Ben Zobrist went four-for-four, while Addison Russell had three RBIs as the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 8-7 on Tuesday night for their eighth straight win.
Jon Lester (4-1) pitched six innings of three-run ball as Chicago improved to 25-6 for the best start by a major league team since the 1984 Detroit Tigers won 26 of their first 31 games. Kris Bryant drove in two runs and Jason Heyward scored twice, helping the Cubs open an 8.5-game lead over second-placed Pittsburgh in the NL Central.
Zobrist had run-scoring singles in the third and fourth against rookie Cesar Vargas (0-2). Zobrist also singled in the second and seventh, and scored in each inning on a hit by Russell.
Photo: AFP
Alex Dickerson became the first player in Padres history with a pinch-hit grand slam for his first career homer, according to STATS, but San Diego lost their third consecutive game. Melvin Upton Jr also went deep for the Padres.
TIGERS 5, NATIONALS 4
In Washington, Andrew Romine drove in the tiebreaking run on a play that withstood a replay challenge under the new slide rule, while Miguel Cabrera tacked on a pinch-hit RBI as Detroit overcame Ryan Zimmerman’s two homers to beat Washington and end a seven-game losing streak.
Bryce Harper came up as the potential go-ahead run in the ninth, but closer Francisco Rodriguez intentionally walked the National League MVP to put two men on with one out for cleanup hitter Zimmerman. Rodriguez struck out Zimmerman swinging, then got .402-hitting Daniel Murphy to fly out for his eighth save.
The Tigers trailed 3-2 before scoring three runs in the sixth off Joe Ross (3-2).
Michael Fulmer (2-1) went five innings in his third big league start, allowing three runs and seven hits.
YANKEES 10, ROYALS 7
In New York, Brett Gardner doubled home the tiebreaking run off Kelvin Herrera in the eighth inning as New York overcame three home runs by Lorenzo Cain to beat reeling Kansas City.
In a back-and-forth game, Kansas City rallied from deficits of 1-0, 5-3 and 7-6 as Cain tied his career high with five RBIs. Cheslor Cuthbert also homered for the Royals.
An error by Gold Glove shortstop Alcides Escobar led to Gardner’s RBI double off Herrera (0-1) for an 8-7 lead. Brian McCann added a two-run double.
Aroldis Chapman, who returned from a 29-game domestic violence suspension on Monday, followed with a hitless ninth for his first Yankees save.
In other MLB action, it was:
‧ Dodgers 3, Mets 2
‧ Brewers 10, Marlins 2
‧ Orioles 5, Twins 3
‧ Red Sox 13, Athletics 5
‧ Indians 4, Astros 0
‧ Phillies 3, Braves 2
‧ Blue Jays 4, Giants 0
‧ Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 1
‧ Rangers 13, White Sox 11
‧ Cardinals 8, Angels 1
‧ Mariners 6, Rays 4
‧ Pirates-Reds was postponed
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