated at a hospital for a facial cut. He was also undergoing X-rays and a CT scan.
It was ruled that Stanton swung at the pitch from Mike Fiers. Reed Johnson batted for Stanton and was hit in the hand by Fiers’ next pitch, triggering a bench-clearing brawl.
The All-Star outfielder tops the NL with 37 home runs and has 105 RBIs.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
White Sox 1, Athletics 0 at Chicago: Chris Sale bested Scott Kazmir in a brilliant pitchers’ duel, light-hitting Marcus Semien homered for the only run and Chicago edged rapidly fading Oakland.
Indians 8-2 Twins 2- 0 at Cleveland: A long day at the ballpark was well worth it for Cleveland. Another strong performance by Corey Kluber and a two-run homer by Carlos Santana sparked a victory over Minnesota in the first game. Santana homered again and drove in both runs while rookie T.J. House and the bullpen combined on a four-hitter in a game two shutout.
Yankees 5, Rays 4 at New York: Chris Young broke up Alex Cobb’s no-hit bid in the eighth inning and then launched a threerun homer in the bottom of the ninth that rallied New York over a stunned Tampa Bay.
Red Sox 6, Royals 3 at Kansas City, Mo.: Lastplace Boston took advantage of three critical errors by first-place Kansas City, pulling away late for a victory that ended a fourgame losing streak. Kansas City’s advantage in the AL Central dropped to a halfgame over idle Detroit.
Angels 7, Rangers 3 at Arlington, Texas: Erick Aybar hit a two-run home run early and eight Angels pitchers combined to beat Texas. Los Angeles moved 10 games ahead of secondplace Oakland in the AL West with 16 to play.