ST LOUIS —Cardinals' left-hander Jaime Garcia lifted St. Louis to a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates after seven shutout innings to restore the Cardinals' National League Central lead to 6-1/2 games. Garcia (8-4) gave up four hits, three to right fielder Sean Rodriguez, and walked one while striking out a season-high nine.
Garcia threw 108 pitches, three shy of his career high, before leaving for a pinch-hitter in the seventh.
Rodriguez was the only Pirate who solved Garcia, singling twice and doubling. The rest of his teammates managed just one hit, a broken-bat single in the first by Andrew McCutchen.
Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton (8-7) pitched six innings, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned). He walked three and struck out three.
Mets 7, Marlins 0: Catcher Travis d'Arnaud and shortstop Wilmer Flores homered on consecutive first-inning pitches while Bartolo Colon pitched a nine-hit shutout as the New York Mets routed the Miami Marlins.
Colon (13-11), who did not issue a walk, won his third successive start. Cubs 2, Diamondbacks 0: Jake Arrieta allowed four hits in eight scoreless innings as the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Arrieta, who threw a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Sunday, struck out seven and walked none in his majors-leading 18th victory of the season.
The Cubs (77-57) are second in the National League Wild Card race behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Brewers 8, Reds 6 (1st game): Elian Herrera homered while Jean Segura and Domingo Santana both collected two RBIs to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a double header.
Brewers 7, Reds 3 (2nd game): Elian Herrera hit a three-run homer while Shane Peterson added his first career home run as the Milwaukee Brewers claimed a double header sweep over the Cincinnati Reds with a 7-3 victory.
Herrera, who also homered in the Brewers' 8-6 win in the first game, iced the victory for Milwaukee with a three-run shot off Jumbo Diaz in the ninth.
Nationals 8, Braves 2: Gio Gonzalez allowed just two hits in six shutout innings while center fielder Bryce Harper had a homer, two doubles and two RBIs as the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves.
Gonzalez (10-7) struck out 10 batters and walked four before Casey Janssen came on to pitch a scoreless seventh.
It was the 12th time Gonzalez had recorded at least 10 strikeouts in a game. Other results: Giants 7, Rockies 3; Dodgers 2, Padres 0.
American League
Rays 3, Yankees 2: Left-hander Matt Moore and four relievers combined on a five-hitter as the Tampa Bay Rays held on for a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees.
Moore allowed two runs and three hits in 4-2/3 innings, while Xavier Cedeno (4-1) earned the win after he struck out four in 1-2/3 scoreless innings. Blue Jays 5, Orioles 1: Jose Bautista homered and had two RBIs while David Price pitched seven innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles.
Price (14-5) allowed three hits, four walks and one run while striking out eight to improve his record with the Blue Jays to 5-1 in seven starts. Twins 3, Astros 2: Left fielder Eddie Rosario delivered a two-run triple in the ninth inning in the Minnesota Twins' 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros.
Rosario's hit to deep right field off Astros right-hander Luke Gregerson (7-3) scored Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe to give the Twins (70-65) the lead.
Ervin Santana (4-4) allowed one run on six hits and two walks while recording 11 strikeouts in eight innings.
Tigers 6, Indians 0: J.D. Martinez and Tyler Collins each hit home runs while Alfredo Simon and two relievers combined for a three-hit shutout to help the Detroit Tigers to a 6-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Simon (12-9) held the Indians hitless for 5-2/3 innings until left fielder Michael Brantley lined a 2-0 pitch into the right-field corner for a double.
Other results: White Sox 6, Royals 1; Rangers 2, Angels 1; Mariners 8, Athletics 3.
Inter-League
Red Sox 9, Phillies 2: David Ortiz capped an eight-run fourth inning with his 496th career home run as the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies.
The designated hitter's home run was his 30th of 2015, setting a new franchise record with his ninth 30-homer season to pass the iconic Ted Williams, who had eight in 19 seasons. — Agencies
