Cubs Take Doubleheader From Cardinals

Jake Arrieta figured he had a chance to make the NL All-Star team, the way he is pitching. He also realized the competition for a spot was stiff.

"It's a tough crop to hang with," Arrieta said.

He keeps showing he can hang with the best, though. Arrieta did it again Tuesday, pitching into the seventh inning and getting a career-high two hits, and Anthony Rizzo launched his 16th homer to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 7-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

Rizzo's two-run drive highlighted a four-run eighth after St. Louis pulled within one.

Arrieta (9-5) was not picked for the All-Star team and is not a candidate for the final vote. He is, however, sailing along with a 3-0 record and 1.17 ERA in his past four starts. And he came through in a big way on the mound and at the plate as the Cubs won for the sixth time in eight games.

The right-hander gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings and improved to 3-0 in his past four starts. Arrieta contributed a pair of singles and scored a run after starting the season 1 for 33.

Joe Maddon wants the Chicago Cubs to prove they can beat the best. Well, how's this for evidence?

Addison Russell hit a tying single and scored during a three-run rally in the seventh inning, and the Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 Tuesday to complete a day-night doubleheader sweep.

Chicago scored three in the seventh to grab a 4-2 lead. Seth Maness (3-1) got ejected after giving up the tying single and replacement Kevin Siegrist threw away a grounder and allowed two more runs, as the Cubs beat the NL Central leaders for just the fourth time in 12 games.

Travis Wood (5-3) pitched a scoreless seventh. Hector Rondon retired the side in the eighth.

Blue Jays 2, White Sox 1

The Toronto Blue Jays lead the major leagues in runs scored by a wide margin. However, they had to eke out a win in a low-scoring game Tuesday night.

Felix Doubront pitched into the seventh inning in his first start of the season and Josh Donaldson homered to lead the Blue Jays to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

"We're used to slugfests," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "It was nice to play a game like that and come out on top."

Doubront (1-0) allowed one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. It was his first start in the majors since last Sept. 20 when he pitched for the Chicago Cubs against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Roberto Osuna worked out of a ninth-inning jam to get the last three outs for his fourth save.

Tuesday, July 7 Scoreboard

Kansas City 9, Tampa Bay 5

Oakland 4, New York Yankees 3 (F/10)

Cincinnati 5, Washington 0

Pittsburgh 3, San Diego 2

Boston 4, Miami 3

Cleveland 2, Houston 0

Arizona 4, Texas 2

Chicago Cubs 7, St. Louis 4

Chicago Cubs 5, St. Louis 3

Toronto 2, Chicago White Sox 1

Atlanta 4, Milwaukee 3

Minnesota 8, Baltimore 3

Kansas City 7, Tampa Bay 1

Los Angeles Angels 10, Colorado 2

Seattle 7, Detroit 6 (F/11)

Philadelphia 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

NSan Francisco3, New York Mets 0

Wednesday, July 8 Schedule (All Times Central)

Baltimore at Minnesota, 12:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m.

Detroit at Seattle, 2:40 p.m.

New York at San Francisco, 2:45 p.m.

Oakland at New York, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

San Diego at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Miami at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Houston at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Chicago, 7:00 p.m.

Arizona at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

Toronto at Chicago, 7:10 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Kansas City, 7:10 p.m.

Los Angeles at Colorado,7:40 p.m.

Philadelphia at Los Angeles, 9:10 p.m.