LDN - Sports

MLB roundup: Cubs knock off Giants

[September 02, 2016] The Sports Xchange

CHICAGO -- Addison Russell's two-run seventh inning single propelled the Chicago Cubs a lead they never relinquished in a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night.

Russell dropped a bloop single into left field off Giants reliever Cory Gearrin to score to Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant with the tying and go-ahead runs.

The Cubs won their fourth straight and extended their National League Central lead to 15 1/2 games.

Cubs reliever Joe Smith worked two innings for the victory, secured just hours after he was activated from the disabled list. Giants reliever Hunter Strickland took the loss after he put tying and go-ahead runners on base.

Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. pitched a one-two-three ninth for his first career save.

The Giants fell two games behind the idle NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. They remained atop a tight pack in the NL wild card playoff chase.

Twins 8, White Sox 5

MINNEAPOLIS -- Byron Buxton and Trevor Plouffe homered to help Minnesota snap a 13-game losing streak with a win over Chicago at Target Field.

The losing skid was tied for the second-longest in team history, one shy of team record of 14 set in 1982, a group that lost a franchise-record 102 times.

Buxton's homer came in his first game back since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester earlier in the day. It was the second home run of the season for the rookie center fielder, who entered the game hitting a paltry .193.

The home run was Plouffe's 10th, the fifth consecutive season he's reached double-digit homers.

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Ervin Santana scattered 11 hits but stranded 10 White Sox batters and allowed just two runs over five innings, walking two and striking out six in earning the victory.

Marlins 6, Mets 4

NEW YORK -- Christian Yelich continued to thrive in the cleanup spot when he homered for the third time in as many nights and finished with three hits, three RBIs and two stolen bases, helping Miami salvage the finale of a four-game series against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

The Marlins snapped a five-game losing streak and won for just the third time in 10 contests. Miami, which scored eight runs during its losing streak, moved within three games of the idle St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second wild-card spot in the National League.

The Mets missed a chance to move within a game of the Cardinals. New York has won nine of its last 12 games.

Braves 9, Padres 6

ATLANTA -- It took until September, but Atlanta finally have a series sweep at home this season.

Mike Foltynewicz won his fourth straight decision and Freddie Freeman homered in a three-RBI game as the Braves defeated San Diego.

The Braves outscored San Diego 24-10 in the three-game series while sweeping the Padres for the first time since 2008.

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