Cubs, Cardinals Pick Up Victories, ML Roundup

Cubs Clip D'backs In 12 Innings

(Phoenix, AZ) -- Nate Schierholtz doubled in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning as the Cubs clipped the Diamondbacks 7-6 in the third installment of a four-game series at Chase Field. Schierholtz went 3-for-6 with a three-run homer and five RBI for the Northsiders, who are 3-3 since the All-Star break. Hector Rondon pitched the final two innings for the win. Cody Ross' sac-fly RBI tied the game at six in the bottom of the ninth. Paul Goldschmidt belted a three-run homer for the D'backs, who have dropped four-of-six since the break. David Hernandez fell to 4-6 with the loss.

 

Wrigley Field Getting Makeover

(Chicago, IL)  --  Wrigley Field has been around for a century, but it's getting a new look.  Chicago's City Council signed off on a 500-million dollar renovation of the Cubs' home park, including more luxury boxes, a massive jumbotron, new team clubhouses, and a hotel across the street.  The team will be paying for all the improvements itself, but needed zoning approval before it could proceed.  Neighbors living near the stadium may try to stop the changes, however, because the additions could block views of the park from their apartment rooftops.

 

Soriano Would OK Deal To Yankees

(Phoenix,  AZ) -- Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano is OK with heading back to the New York Yankees. He gave Chicago president Theo Epstein a list of teams he would accept a trade to and the Yanks were on the list. The 37-year-old is hitting .254 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI this year with the Cubs. Soriano started the first five seasons of his big league career with New York.

 

Cards Crush Phillies

(St. Louis, MO) -- Shane Robinson hit a three-run triple and Matt Adams also plated three runs as the Cardinals crushed the Phillies 11-3 in the middle of a three-game series at Busch Stadium. Yadier Molina went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Redbirds, who have won three in-a-row. Jake Westbrook allowed three runs in seven frames as he improved to 7-4 with the victory. Carlos Ruiz, John Mayberry Jr. and Michael Martinez drove in a run each for the Phillies, who are 1-4 since the All-Star break. John Lannan allowed four runs in four frames as he slipped to 2-4.

 

Fielder Leads Tigers Past White Sox

(Chicago, IL) -- Prince Fielder smacked a three-run homer in the first inning to lead the Tigers to a 6-2 win over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter added solo shots for Detroit, which will go for the four-game sweep on Thursday. Anibal Sanchez tossed six shutout innings to up his record to 8-7. Dayan Viciedo went 3-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored for the White Sox, who are 2-4 since the All-Star break. John Danks was tagged for six runs and 11 hits in seven frames as he fell to 2-8 with the loss.

 

Dodgers Drop Blue Jays In Extras

(Toronto, Ontario) -- Mark Ellis lifted a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning to give the Dodgers the lead as they dropped the Blue Jays 8-3 in Canada.  Yasiel Puig also belted a homer in the 10th for Los Angeles, which swept the three-game series.  Puig was 3-for-5 with two runs and a pair of RBI. Andre Ethier went 4-for-6 with two RBI and a run in the win. Brandon League picked up the win out of the bullpen. Brett Lawrie knocked in two runs for Toronto, which is 0-6 since the break. Juan Perez suffered the loss in relief.

 

Reds Stomp Giants

(San Francisco, CA) -- Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips each had a pair of RBI and two runs scored as the Reds rolled the Giants 8-3 in San Francisco. Devin Mesoraco also drove in two runs for Cincinnati as it took three-of-four in the series, which included a makeup game from earlier in the season.  Mike Leake tossed six-plus innings of one-run ball for his 10th win. Leake was also 3-for-4 with a run scored at the dish. Hunter Pence was 5-for-5 with an RBI while Pablo Sandoval knocked in two runs for San Francisco. Chad Gaudin allowed six runs in under four innings for the loss.

