Cardinals survive extra-inning scare

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 3, BREWERS 2 (13)

ST. LOUIS -- Tony Cruz singled in the winning run in the 13th inning and the St. Louis Cardinals moved closer to their second consecutive National League Central title with a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.

The defending National League champions took 2 of 3 in a tight series that featured only 12 runs and another game that lasted 12 innings, and lead the division by 2 1/2 games with nine games to go. They begin their final home series of the year tonight with the first of three games against Cincinnati.

Aramis Ramirez and Scooter Gennett had an RBI apiece for the Brewers, who are five games back and 3 1/2 out for the second NL wild card. Jonathan Lucroy's 45th double as a catcher tied the major-league record for the position set by Ivan Rodriguez in 1996 and was his major league-leading 52nd overall.

Cruz singled up the middle with one out for the third hit of the 13th against Jimmy Nelson (2-8) and Matt Adam scored from second.

Four consecutive St. Louis hitters reached against Jonathan Broxton with two outs in the eighth to tie it, resulting in the seventh blown save in Kyle Lohse's starts. Jon Jay had an RBI single and Matt Adams drew his second bases-loaded walk of the series.

The Brewers left two on in the 10th against Pat Neshek and loaded the bases with two outs in the 11th against Carlos Martinez, who escaped by striking out Carlos Gomez, then fanned Ryan Braun with a man on second to end the 12th.

Sam Freeman (2-0) had two strikeouts in a perfect 13th -- the most innings in a Cardinals game.

Ramirez had two hits and has two home runs and 10 RBI against St. Louis this year.

Shelby Miller retired the first 11 in order before surrendering three consecutive two-out hits in the fourth, a rally started by Lucroy's double. Miller has allowed two earned runs in 26 innings this month, and St. Louis starters have allowed one or fewer earned runs in seven straight starts.

Brewers starters have a 1.74 ERA in the past eight games. Cardinals leadoff man Matt Carpenter is 1 for 16 against Lohse.

NATIONALS 6, MARLINS 2 Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs in seven innings, Bryce Harper had three hits, and visiting Washington kept up its push for home-field advantage in the NL playoffs by beating Miami. Kevin Frandsen and Anthony Rendon each had two hits for Washington (88-64), which opened the night 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the NL's best record.

ROCKIES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 6 Wilin Rosario hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and host Colorado rallied to beat Arizona. Rosario finished with four hits to lift the Rockies into a fourth-place tie with Arizona in the NL West.

DODGERS 8, CUBS 4 Dee Gordon and pinch-hitter Andre Ethier hit RBI doubles in Los Angeles' five-run seventh inning, and the visiting Dodgers rallied to beat Chicago and extend their lead in the NL West. The Dodgers moved 2 1/2 games ahead of idle San Francisco in the division.

PADRES 7, PHILLIES 3 Robbie Erlin pitched six strong innings, Alexi Amarista and Will Venable homered, and host San Diego defeated Philadelphia. Erlin (4-4), slowed by a sore elbow this season, allowed a run on five hits in his first start since May 17. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RANGERS 7, ATHLETICS 2 Sonny Gray and Oakland kept sliding, falling out of the top AL wild-card spot with a loss to visiting Texas that gave the Rangers a three-game sweep. The latest loss to the team with the worst record in the majors dropped the A's a half-game behind idle Kansas City for the first wild-spot slot. Oakland owned the best record in the big leagues as recently as Aug. 15.

YANKEES 3, BLUE JAYS 2 Derek Jeter began his final homestand for host New York with one more stroll around the bases, hitting a home run in a victory over Toronto. Jeter homered deep into the left-field seats against R.A. Dickey in the sixth inning, earning a standing ovation from his adoring fans.

INDIANS 2, ASTROS 1 (13) Mike Aviles's sacrifice fly in the 13th inning scored Jose Ramirez and gave visiting Cleveland a victory over Houston. Ramirez doubled with one out before Samuel Deduno (2-6) walked Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana to set up Aviles' fly to right. Jake Marisnick's throw to the plate was offline, and Ramirez scored easily. Kyle Crockett (4-0) got the Indians out of trouble in the 12th, and Cody Allen pitched the 13th for his 22nd save.

INTERLEAGUE

PIRATES 3, RED SOX 2 Pittsburgh got a lucky break when Boston pinch-runner Jemile Weeks was hit by a batted ball in the ninth inning, beating the Red Sox to keep pace in the NL pennant race. The Pirates began the day 2 1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot, and host the Brewers in a three-game series beginning tonight.

Sports on 09/19/2014

Upcoming Events