Red Blank Cardinals, White Sox Beat Tigers

Since the All-Star break, the last-place Reds have traded away another star and turned into a formidable team.

Brandon Phillips had three hits and left-hander Brandon Finnegan allowed two singles in six innings on Thursday, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-0 victory and a rare series win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds took two of three, giving them only their fifth series win in the last 23 between the NL Central rivals. And it goes beyond the one series.

For the first time since 1999, the Reds have won six straight series after the All-Star break. They traded RBI leader Jay Bruce to the Mets during the current surge.

"This is the time when some teams might phone it in," manager Bryan Price said. "This group hasn't."

Phillips had a single and a pair of doubles, scored three times and drove in a run against former teammate Mike Leake (8-9). Ramon Cabrera drove in three runs, and Eugenio Suarez knocked in a pair.

Finnegan (7-8) allowed only a pair of singles, and then left after throwing 79 pitches on a humid, 88-degree afternoon. The bullpen gave up three more singles while closing out Cincinnati's fourth shutout, which is tied with Milwaukee and Pittsburgh for the fewest in the NL.

White Sox 6, Tigers 3

Jordan Zimmermann didn't last long in his return from the disabled list, and it's not clear when he'll be able to pitch again.

Zimmermann allowed homers to Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia in a five-run second inning, and the Detroit Tigers had their eight-game winning streak snapped in a 6-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

Zimmermann had been out since June 30 because of a right neck strain, and now a lat issue has come up. The right-hander was to have an MRI, and the Tigers were taking a wait-and-see approach on his next start.

"His lat was a little bit tight, not really related to what the issue was when he was on the DL," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He just couldn't seem to get loose. There was no pain, he was just having trouble getting extended and locating the ball."

Zimmermann (9-5) allowed six runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings, failing to strike out a batter. Jose Quintana (9-8) allowed three runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings.

David Robertson pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 30 chances, and Chicago won for only the second time in eight games.

Miguel Cabrera and Ian Kinsler homered for Detroit, but the Tigers fell to three games behind AL Central-leading Cleveland.

Thursday, August 4 Scoreboard

Cleveland 9, Minnesota 2

Tampa Bay 3, Kansas city 2

Cincinnati 7, St. Louis 0

San Francisco 3, Philadelphia 2 (F/10)

Chicago White Sox 6, Detroit 3

Texas 5, Baltimore 3

Oakland 8, Los Angeles Angels 6 (F/10)

New York Mets 4, New York Yankees 1

Atlanta 5, Pittsburgh 2

Toronto 4, Houston 1

Los Angeles dodgers 4, Colorado 2

Boston 3, Seattle 2 (F/11)

Friday, August 5 Schedule (All Times Central)

Cleveland at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.

San Francisco at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

New York Mets at Detroit, 6:10 p.m.

Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m.

Baltimore at Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m.

Texas at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

Toronto at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m.

Atlanta at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.

Miami at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

Milwaukee at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Oakland, 9:05 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

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

Philadelphia at San Diego, 9:40 p.m.

Saturday, August 6 Schedule (All Times Central)

Cleveland at New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.

Boston at Los Angeles Dodgers, 3:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 5:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Baltimore at Chicago White Sox, 6:10 p.m.

New York Mets at Detroit, 6:10 p.m.

Texas at Houston, 6:10 p.m.

Toronto at Kansas City, 6:15 p.m.

Atlanta at St. Louis, 6:15 p.m.

Miami at Colorado, 7:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at Arizona, 7:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at San Diego, 7:40 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Seattle, 8:10 p.m.

Sunday, August 7 Schedule (All Times Central)

Cleveland at New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m.

New York Mets at Detroit, 12:10 p.m.

Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 12:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Washington, 12:35 p.m.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.

Baltimore at Chicago White Sox, 1:10 p.m.

Texas at Houston 1:10 p.m.

Toronto at Kansas City, 1:15 p.m.

Atlanta at St. Louis, 1:15 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Oakland 3:05 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Seattle, 3:10 p.m.

Miami at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at Arizona, 3:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at San Diego, 3:40 p.m.

Boston at Los Angeles Dodgers 6:10 p.m.