 

Crisp's Blast Lifts A's Over Astros

(Houston, TX) -- Coco Crisp hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to push the A's past the Astros 4-3 in the rubber match of a three-game set from Minute Maid Park.  Oakland starter A.J. Griffin earned his ninth win, while he allowed three runs on six hits and struck out eight in just over six innings. The A's went 3-3 on a six-game road trip. Houston's Travis Blackley gave up the homer to Crisp to take the loss. Carlos Corporan and Jose Altuve homered for the Astros, who went 1-5 on a six-game homestand.

 

Weaver, Angels Shut Down Twins To Avoid Sweep

(Anaheim, CA) -- Jered Weaver threw eight shutout innings and Albert Pujols drove in the game's lone run, as the Angels avoided a three-game sweep against the Twins with a 1-0 win at Angel Stadium. Weaver yielded only two hits while striking out nine to even his record at 5-5. Ernesto Frieri stranded runners on the corners to preserve the lead and earn his 25th save. The Halos halted a three-game slide.  Mike Pelfrey was saddled with the loss despite scattering five hits and only one run in six strong innings. Minnesota is 4-2 since the All-Star break.

 

Indians' Kazmir Shuts Down Mariners In Win

(Seattle, WA) -- Scott Kazmir was dominant for eight innings as the Indians' offense put up 10-runs to cruise past the Mariners 10-1 from Safeco Field. Kazmir scattered just one hit while fanning seven and allowing just an unearned run to earn his sixth win.  Michael Bourn crushed his first career grand slam and Asdrubal Cabrera went 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and scored four runs. The Tribe avoided the sweep and won just their second game of the second half. Joe Saunders was tagged for six runs on nine hits in just over four innings for the loss. The loss snaps the Mariners season-best eight game win streak.

 

Rays Roll Red Sox

(Boston, MA) -- Wil Myers was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI as the Rays rolled the Red Sox 5-1 at Fenway Park. James Loney went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Tampa Bay, which improved to 5-and-1 since the break.  David Price struck out four in the complete game as he improved to 5-5. Mike Napoli smacked a solo homer for Boston, which is 3-and-3 since the break. Felix Doubront allowed three runs in six-and-two-thirds innings as he slipped to 7-4.

 

Garza Shines In Rangers Win

(Arlington, TX) -- Matt Garza's first start with his new team was a success as the Rangers defeated the Yankees 3-1 in Arlington. Garza, who was recently acquired from the Cubs, dealt 7 1/3 innings with five strikeouts to pick up his first win. He allowed one unearned run. Joe Nathan grabbed his 32nd save, while Texas has taken two of the first three in the four-game set. A.J. Pierzynski and David Murphy each hit solo shots.  Robinson Cano had two hits and plated the only run for the Yankees. Andy Pettitte fell to 7-8 after giving up two runs and eight hits in six-plus innings.

 

Royals Rally Past O's

(Kansas City, MO) -- Alcides Escobar doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Royals rallied past the Orioles 4-3 in the third of four games at Kauffman Stadium.  Eric Hosmer hit a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth inning and a solo shot in the second for the Royals. KC is 4-2 since the All-Star break. Luke Hochevar picked up the win in relief of Ervin Santana, who allowed just one earned run over eight innings of work. Matt Wieters belted a two-run homer for the O's, who have lost two in-a-row after opening the second half with four straight wins. Darren O'Day fell to 5-1 with the setback.

 

Rockies Clip Marlins

(Denver, CO) -- Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu drove in a run each as the Rockies clipped the Marlins 2-1 at Coors Field. Jorge De La Rosa fired six shutout innings as he improved to 10-5. Rex Brothers closed it out for his sixth save. The Rockies had lost the first two of this four-game series. Donovan Solano went 3-for-4 and singled in the lone run in the eighth inning for Miami, which is 2-and-4 since the All-Star break. Jacob Turner allowed both runs on six hits over six frames as he fell to 3-3 with the tough-luck loss.

