>>Bryant Error Leads To Decisive Votto Home Run

Kris Bryant hardly had time to enjoy his latest home run.

The rookie third baseman hit a tying drive in the eighth inning, then made a two-out error in the ninth that set up Joey Votto's three-run homer and lifted the Cincinnati Reds over the Chicago Cubs 7-4 Wednesday.

Bryant's two-run shot made it 4-all. The rookie has 22 home runs and 84 RBIs this season.

The top of the ninth started innocently enough with Cubs closer Hector Rondon (5-3) retiring the first two batters. Jason Bourgeois, who led off the game with a homer, then hit a high chopper to the right of the mound that he beat out for a base hit.

Jay Bruce followed by slicing a sharp grounder through Bryant's legs for the error.

Rondon fell behind Votto 2-0 before leaving a 97 mph fastball out over the plate. Votto drove it to left-center and the wind guided it several rows back into the bleachers.

Chicago manager Joe Maddon was asked if he considered walking Votto to load the bases with righty Brandon Phillips on deck.

Not really, he said, mainly because Rondon - who had a 0.45 ERA since May 25 and hadn't allowed a homer since May 22 - was pitching so well.

Tommy La Stella and Anthony Rizzo hit solo home runs for the Cubs. Chicago began the day with a 6 1/2-game lead over San Francisco for the second NL wild-card spot.

Reds rookie Raisel Iglesias struck out 10 in seven innings, allowing just three hits. It was his third straight start with double-digit strikeouts.

Cubs rookie Kyle Schwarber was slated to start in left field, but was a late scratch with right rib soreness.

The Cubs are off on Thursday but their homestand resumes on Friday with the first of three against Arizona. LHP Jon Lester (8-10, 3.59 ERA) pitches the opener.

>>Washington Edges Cardinals

Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals' bullpen got plenty of big outs. Ryan Zimmerman took care of the offense.

Zimmerman homered twice, then doubled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning as the Nationals ended their nine-game losing streak at St. Louis, beating the Cardinals 4-3 Wednesday night.

Jayson Werth also homered for the Nationals.

Scherzer struck out 11, gave up 11 hits and left with a 3-2 lead after the sixth. Walking none was a big help.

Johnathon Papelbon earned his 23rd save in 23 chances, escaping a first-and-third, one-out jam in the ninth. Rafael Martin (1-0) got one out for his first career victory.

Johnathan Broxton (1-4) took the loss. The Cardinals had a base open with one out in the eighth but elected to pitch to Zimmerman and see if he would expand his zone with two strikes.

Brandon Moss hit a 454-foot homer for St. Louis, which leads the Pirates by six games with 29 to play in the NL Central.

The Cardinals opted to give 15-game winner Michael Wacha some rest and fill-in starter Tyler Lyons allowed three runs in six innings. Lyons struck out six the first time through the order.

Carlos Martinez (13-6, 2.91) will face the Pirates Friday to begin a weekend series with two extra days of rest. He's 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA against Pittsburgh, much better than Lance Lynn, 0-2 and 6.94. Lynn (ankle) is getting extra time.

>>Milone, Twins Blank Sox

Tommy Milone gave the Minnesota Twins seven superb innings.

All Miguel Sano needed was one at-bat.

Milone struck out seven and Sano hit another monster home run to help the Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Milone (7-4) gave up three hits and finished seven innings for the first time since July 8. He is 4-0 with a 1.39 ERA in his career against the White Sox.

Trevor Plouffe added two hits and two RBIs and Kevin Jepsen picked up his 10th save for the Twins, who started the day one game behind Texas for the second AL wild card.

Carlos Rodon (6-6) gave up two runs and five hits with four strikeouts and three walks in six innings for the White Sox, who are 1-8 at Target Field this season.

Kyle Gibson (9-9, 3.82) will pitch for the Twins in the series finale against RHP Jeff Samardzija (8-11, 4.85). Gibson has a 0.56 ERA in 16 innings over two starts against the White Sox this season. Samardzija is 3-1 with a 5.12 ERA in his career against the Twins.