ST LOUIS — Another excellent start from J.A. Happ helped the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 9-3 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals Friday. In trimming St. Louis' National League Central Division lead to 5-1/2 games, Pittsburgh (80-53) looked nothing like the team which lost three of their last four games. Happ (8-7) piched seven shutout innings, allowing only three hits and striking out eight with no walks. In improving to 4-1 since being traded from Seattle on July 31, Happ lowered his ERA with the Pirates to 1.57. The Pirates scored twice in the first on RBI singles by third baseman Kang Jung Ho and Starling Marte before Marte ripped a two-run double in the fifth for a 4-0 lead, highlighting a 3-for-5, three-RBI game for the left fielder. That was more than enough for Happ, who retired 15 successive batters after second baseman Kolten Wong lined a single to center in the second inning. It was just the third loss in 12 games for the Cardinals (86-48). Rockies 2, Giants 1: Back-to-back solo home runs in the first proved to be enough run support for Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa who stymied the floundering San Francisco Giants. Carlos Gonzalez hit his 36th homer and one pitch later, Nolan Arenado belted his 35th, the only runs Giants starter Chris Heston (11-9) allowed in 5-2/3 innings. Cubs 14, Diamondbacks 5: Second baseman Addison Russell went 2-for-3 with two home runs while first baseman Anthony Rizzo added a grand slam in an eight-run fifth inning to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 14-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rizzo was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and right fielder Javier Baez went 3-for-4, including his first homer of the season. Nationals 5, Braves 2 (10 innings): Pinch-hitter Michael A. Taylor blasted a three-run homer with no outs in the bottom of the 10th inning off reliever Brandon Cunniff to give the Washington Nationals a 5-2 win against the Atlanta Braves. His homer also scored center fielder Bryce Harper and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who singled to start the 10th. It was the first career walk-off homer for Taylor. Other results: Marlins 6, Mets 5 (11 innings); Dodgers 8, Padres 4. American League Indians 8, Tigers 1: Jerry Sands hit a two-run home run in the third inning and triggered a four-run fifth with a leadoff triple to spark the Cleveland Indians to an 8-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Josh Tomlin (4-1) got 14 Detroit batters to hit the first or second pitch he threw. Tomlin gave up four hits, walked one, struck out six and threw 104 pitches in his third career complete game. Yankees 5, Rays 2: Rookie right-hander Luis Severino pitched into the seventh inning for the first time while designated hitter Alex Rodriguez, catcher Brian McCann and first baseman Greg Bird homered as the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays. Severino (3-2) won his third successive start despite tying a career-high allowing seven hits. He took a shutout into the sixth before allowing third baseman Evan Longoria's 18th home run. Astros 8, Twins 0: Right-hander Collin McHugh carried a shutout into the eighth inning and rode a jolting display of power in the Houston Astros' 8-0 win over the Minnesota Twins. McHugh (15-7) scattered seven hits and one walk over 7-2/3 innings while recording six strikeouts. Orioles 10, Blue Jays 2: Chris Davis hit two home runs and had three RBIs as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Toronto Blue Jays. Center fielder Adam Jones added a two-run homer for the Orioles (65-69) and catcher Matt Wieters hit a solo shot. Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (10-9) allowed four hits, six walks and two runs (one earned) in 5-2/3 innings. Other results: White Sox 12, Royals 1; Angels 5, Rangers 2; Mariners 11, A's 8. Inter-League Red Sox 7, Phillies 5: Joe Kelly won his seventh successive start to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 7-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Kelly (9-6), banished to Triple-A in June with a 2-5 record, has returned as a different pitcher and turned in six strong innings, giving up five hits and two runs while striking out five. — Agencies
