Chicago’s Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer as the Cubs continued their superb form on the road, winning 6-2 in Pittsburgh on Wednesday and opening a six-game gap between the top two National League Central teams.
The Cubs have won seven successive road games and completed their first sweep of the Pirates in four years.
Zobrist hit his three-run shot in the third inning at PNC Park, but should never have had the opportunity. Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutcheon could have ended the inning on the previous batter, but dropped a line drive by Anthony Rizzo.
Photo: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY
Rizzo also hit a homer, while Cubs starter Jon Lester worked out of a couple of jams, pitching 5-2/3 scoreless innings as Chicago made it seven wins from their past eight games.
Lester also pulled off a clever play after a Francisco Cervelli hit got stuck in the web of his glove. The pitcher improvised and threw his entire glove to first base for the out.
“I feel like we constantly put pressure on the other team,” Cubs catcher David Ross told the MLB Web site.
Photo: AFP
“I don’t think we’re waiting for our break, obviously that’s what you are striving to do, is play clean games. We get a little break there and the three-run shot by Zobrist,” he said.
Elsewhere, David Ortiz continued his climb up the list of career home-run hitters as Boston beat the Chicago White Sox, Washington humbled World Series champion Kansas City on their own turf, and Matt Holliday delivered the winning hit with two outs in the ninth inning to lift St Louis over Philadelphia.
The White Sox lost 5-2 at home against Boston.
David Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to give him 509 for his career, tying him with Gary Sheffield for 25th on the all-time list. It was his 451st with Boston, one off Carl Yastrzemski’s club record.
Washington’s Daniel Murphy had a single, double and homer to power the Nationals to a 13-2 rout in Kansas City.
Bryce Harper broke out of his recent slump with a homer, while Murphy and Clint Robinson drove in three runs apiece.
St Louis’ Matt Holliday came up with the walk-off winning hit as the Cardinals edged Philadelphia 5-4.
St Louis loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning against Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez. Stephen Piscotty delivered an infield single to tie the game. Holliday then smacked his hit through the left side of the infield to drive in the winning run.
Toronto’s Russell Martin also came up with a ninth-inning winner as the Blue Jays defeated Texas 4-3.
Edwin Encarnacion singled off Tony Barnette to begin the ninth. After a walk, then an out, then another walk, the bases were loaded for Martin, who drove his hit into the right-field corner.
It was another close win for the Blue Jays, who took Tuesday’s game 3-1 in 10 innings.
Seattle also had a narrow victory, winning 9-8 against Oakland to complete a three-game sweep.
The Mariners had a season-high 16 hits and improved to an American League-best 11-4 on the road. The A’s lost their fourth straight.
Cleveland’s Corey Kluber pitched a shutout as the Indians beat Detroit 4-0.
Tampa Bay’s Steve Pearce hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning to lift the Rays over the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5.
Pearce put Tampa Bay ahead 5-2 with one of four Rays homers for the game.
Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in two runs as the Marlins beat Arizona 4-3, making it nine wins from 10 games.
Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips, Eugenio Suarez and Zack Cozart all homered in a five-run second against San Francisco starter Jake Peavy to set up a 7-4 win for the Reds.
New York’s Steven Matz pitched 7-2/3 scoreless innings as the Mets beat Atlanta 8-0, winning a sixth successive series for the first time in 10 years.
The Yankees ended a six-game losing skid, winning 7-0 in Baltimore.
Los Angeles’ Mike Trout had an RBI triple and sparked a four-run eighth with a solo homer to lead the Angels to a 7-3 win at Milwaukee.
Colorado’s Tyler Chatwood pitched eight scoreless innings as the Rockies beat San Diego 2-0, handing the Padres their eighth shutout loss from 28 games this season.
Houston won back-to-back games for the first time in 2016, as Jason Castro homered and drove in four runs, while Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa both homered and knocked in three in a 16-4 rout of Minnesota.
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