Reds 4, Cubs 1
CINCINNATI (AP) — Alfredo Simon became the NL’s first 12-game winner and Billy Hamilton added to his sensational series with a tiebreaking triple, leading Cincinnati over the trade-depleted Chicago Cubs.
The Reds won their fifth in a row — matching their season high — and moved a season-best seven games over .500. They’ll try for their first five-game sweep since 1976 on Thursday.
Simon (12-3), left off the All-Star team, became the first Reds pitcher to win a dozen games before the break since Edinson Volquez also went 12-3 in the first half of 2008. The reliever-turner-starter gave up four hits in 6 2-3 innings, including Anthony Rizzo’s third homer in four games.
Hamilton tripled home a run and scored during a three-run fifth against Dallas Beeler (0-2), who has lost his first two starts in the majors. Cubs manager Rick Renteria was ejected during the inning for arguing a foul ball call with third base umpire Andy Fletcher.
Red Sox 5, White Sox 4
BOSTON (AP) — Daniel Nava doubled home the tying run in the ninth inning and scored on Brock Holt’s single as Boston rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Chicago and snap a four-game losing streak.
Chris Sale pitched 7 2-3 innings of four-hit ball and left with a 4-0 lead in his bid to earn the final spot on the AL All-Star team. The winner of the online voting will be announced Thursday. Sale, an All-Star the past two seasons, walked none and struck out six before his bullpen cost him a chance to improve to 9-1.
Jake Petricka faced four batters in the eighth and failed to get an out. It was 4-3 by the time Javy Guerra (0-1) took over.
Koji Uehara (5-2), added to the All-Star team earlier in the day, earned the win.
Jose Abreu hit his 28th homer and Conor Gillaspie also connected for Chicago, which had won three straight.
Royals 5, Rays 4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the ninth inning to lift Kansas City over Tampa Bay.
Kirby Yates (0-1), the fifth Rays reliever, entered with runners at the corners and gave up Perez’s one-out shot into the left-field corner. It’s been a big week for Perez, chosen Sunday to start at catcher for the American League in next week’s All-Star game.
Aaron Crow (4-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Greg Holland got three outs for his 24th save. Eric Hosmer also homered for Kansas City.
Kevin Kiermaier went 4 for 4 with a grand slam for the Rays, who lost two of three in the series.
Phillies 4, Brewers 1
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley homered to support Roberto Hernandez’s solid start, and Philadelphia beat Milwaukee for its third straight win over the NL Central leaders.
Hernandez (4-8) needed just 84 pitches to get through eight innings against the aggressive Brewers, who have lost four in a row and eight of nine. Hernandez allowed three hits, and Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.
Rollins and Utley connected off Kyle Lohse (9-4), who retired 13 straight after Utley’s first-inning solo shot. Rollins’ two-run shot in the sixth snapped an 0-for-20 slide at the plate.
CARDINALS 5, PIRATES 2
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lance Lynn reached double figures in wins before the All-Star break for the third consecutive year and Kolten Wong homered for the second game in a row, helping St. Louis beat Pittsburgh for the third straight time.
Matt Adams had three hits and two RBIs for the Cardinals, who will go for a four-game sweep Thursday — although they might have to do it without All-Star catcher Yadier Molina. He was removed in the third inning with a sprained right thumb and will be re-evaluated Thursday.
Neil Walker homered and doubled for the Pirates, who had won 12 of 15 entering the series. They dropped the first two on game-winning homers in the ninth, by Adams and Wong.
Brandon Cumpton (3-3) started in place of injured Gerrit Cole and was charged with four runs and nine hits in 3 1-3 innings.
Lynn (10-6) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings. Trevor Rosenthal got his 27th save in 31 chances.