 

Pirates Double Up Nats

(Washington, DC) -- Francisco Liriano outdueled Stephen Strasburg as the Pirates doubled up the Nationals 4-2 at Nationals Park. Liriano had a no-hit bid broken up with two outs in the sixth inning. He ended up striking out eight while giving up just two hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings as he upped his mark to 10-and-4. Mark Melancon closed it out for his third save. Pedro Alvarez belted his 26th homer of the year and second in as many games. Michael McKenry drove in two and Neil Walker doubled in another during a three-run ninth inning for the Bucs, who have won the first three of this four-game series. Jayson Werth hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth for the Nats, who are 0-6 since the All-Star break. Strasburg fanned 12 while allowing just a run on two hits over eight frames as he fell to 5-8 with the tough-luck loss.

 

Braves Dump Mets

(Flushing, NY) --  The Braves used a five-run fifth inning to power past the Mets, 8-2, at Citi Field. Atlanta has taken two of the first three in the four-game set.  A Dan Uggla three-run homer followed by an Andrelton Simmons two-run shot accounted for the runs in the deciding frame. Tim Hudson improved to 8-7, striking out nine in 7 2/3 innings, but left the game with a gruesome right-leg injury covering first base. David Murphy had two hits and drove in two in the loss. Jeremy Hefner fell to 4-8, allowing six of the eight Atlanta runs.

 

Lohse Pitches Brewers To Win

(Milwaukee, WIS) -- Kyle Lohse signed with the Brewers this offseason with hopes of joining a contender. With 62 games to play, the Brewers' season has crumbled around him with injuries, inconsistent play and, most recently, Ryan Braun's suspension. But Lohse has stood firm through it all. On Wednesday, the right-hander remained standing with a seven-inning gem to help deliver the Brewers a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres during a week they so desperately needed it.

 

Mariner's Skipper Wedge Suffers Mild Stroke

(Seattle, WA) -- Mariners manger Eric Wedge is out of the hospital after suffering a very mild stroke. The 45-year-old skipper was helped off the field during batting practice before Monday's game after a dizzy spell. Wedge spent two days in the hospital before being released Wednesday. He's expected to make a full and complete recovery, but will not be in uniform for Seattle's upcoming series against the Twins.

Red Sox Finalize Extension With Pedroia

(Boston, MA) -- Dustin Pedroia's contract extension with the Red Sox is complete.  The Boston second baseman has signed a deal that will pay him $110-million through the 2021 season. Pedroia had been signed for next year at $10-million under his old contract. The four-time All-Star is in his eighth season with the Red Sox. Pedroia is batting .306 with six home runs and 58 RBI this year.

Wednesday, July 24 Scoreboard

MLB NL

Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Washington Nationals 2

Atlanta Braves 8, New York Mets 2

Milwaukee Brewers 3, San Diego Padres 1

St. Louis Cardinals 11, Philadelphia Phillies 3

Colorado Rockies 2, Miami Marlins 1

Chicago Cubs 7, Arizona Diamondbacks 6 (12 inn)

Cincinnati Reds 8, San Francisco Giants 3

 

MLB AL

Oakland Athletics 4, Houston Astros 3

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 1, Minnesota Twins 0

Cleveland Indians 10, Seattle Mariners 1

Tampa Bay Rays 5, Boston Red Sox 1

Texas Rangers 3, New York Yankees 1

Kansas City Royals 4, Baltimore Orioles 3

Detroit Tigers 6, Chicago White Sox 2

 

MLB Interleague

Los Angeles Dodgers 8, Toronto Blue Jays 3 (10 inn)

Thursday, July 25 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB NL

11:10 a.m. - Atlanta Braves at New York Mets

11:35 a.m. - Pittsburgh Pirates at Washington Nationals

1:10 p.m. - San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers

2:10 p.m. - Miami Marlins at Colorado Rockies

6:15 p.m. - Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals

8:40 p.m. - Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks

9:10 p.m. - Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers

 

MLB AL

1:05 p.m. - New York Yankees at Texas Rangers

1:10 p.m. - Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox

6:07 p.m. - Houston Astros at Toronto Blue Jays

6:10 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox

7:10 p.m. - Baltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals

9:05 p.m. - Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics

9:10 p.m. - Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners

 

MLB Interleague

No Games Scheduled