CHICAGO: Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks pitched his second career complete game, leading the Cubs to a 4-1 win against Philadelphia and their fourth straight win, stretching their lead in the National League Central division.
The Cubs moved 5-1/2 games clear in the Central ahead of Pittsburgh, which lost an interleague game to Texas as Yu Darvish made his long-awaited return for the Rangers, while Washington missed a chance to clear atop the NL East when they were beaten at home by St. Louis.
Boston also spurned an opportunity to boost its lead in the American League East as Toronto snatched victory in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Chicago’s Hendricks struck out seven and walked none. He was in line for his second career shutout before giving up a run in the ninth.
Dexter Fowler sparked a two-run first inning with a homer off Jerad Eickhoff, and the Cubs led throughout.
St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright pitched seven gritty innings and made an ample contribution at the plate, hitting a two-run double, to help the Cardinals win 9-4 at Washington.
Wainwright lined a Gio Gonzalez pitch into the left-center gap with two runners on base. Matt Carpenter, activated from the paternity list before the game, followed with an RBI double for a 4-0 lead. That started Wainwright (5-3) on a path to his fifth straight win. He gave up no walks but did allow a career-record tying three home runs.
Texas’ Yu Darvish struck out seven in five strong innings in his first start in the majors in almost 22 months, helping the Rangers beat Pittsburgh 5-2.
The Japanese allowed only three singles with a walk in his return from last year’s Tommy John surgery.
The Pirates had won their previous five games.
Toronto’s Devon Travis drove in Russell Martin for the game-ending run with two outs in the ninth inning as the Blue Jays edged Boston 10-9.
With two out, Justin Smoak singled on a line drive to center and Martin drove in pinch-runner Ezequiel Carrera with a double to level the scores.
After Martin advanced to third on a wild pitch, Travis’ hit forced third baseman Travis Shaw to stretch to control the ball, and though he tried to throw Travis out at first, his throw was dropped and Martin scored.
Los Angeles’ Chase Utley hit a grand slam and a solo homer after New York pitcher Noah Syndergaard was ejected for pitching behind his back, and the Dodgers beat the Mets 9-1.
The Mets were looking for vengeance against Utley, whose takeout base slide broke the leg of New York shortstop Ruben Tejada in last year’s playoffs, and Syndergaard beamed a fastball right at Utley, passing behind his back.
The Mets pitcher was immediately ejected, enraging manager Terry Collins, who was also tossed, and Utley had the last laugh.
San Francisco’s Buster Posey hit a pair of three-run homers, including a tiebreaking drive as part of a six-run eighth inning that rallied the Giants to a 10-5 win against Colorado.
The Rockies were limited to one run over six innings but broke out in the seventh against five relievers for a 5-4 lead.
San Francisco responded with six runs in the eighth. Posey led the charge with a towering homer to right-center.
Kansas City scored seven runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to produce a stunning 8-7 win against the Chicago White Sox.
After an intentional walk, Brett Eibner drove a full-count pitch from Tommy Kahnle off the first baseman and into right field. Drew Butera, who replaced Salvador Perez after the All-Star catcher got hurt in a collision, scampered home as Eibner was mobbed by his jubilant teammates near first.
Cleveland’s Yan Gomes drove in three runs to power the Indians to an 11-4 win against Baltimore.
Gomes’ two-run single highlighted a four-run first, and he added an RBI single in the fifth. The Indians had 13 hits and moved into first place in the AL Central.
Danny Salazar allowed two runs in six innings, leading the Indians to the victory.
Cleveland starter Danny Salazar rebounded from his worst start of the season and took the win, striking out five and allowing two runs in six innings.
Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria homered and drove in four runs, powering the Rays to a 9-5 victory over the New York Yankees.
Oakland’s Billy Butler, Khris Davis and Danny Valencia all homered as the Athletics cruised past Detroit 12-3.
Houston’s Dallas Keuchel pitched seven innings to snap a personal five-game losing skid, guiding the Astros to a 4-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels.
Minnesota’s Miguel Sano hit a two-run homer in the first inning and drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the seventh as the Twins edged Seattle 6-5.
Arizona ended a four-game losing sequence by beating San Diego 8-7, with Paul Goldschmidt homering during a five-run second inning.
Atlanta belatedly won its first home series of the season, beating Miami 7-2 with Gordon Beckham hitting a three-run homer.
Cincinnati ended an 11-game losing slump with a 7-6 victory at Milwaukee, as Joey Votto scored the go-ahead run in the ninth after an inning-ending double play was overturned.
Hendricks hurls complete game to lead Cubs over Phillies
Hendricks hurls complete game to lead Cubs over Phillies
