Cubs’ Arrieta remains unbeaten

ST. LOUIS — Jake Arrieta got some help from the Cubs’ offense to stay perfect. Arrieta remained unbeaten this season despite allowing as many as four runs for the first time in nearly a year as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-8 Wednesday. “I picked a good day to be (bad),” Arrieta said. “I was aggressive but they had a good game plan coming in and it was a good thing our offense was able to be extremely productive today.” Arrieta (9-0) joined the White Sox’s Chris Sale as the only nine-game winners in the majors. Arrieta allowed four runs in a regular-season game for the first time since June 16, 2015. Regardless, he became the first Cub to win his first nine decisions since Kenny Holtzman in 1967 and it is the best start to a season for the franchise since Jim McCormick went 16-0 in 1886. The Cubs have won Arrieta’s past 23 starts, a franchise record. Indians 4, White Sox 3 The Cleveland Indians closed to within one-half game of the AL Central lead as they held off a late Chicago White Sox rally. The Indians (25-20) took three of four in the series at U.S. Cellular Field to close the gap on first-place Chicago. Indians starter Corey Kluber (4-5) departed after 7-1/3 innings with a 4-1 lead and a runner on first. Kluber allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out nine and walking just one. Right-handed reliever Cody Allen struck out two of three batters in a perfect ninth for his 11th save. Mets 2, Nationals 0 Lefty starter Steven Matz pitched eight scoreless innings and retired 16 batters at one point in the longest outing of his career as the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals. Matz (7-1) allowed four hits with seven strikeouts and set down 16 in a row before pinch hitter Clint Robinson had a two-out single in the eighth. Matz then retired pinch hitter Bryce Harper on a grounder to end the eighth. Jeurys Familia pitched the ninth for his 16th straight save this year and 32nd in a row dating back to last year. Phillies 8, Tigers 5 Odubel Herrera hit a three-run homer and Peter Bourjos added a solo shot to help power Philadelphia over Detroit. Aaron Nola (4-3) went six innings for the Phillies and while he gave up four runs, three of them came in the fifth after Philadelphia had fashioned a 5-1 lead. David Hernandez allowed a run in the seventh but Hector Neris choked off further damage with two strikeouts and then pitched a scoreless eighth. Jeanmar Gomez notched his 17th save for getting the last three outs. Twins 7, Royals 5 Eduardo Nunez had three hits, including a leadoff home run, as Minnesota salvaged the final game of a three-game series with Kansas City. Nunez hit the second pitch of the game from Royals starter Dillon Gee over the fence in left field for his fourth home run of the season. It was the first career leadoff homer for Nunez. Two pitches later, Brian Dozier hit one into the second deck in left for his fifth homer of the year and a quick 2-0 lead for the Twins. Rangers 15, Angels 9 Rookie Nomar Mazara’s tape-measure home run was the biggest hit of many for the Texas Rangers in a 15-9 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Mazara’s second-inning solo blast was measured at 491 feet by Major League Baseball’s Statcast system, making it officially the longest home run in the majors this season. The 491-foot distance also would make it the longest homer in the stadium’s history, topping a 490-foot rocket by Josh Hamilton in 2010. Other results: Giants 4, Padres 3 (10 innings); Blue Jays 8, Yankees 4; Pirates 5, Diamondbacks 4; Red Sox 10, Rockies 3; Marlins 4, Rays 3; Astros 4, Orioles 3; Brewers 3, Braves 2 (13 innings); Dodgers 3, Reds 1; Mariners 13, Athletics 3.