>>Cardinals Use Fast Start To Down Reds
Brandon Moss drove in a pair of runs during St. Louis' four-run first inning, extending his season-long streak against the Reds, and the Cardinals held on for a 5-4 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday night to even their series.
St. Louis had lost back-to-back games on walk-off hits, including a 7-5 loss to the Reds on Tuesday night that ended with a three-run homer off Seung Hwan Oh. The Cardinals' fill-in closer was the one celebrating this time after getting his eighth save in 10 chances.
St. Louis sent nine batters to the plate against Cody Reed (0-6) in the first inning, with Moss and Greg Garcia each driving in a pair of runs. Stephen Piscotty added a solo homer, the Cardinals' fifth in two games.
Moss and Jhonny Peralta returned from the disabled list at the start of the series and have contributed as the teams split the first two games. Moss is 5 for 9 with three doubles and a homer.
Michael Wacha (7-7) gave up a pair of runs in five innings as he won his fifth straight decision, and the bullpen took it from there.
Joey Votto extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games with an RBI single in the first inning. It's the longest streak by a Reds player since Brandon Phillips hit in 22 in a row in 2007. Votto is 29 for 58 (.500) during the streak.
The Cardinals' Yadier Molina went 0 for 2, walked and was hit by a pitch, ending his 16-game hitting streak.
Piscotty's 15th homer made it 5-2 in the fifth. He was involved in helping the Reds cut the deficit in the sixth.
>>Cubs Rally Past Marlins for Series Sweep
The Chicago Cubs rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning - capped by a bases-loaded walk for a tie and a wild pitch to score the winning run - for a 5-4 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday and a sweep of the three-game series.
Ben Zobrist drew a bases-loaded walk with two out to tie the score. With Willson Contreras at the plate, Marlins closer A.J. Ramos (1-1) threw a wild pitch to allow Matt Szczur to score the winning run from third base.
It was Ramos' second blown save of the season in 33 chances.
Jeff Mathis hit a two-run home run, Christian Yelich homered and drove in a pair of runs and Tom Koehler tossed six strong innings to give the Marlins a 4-1 lead heading to the bottom of the eighth.
Justin Grimm (1-0) pitched the ninth inning for the win. Chicago has won seven of eight.
>>Tigers' Martinez Returns from DL, Leads Detroit Past White Sox
J.D. Martinez broke an eighth-inning tie with a pinch homer on the first pitch he had faced since June and the Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Wednesday night for their eighth straight victory.
Playing for the first time since fracturing his elbow June 16, Martinez received a long standing ovation on his way to the plate to hit for James McCann leading off the inning.
The cheers got a lot louder when Martinez launched Chris Sale's first pitch into the shrubs above the centerfield fence. Martinez took a curtain call after the inning, much to the crowd's delight.
The White Sox put their first two runners on against Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth, and Melky Cabrera moved to third on Justin Morneau's fly out. Rodriguez struck out Todd Frazier, but walked Avisail Garcia to load the bases. Dioner Navarro grounded out to second to end the game.
Sale (14-5) took the loss, allowing two runs on six hits in an eight-inning complete game. He walked one and struck out 10.
Shane Greene (2-2) got the win after pitching out of a seventh-inning jam, while Rodriguez picked up his 30th save.
