NATIONAL LEAGUE
CUBS 5, GIANTS 4
CHICAGO -- Addison Russell hit a two-run single with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Thursday night.
The Cubs spoiled a shaky Jeff Samardzija's return to Wrigley Field and started September on a winning note after going 22-6 to match the 1932 team for the best August in franchise history.
The major league leaders also moved a season-high 39 games over .500 and a jaw-dropping 15 1/2 games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central -- their largest lead in the standings since the 1907 team finished 17 games ahead of Pittsburgh, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Cubs were trailing 4-3 going into the seventh when Hunter Strickland (3-2) gave up a leadoff single to Dexter Fowler and walked Kris Bryant after two close pitches were called balls.
Will Smith walked Ben Zobrist with one out to load the bases before retiring Jason Heyward on a pop fly. But Russell then blooped a two-run single to left off Cory Gearrin.
That gave Chicago a 5-4 lead and made a winner of Joe Smith (2-4), who worked two scoreless innings in relief after returning from a strained left hamstring.
Fowler had two hits and scored two runs. Bryant added an RBI single to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, matching a career high.
Carl Edwards Jr. worked the ninth for his first career save, and the Cubs came away with the victory on a cool and windy night in which both starting pitchers lasted just four innings.
Samardzija gave up 3 runs and 5 hits, walked 3 and threw 87 pitches in his second start against Chicago and first as a visitor at Wrigley Field. The right-hander played for the Cubs from 2008 until he was traded to Oakland during the 2014 season in the deal for Russell.
Chicago's Mike Montgomery gave up 4 runs -- 3 earned -- and 3 hits, including a long two-run home run to Hunter Pence in the first.
MARLINS 6, METS 4 Christian Yelich showed off his bat, legs and glove, capped by hitting a three-run home run that helped visiting Miami beat shaky Jacob deGrom and New York to end its season-worst five-game losing streak. Yelich homered and singled twice, drove in four runs and stole two bases. He also made a dashing, diving catch in center field with the bases loaded and two outs that made up for him later dropping a routine fly for an error. Jose Urena (3-5) outpitched deGrom (7-8) as Miami averted a four-game sweep. Down 6-1, the Mets made it close, boosted by pinch-hitter Asdrubal Cabrera's two-run home run in the ninth off Fernando Rodney.
BRAVES 9, PADRES 6 Freddie Freeman homered and host Atlanta broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning, beating San Diego to complete its first three-game sweep at Turner Field this season. One day after Minnesota dipped below Atlanta to the worst record in the majors, the Braves kept on winning behind six solid innings from Mike Foltynewicz (8-5) and another strong showing from the hitters. They scored at least seven runs for the fifth consecutive time at home. Freeman put Atlanta up in the third with his 28th home run, a two-run liner into the right-field seats off Jarred Cosart (0-2). After Hector Sanchez homered for the Padres in the fifth, the Braves finished off Cosart in the bottom half. Freeman walked with the bases loaded, followed by two-run singles from both Matt Kemp and Anthony Recker. The Braves' two previous three-game sweeps this season came on the road. They are 22-44 at the Ted.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
TWINS 8, WHITE SOX 5 Byron Buxton homered in his return to the majors, and Trevor Plouffe continued his resurgence with a two-run shot as Minnesota beat visiting Chicago and ended a 13-game losing streak. Minnesota got to Chicago starter Jose Quintana, who entered the day leading the American League with a 2.77 ERA. Quintana (11-10) allowed 7 runs and 7 hits in 5 innings and saw his ERA rise to 3.05. Ervin Santana (7-10) escaped trouble to win for the fourth time in five decisions. He gave up 11 hits and 2 walks, but allowed just 2 runs as the Twins snapped their losing streak, one off the franchise record for a season. Brandon Kintzler recorded his 13th save in 14 chances.
Sports on 09/02/2016