CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs continued to flex home run muscles with three more on Thursday while starter Eddie Butler allowed one run over five innings in a 5-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
The Cubs used solo home runs by Kris Bryant, Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist, and added two eighth-inning runs on a wild pitch as they took three of four from the Giants.
Zobrist went 3-for-4, while Anthony Rizzo added two hits.
Butler improved to 2-0 in his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa. Giants starter Jeff Samardzija fell to 1-6 in his seven-inning outing.
Phillies 2, Rockies 1 (11 innings)
A walk-off RBI single by Tommy Joseph in the 11th inning in the series finale ended Philadelphia’ five-game losing streak.
The Phillies got a one-out double from Michael Saunders against Colorado reliever Scott Oberg (0-1), and Joseph followed with his game-winning hit.
Joseph hit a home run for the Phillies’ other run.
Phillies starter Vince Velasquez gave up eight hits in his five innings, and six relievers two-hit the Rockies over six innings.
Jeanmar Gomez (3-1) picked up the win by pitching a perfect 11th.The Rockies’ only score came in the fourth, when shortstop Trevor Story hit his seventh home run of the season.
Pirates 9, Braves 4
Adam Frazier had a three-run homer in a five-run second inning and Francisco Cervelli tied a career-high four hits to back Ivan Nova, who pitched into the ninth inning for Pittsburgh.
Nova (5-3) worked 8-1/3 innings in beating the Braves for the second time this season. He was charged with four runs on 10 hits. Braves starter Bartolo Colon gave up 10 hits and seven runs in five innings.
Mariners 4, Nationals 2
Nelson Cruz hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the sixth and Robinson Cano was 2-for-4 with an RBI for Seattle.
The Nationals’ Anthony Rendon hit a solo homer and has homered in three straight games.
Rays 4, Angels 0
Colby Rasmus drove in all four runs for Tampa Bay in its shutout of Los Angeles.
Rays starter Matt Andriese pitched eight scoreless innings to improve his record to 5-1. He gave up six hits and struck out five, throwing 112 pitches.
Red Sox 6, Rangers 2
Drew Pomeranz tied a career high with 11 strikeouts, Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run homer as Boston beat Texas.
Deven Marrero added a two-run homer in the eighth for the Red Sox. Andrew Benintendi and Mitch Moreland had RBI singles in the first inning for Boston (25-21), giving Pomeranz an early cushion.
Diamondbacks 4, Brewers 0
Robbie Ray pitched seven scoreless innings and Arizona hit a pair of home runs to beat Milwaukee.
Ray (4-3) struck out nine batters while scattering two hits to earn his second consecutive victory. Home runs from Gregor Blanco — who finished with three hits of Arizona’s nine hits — and Chris Owings in the first and second innings proved to be more than enough offensive support.
Padres 4, Mets 3
Dinelson Lamet enjoyed an impressive major league debut when he struck out eight over five innings and earned the win as San Diego edged New York. Lamet allowed one run — a Lucas Duda homer in the second inning — three hits and two walks.
Astros 7, Tigers 6
Jake Marisnick, who entered as a pinch runner in the sixth inning, drilled an 0-1 pitch from Tigers right-hander Alex Wilson (1-2) 421 feet to center field in the eighth inning for his fifth homer as Houston beat Detroit.
Houston’s bullpen surrendered a two-run lead before Marisnick staked the Astros to their final lead and their third victory in the four-game series.
Dodgers 7, Cardinals 3
Starting pitcher Kenta Maeda delivered a go-ahead two-run single and Chase Utley homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers wiped out a three-run deficit to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals.
Games postponed:
Yankees vs. Royals, Reds-Indians. — Reuters
