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Cubs Rally For Win; Sox, Cardinals Lose

>>Cubs Rally Past Mariners

 

Pitcher Jon Lester drove in Jason Heyward with a two-strike squeeze bunt in the 12th inning, and the Chicago Cubs overcame a six-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Sunday night.

 

Heyward sparked the winning rally with a leadoff double off the wall in right-center. He advanced on Willson Contreras' fly ball to center against Cody Martin (1-1) before Lester managed to get a bunt down right in front of the plate.

 

Heyward made it home with a headfirst slide, 

sparking a frenzied celebration at Wrigley Field. Hector Rondon (2-2) pitched two innings for the win.

 

The Cubs trailed 6-3 before they pushed across three runs in the ninth against Steve Cishek, handing the sidewinding right-hander his sixth blown save in 31 opportunities. Addison Russell hit an RBI single and Contreras drove in another run when he hustled down the line to beat out a potential double-play grounder.

 

Kyle Hendricks (9-7, 2.39 ERA) takes on Miami LHP Adam Conley (7-5, 3.38 ERA) on Monday in the opener of a three-game series. Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki comes to Wrigley Field just two hits shy of 3,000 for his major league career.

 

>>Dozier, Twins Power Pa

st White Sox

 

Brian Dozier homered twice and Ervin Santana posted another strong start one day before the trade deadline as the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 6-4 on Sunday.

 

Kennys Vargas hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run first inning for Minnesota, which has won three of four games.

 

Vargas' towering blast in the first was hit an estimated 428 feet to straightaway center field and highlighted the quick start against Chicago's Carlos Rodon (2-8), who made his first start since July 5 after recovering from a sprained left wrist.

 

Santana (4-9) allowed three runs - one earned - in six innings with five strikeouts. Ryan Pressly gave up a double to Melky Cabrera but recorded his first save in three chances.

 

Chicago begins a series at Detroit with RHP James Shields (5-12, 4.68 ERA) starting against RHP Anibal Sanchez (5-11, 6.56). Shields pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs in his last outing.

 

>>Marlins Hold On For Win Over Cardinals

 

Derek Dietrich's pinch-hit, game-ending RBI triple with two out in the ninth inning helped the Miami Marlins beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 Sunday for split of their four-game series.

 

The Marlins' celebration began as Dietrich rounded third. Teammates doused him with water and then tore off his jersey.

 

The score was tied with two out in the ninth when Adeiny Hechavarria - who had made a costly throwing error earlier - singled off Matt Bowman (1-3). Dietrich then hit a drive into the left-field gap, and center fielder Tommy Pham's try at a sliding backhanded catch failed, allowing Hechavarria to score without a play.

 

Pham said he got his glove on the ball but didn't go after it full bore because left fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker was also in pursuit.

 

Andrew Cashner allowed one earned run in six innings in his Marlins debut. Cashner, the centerpiece of a seven-player trade Friday with San Diego, walked none and allowed four hits, including a homer by Greg Garcia.

 

Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz left the game in the first inning with a bruised right hand after being hit by a pitch. Diaz, who is hitting .312 with 14 homers, is to undergo further examinations Monday.

 

Carlos Martinez hit Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton in the bottom of the first. There were no subsequent incidents, but Cashner took a postgame jab at the Cardinals.

 

Cashner was in line for the victory until the Cardinals made it 4-all with two runs in the eighth off Fernando Rodney, and the tying run scored on an ugly throwing error by shortstop Hechavarria.

Adam Wainwright (9-5, 4.16) is scheduled to start Tuesday at Cincinnati against Dan Straily (6-6, 3.84). Wainwright is 8-10 with a 4.44 ERA in 25 games against the Reds.

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