CHICAGO -- Addison Russell's fly ball in the eighth inning Sunday might be the most important play in baseball so far this year.
St. Louis star catcher Yadier Molina suffered a sprained left thumb on the play as the Cubs ran themselves out of late scoring chances and the Cardinals ended Chicago's five-game winning streak and avoided a sweep with a 4-3 victory Sunday.
The Cardinals moved six games ahead of Chicago in the NL Central. The Pirates beat the Dodgers on Sunday to remain four games behind St. Louis.
Molina was injured tagging out Anthony Rizzo on Russell's sacrifice-fly attempt in the eighth. Right fielder Jason Heyward had the assist, throwing out Rizzo on the no-out, bases-loaded fly for a double play.
Molina said he'll have an MRI on the thumb today.
"I'm concerned," Manager Mike Matheny said. "We're anxious to hear what the doctor is going to report."
Matheny went out to talk to Molina after the play, but Molina remained in the game for the remainder of the half inning before being replaced for pinch-hitter Matt Adams the next inning.
"It hurts [gripping the bat]) a little bit," Molina said. "I just couldn't grip it."
The Cubs ran into another out in the ninth. Starlin Castro led off with a single, but pinch-runner Quintin Berry was thrown out trying to steal second by Molina's replacement, Tony Cruz.
Trevor Rosenthal then struck out Jorge Soler and got Kyle Schwarber to ground out for his 46th save in 48 chances.
Despite falling short in this one, the Cubs won four of their final six regular-season games against the Cardinals.
"I could not be more proud of our guys," Manager Joe Maddon said. "It's obvious we're playing on the same level as they are right now."
St. Louis became the first team to clinch a postseason berth -- its fifth consecutive -- on Saturday when San Francisco lost.
The Cubs are comfortably ahead of the Giants for the final wild-card spot. And if they advance in the postseason, there's a good chance they'll face the Cardinals at some point.
"Obviously, the ultimate goal is through them," Cubs starter Jon Lester said.
Carlos Martinez (14-7) pitched four-hit ball into the seventh and allowed two runs. Rookies Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty hit home runs.
In the eighth, the Cubs loaded the bases on a single and two walks, then Cardinals reliever Jonathan Broxton walked in a run. Rosenthal entered and struck out Miguel Montero to end the threat.
Martinez retired 11 consecutive at one point and finished with six strikeouts. His only trouble came in the third, when he walked two then allowed a two-run single to Rizzo.
Lester (10-11) labored despite entering the game with a string of three solid starts in which he allowed four runs in 21 innings. He allowed four runs in six innings while striking out seven.
Lester was 1 for 2 at the plate. He's 3 for 11 against St. Louis and 0 for 82 against all other teams.
Pham, the game's second hitter, launched a drive down the left field line over the bleachers onto the street. It was his fifth home run of the season and fourth in his last six games. One out later, Piscotty lined a two-run shot to left.
NATIONALS 13, MARLINS 3 Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 in an encore to one of the best starts of his career, and Yunel Escobar had four hits and four RBIs as host Washington beat Miami. Escobar was 4 for 4 and had a three-run double in a seven-run sixth inning. Bryce Harper had three hits, including a double, and scored three times.
BREWERS 8, REDS 4 Adam Lind drove in three runs and host Milwaukee ended an eight-game losing streak, taking advantage of Cincinnati's poor fielding. Jay Bruce hit two home runs for the Reds.
BRAVES 2, PHILLIES 1 Julio Teheran took a perfect game try into the seventh inning and A.J. Pierzynski hit an RBI single in the ninth that lifted host Atlanta over Philadelphia. Teheran's bid was spoiled by Freddy Galvis' leadoff single in the seventh.
PIRATES 4, DODGERS 3 Gerrit Cole (17-8) allowed 3 runs and 6 hits in 7 innings and struck out 9, improving to 3-0 in four career starts against host Los Angeles. Tony Watson and Mark Melancon followed with perfect innings of relief, and Melancon got his 48th save.
GIANTS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1 Buster Posey hit a three-run home run and Tim Hudson (8-8) allowed four hits in six scoreless innings, improving to 11-2 against host Arizona. Alejandro De Aza and Jarrett Parker also drove in runs for the Giants, who snapped a 35-inning scoreless streak at home against Arizona pitching.
PADRES 10, ROCKIES 4 Matt Kemp hit a home run and doubled twice to back James Shields (13-6), who pitched two-hit ball into the seventh. Yangervis Solarte, Jedd Gyorko and Cory Spangenberg also hit a home run for visiting San Diego. Justin Upton had three of the Padres' 15 hits and drove in three runs.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
MARINERS 9, RANGERS 2 Felix Hernandez became the American League's first 18-game winner, Robinson Cano drove in four runs and visiting Seattle beat AL West-leading Texas. Texas' division lead was trimmed to 1 1/2 games over second-place Houston.
ASTROS 5, ATHLETICS 1 Colby Rasmus hit two home runs and George Springer added a two-run shot to back a solid start by Collin McHugh and help Houston beat Oakland. The Astros won their second in a row following a five-game skid that knocked them out of first place in the AL West.
RED SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 3 The AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays lost their grip in the eighth inning, and visiting Boston broke ahead on a sacrifice fly by Jackie Bradley Jr. Pablo Sandoval reached in the eighth on an error by Toronto reliever Brett Cecil (3-5) and later scored on Bradley's fly when catcher Dioner Navarrp couldn't handle the short-hop throw.
TWINS 8, ANGELS 1 Rookie Tyler Duffey pitched seven shutout innings, Eddie Rosario and Joe Mauer hit two-run home runs, and host Minnesota pulled even with Los Angeles in the AL wild-card race. A day after the Angels swept a day-night doubleheader, Duffey (4-1) stopped the Twins' five-game losing streak.
INDIANS 6, WHITE SOX 3 Josh Tomlin pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, Lonnie Chisenhall hot a home run and drove in three runs, and host Cleveland defeated Chicago. Cleveland stayed four games behind Houston for the AL's second wild card. The Angels and Twins also are ahead of them.
ROYALS 10, TIGERS 3 Kendrys Morales hit three home runs and a triple, setting a team record with 15 total bases as visiting Kansas City beat Detroit to avoid a three-game sweep. Morales hit three solo shots and scored five runs. Christian Colon had a career-high four hits for the AL Central leading-Royals and Paulo Orlando hit a home run.
RAYS 7, ORIOLES 6 Pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer led off the ninth inning with a tying home run and Kevin Kiermaier beat out a two-out single for the winning run as host Tampa Bay rallied past Baltimore. Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 43rd home run for the Orioles.
INTERLEAGUE
YANKEES 11, METS 2 Carlos Beltran, CC Sabathia and the visiting New York Yankees took advantage of Matt Harvey’s early exit, beating the sloppy Mets. Dustin Ackley hit a three-run home run after Beltran’s go-ahead double, and Sabathia (5-9) won for the first time since July 8 as the Yankees took two of three at Citi Field to win both Subway Series this season.
Sports on 09/21/2015