NATIONAL LEAGUE

Hard-hitting Cubs knock out Cardinals in 8th

CUBS 7, CARDINALS 2

ST. LOUIS -- Jorge Soler hit two home runs and fellow rookie Javier Baez had a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning off All-Star reliever Pat Neshek as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 on Friday night.

The Cardinals lost in the return of star catcher Yadier Molina. He had been out since July 9 because of a torn ligament in his right thumb, and went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch.

The crowd at Busch Stadium gave Molina a standing ovation when he walked in from the bullpen after pregame warmups, and another cheer before he batted in the first inning.

Neshek (6-1) led NL relievers with an 0.81 ERA entering the game. It was 2-all when he came in to begin the eighth, and he gave up hits to the first three batters.

Neil Ramirez (2-1) allowed two hits in a scoreless seventh.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks worked six solid innings in his bid to become the franchise's first rookie to win five games in August.

Soler hit his second home run of the season on Shelby Miller's first pitch of the seventh to tie it at 2. In his next at-bat, Soler hit a two-run shot in the eighth.

Soler finished 3 for 3.

Luis Valbuena and Arismendy Alcantara also homered for the Cubs, with all four Cubs drives estimated at 400-feet plus. They entered with 30 home runs this month, tied for most in the NL.

Cubs reliever Justin Grimm struck out four in the ninth. One of the batters reached on Grimm's wild pitch.

Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta had RBI singles in the St. Louis first. After Peralta's hit, Hendricks retired 11 in a row.

PIRATES 2, REDS 1 Josh Harrison hit an RBI triple and scored on Jose Tabata's tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, leading host Pittsburgh to a victory over Cincinnati. Pirates starter Edinson Volquez was working on a no-hitter before Devin Mesoraco's leadoff single in the seventh.

METS 4, PHILLIES 1 Jacob deGrom pitched seven crisp innings and his teammates scored the tiebreaking runs when left fielder Grady Sizemore dropped an easy pop fly, handing New York a victory over visiting Philadelphia.

BRAVES 5, MARLINS 2 Justin Upton homered and had three RBI, Jason Heyward drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and host Atlanta beat Miami for its third consecutive victory. The Braves, winners in 10 of 14, began the night 1 1/2 games back in the NL wild-card standings.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, ROCKIES 2 Jake Lamb hit a grand slam for his second career home run and Arizona rallied to beat visiting Colorado. The rookie, called up from Class AAA Reno on Aug. 7, connected with two out in the eighth inning, hitting a drive to center off Adam Ottavino.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

INDIANS 6, ROYALS 1 Carlos Santana, who homered five times at Kauffman Stadium in a series last month, hit a two-run home run as visiting Cleveland topped Kansas City. The loss cut the Royals' lead to a half-game over Detroit in the AL Central.

ORIOLES 9, TWINS 1 Chris Davis hit his fourth career grand slam and host Baltimore got a dominating pitching performance from Miguel Gonzalez in a victory over skidding Minnesota. Delmon Young also homered for the AL East-leading Orioles.

TIGERS 7, WHITE SOX 1 Justin Verlander turned in one of his most effective outings this year and led visiting Detroit past Chicago. The former AL MVP allowed one run and nine hits in seven innings. It was the first time this year that he allowed fewer than two runs in a game.

YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 3 Jacoby Ellsbury and Chase Headley homered, and visiting New York beat slumping Toronto. Chris Capuano (2-3) pitched 6 1/3 innings in his first victory in seven starts since joining the Yankees.

RED SOX 8, RAYS 4 Rookie Mookie Betts hit his first career grand slam, Anthony Ranaudo pitched six effective innings and Boston beat host Tampa Bay. Ranaudo (3-0), recalled from Class AAA Pawtucket before the game, gave up three runs and five hits.

RANGERS 13, ASTROS 6 Michael Choice and Rougned Odor both hit three-run homers and visiting Texas cruised to a victory over Houston. Odor connected in a five-run seventh inning with a shot to the seats in right field to make it 13-1.

Sports on 08/30/2014

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