Dodgers spoil Jon Lester’s return, beat Cubs 2-1
CHICAGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers spoiled Jon Lester’s return to the Cubs‘ rotation by scoring on an error and a sacrifice fly, beating Chicago 2-1 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep.
Lester (1-1), who spent 16 days on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, allowed one run on four hits in five innings.
Cody Bellinger drove in the Dodgers’ second run with a sacrifice fly off Kyle Ryan in the eighth after Los Angeles loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batter. It was Bellinger’s 31st RBI of the season, tying Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich for the most in the majors. Bellinger went 1 for 2, raising his major league-leading batting average to .426.
Pedro Baez (2-1) struck out three in 1 1/3 innings for the win. Kenley Jansen allowed Albert Almora Jr.’s homer in the ninth but got the final three outs for his eighth save.
Ross Stripling allowed five hits and struck out six, throwing 76 pitches in his 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, PIRATES 0
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Zack Greinke and two relievers allowed five hits as Arizona completed a four-game sweep of Pittsburgh.
It was the second shutout of the season for the Diamondbacks, who improved to 15-11 and moved into a tie for first place in the NL West. It was Arizona’s second consecutive four-game sweep in Pittsburgh and 10th straight win overall at PNC Park.
Greinke (4-1) struck out seven in seven innings and gave up just two hits.
The Arizona had five extra-base hits off Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (1-3), all of which went to right field. Taillon lasted five innings and allowed a season-high five earned runs on six hits. He struck out five.
Andrew Chafin worked around two hits in the eighth and Yoshihisa Hirano finished the shutout in the ninth.
BOSTON (AP) — Michael Chavis hit a two-run homer, Rick Porcello got his first win of the season and Boston beat Detroit.
Andrew Benintendi and Mookie Betts had two doubles apiece for Boston, and Rafael Devers hit a two-run double as the Red Sox had a season-high seven extra-base hits.
Nicholas Castellanos hit a two-run homer for the Tigers, who swept a doubleheader Tuesday but left their only visit to Boston this season with a four-game split.
Porcello (1-3) struck out five and allowed three runs, six hits and two walks in six innings. It was the fifth start of the season for the 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner, who missed out on a victory in his last start because of a blown save.
Jordan Zimmermann (0-4) allowed five runs and five hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out two.
MARLINS 3, PHILLIES 1, 10 INNINGS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Starlin Castro hit a two-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning to lift Miami past Philadelphia.
Marlins starter Caleb Smith gave up one run and three hits, striking out eight in six innings and five relievers pitched four scoreless innings.
Phillies left fielder Nick Williams made a perfect one-hop throw to the plate to prevent Miguel Rojas from scoring from second on Isaac Galloway’s single to end the top of the ninth.
Castro connected off Hector Neris (0-1) after Neil Walker lined a double off the left-field wall.
Tayron Guerrero (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win. Sergio Romo finished for his third save in four tries.
Phillies ace Aaron Nola allowed one run and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings in his best start since the season opener.
Miami has won four of six, yet is tied with Kansas City for the worst record in the majors at 8-17.
Sean Rodriguez hit a solo homer for the Phillies, who have lost six of eight after an 11-6 start.
HOUSTON (AP) — Trevor Bauer threw eight strong innings, Leonys Martin and Jake Bauers homered off Gerrit Cole, and Cleveland beat Houston.
Bauer (3-1) allowed one run, four hits and six walks while striking out three. He improved to 8-0 in his career against the Astros, including two wins against Cole, his former teammate at UCLA.
Martin got the first hit off Cole (1-4) with a solo homer in the third that just made it over the right field wall. Bauers led off the fifth with a solo home run to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead.
Brad Hand pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
Cole surrendered two runs and three hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.
