NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cubs get to Burnett, avoid sweep by Phillies

CHICAGO - Ryan Kalish hit a two-run double and an RBI triple and the Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 on Sunday to avoid a sweep.

Cubs starter Carlos Villanueva allowed a run in five innings in his first start and third outing of the season.

A.J. Burnett (Central Arkansas Christian), who signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Phillies after he spent the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowed 8 runs, 4 earned, in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three but walked six.

Kalish opened up the scoring with an RBI triple in the first. It was his first hit since Sept. 11, 2012, when he played for the Boston Red Sox.

PIRATES 2, CARDINALS 1 Tony Sanchez hit a tie-breaking RBI double in the seventh inning and host Pittsburgh edged St. Louis. Sanchez’s double to deep center field with two outs came off Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright (1-1) and snapped a 1-1 tie. The hit by the rookie reserve catcher scored Pedro Alvarez and was Sanchez’s second game-winning hit of the week as he singled home the winning run in the 16th inning of Wednesday night’s victory over the Chicago Cubs.

NATIONALS 2, BRAVES 1 Ian Desmond led off the seventh inning with a home run and host Washington avoided a sweep with a victory over Atlanta. Desmond ripped a down-the-middle fastball from Alex Wood (1-1) well into the left field bleachers, the Nationals’ first hit since the first inning.

PADRES 4, MARLINS 2 Pinch-hitter Alexi Amarista celebrated his 25th birthday by delivering a go-ahead, three-run home run in the seventh inning to lift visiting San Diego to a victory over Miami. Ian Kennedy (1-1) allowed 1 run and 3 hits in 6 innings for the Padres. He struck out five.

REDS 2, METS 1 Alfredo Simon pitched seven impressive innings in his first start in more than two years and began the go-ahead rally with his second career hit, helping visiting Cincinnati beat New York to salvage a victory in the three-game series. Joey Votto had a sacrifice fly and Ryan Ludwick a tie-breaking single off Jonathon Niese (0-1).DIAMONDBACKS 5, ROCKIES 3 Mark Trumbo homered for the fourth consecutive game, and visiting Arizona averted a sweep by beating Colorado. Wade Miley pitched 8 strong innings, had acareer-best 3 hits and benefited from a defense that turned 5 double plays.

DODGERS 6, GIANTS 2 Matt Kemp hit his first two home runs at Dodger Stadium since 2012 and Hanley Ramirez hit his first two this season, helping host Los Angeles beat San Francisco. Zack Greinke (2-0) pitched 6 innings, allowing 2 runs and 6 hits. AMERICAN LEAGUE ASTROS 7, ANGELS 4 Scott Feldman threw seven strong innings, five Astros hit home runs, and host Houston snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Angels. Feldman (2-0) did not allow a hit until two outs in the fourth, when Josh Hamilton dribbled one toward first base. TWINS 10, INDIANS 7 Chris Colabello drove in four runs, Brian Dozier scored three times and visiting Minnesota outslugged Cleveland. Colabello broke a 6-6 tie with a three-run double in the sixth inning off Blake Wood (0-1).

YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 4 CC Sabathia pitched six innings for his first victory of the season, Brett Gardner hit a two-run home run and visiting New York beat Toronto. Sabathia (1-1) allowed 4 runs and 7 hits, walked none and struck out 6.

WHITE SOX 5, ROYALS 1 Chris Sale gave up four singles in eight scoreless innings as visiting Chicago defeated Kansas City. Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers each drove in a pair of runs.

RANGERS 3, RAYS 0 Yu Darvish allowed seven hits over seven innings in his season debut, Elvis Andrus hit a two-run home run, and visiting Texas avoided a three-game sweep. Darvish (1-0) struck out six and walked one.

ORIOLES 3, TIGERS 1 Chris Tillman outpitched Justin Verlander, allowing one run while working into the ninth and visiting Baltimore beat Detroit. Tillman (1-0) gave up five hits, including Pine Bluff’s Torii Hunter’s solo home run in the fourth, in 8 1/3 innings. ATHLETICS 6, MARINERS 3 Reigning AL saves leader Jim Johnson struck out two and closed it out this time after losing back-to-back outings to begin with his new team, sealing host Oakland’s victory over Seattle. Brandon Moss hit a three-run home run, Yoenis Cespedes connected in the eighth and Josh Donaldson beat out an infield single in the fifth to drive in the go-ahead run.

INTERLEAGUE BREWERS 4, RED SOX 0 Yovani Gallardo made his second consecutive scoreless start and visiting Milwaukee completed a three-game sweep of Boston. The Red Sox fell to 2-4 and matched their longest skid of 2013.

Sunday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE Cincinnati 2, NY Mets 1 San Diego 4, Miami 2 Washington 2, Atlanta 1 Pittsburgh 2, St. Louis 1 Chicago Cubs 8, Philadelphia 3 Arizona 5, Colorado 3 LA Dodgers 6, San Francisco 2 AMERICAN LEAGUE Minnesota 10, Cleveland 7 NY Yankees 6, Toronto 4 Baltimore 3, Detroit 1 Texas 3, Tampa Bay 0 Chicago White Sox 5, Kansas City 1 Houston 7, LA Angels 4 Oakland 6, Seattle 3 INTERLEAGUE Milwaukee 4, Boston 0

Sports, Pages 20 on 04/07/2014

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