>>Cubs Rally Past Mets
Javier Baez cracked the 100th homer of his career, a three-run drive in the eighth inning as the Chicago Cubs overcame another home run by Alonso to beat the New York Mets 5-3 on Sunday.
Alonso hit his 27th home run in the fourth, breaking the Mets record for most by a rookie in an entire season set by Darryl Strawberry in 1983.
With the Mets clinging to a one-run lead, Baez launched his 19th homer of the season with Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo on base and one out. Baez sent an 0-2 pitch from Seth Lugo (3-1) halfway up the right field bleachers.
Steve Cishek (2-4) pitched a scoreless eighth to earn the win in relief of Cole Hamels. Pedro Strop tossed a perfect ninth for his ninth save.
Mets starter Jacob deGrom allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings. The NL Cy Young Award winner struck out nine and walked none.
DeGrom also drove in a run with a single.
Alonso connected in his 77th game while Strawberry hit 26 in 133 games in 1983. The Mets' record for homers in a season is 41, shared by Carlos Beltran and Todd Hundley.
Alonso is nearing Mark McGwire's major league record for homers by a rookie before the All-Star break, 33 set in 1987.
Tomas Nido also homered for the Mets.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway cursed at Newsday reporter Tim Healey, and pitcher Jason Vargas had to be restrained from charging him during a confrontation in the team's clubhouse after the game.
Reporters asked repeatedly after the game about Callaway's decision to stick with Lugo instead of going to closer Edwin Diaz. After the press conference, Callaway walked past Healey in the clubhouse. Healey told Callaway he would ''see you tomorrow,'' and Callaway responded by calling Healey an obscenity. Callaway walked away and then returned, cursing at Healey again and telling him to leave the clubhouse.
Vargas then stared down Healey and eventually tried to charge him. Players stepped in to restrain the veteran left-hander.
No punches were thrown, and Healey left the clubhouse moments later.
Jon Lester (6-5, 4.13) takes the mound on Monday against Atlanta RHP Julio Teheran (5-5, 3.40) as Chicago opens a four-game series against the NL East-leading Braves.
>>Rangers Down White Sox
Shawn Kelley knew the Rangers bullpen was a little short-handed, so he volunteered for some extra work and shut down a late White Sox rally with his first four-out save in three years, and Texas beat Chicago 7-4 Sunday.
Kelley struck out Tim Anderson to strand runners at second and third in the eighth after the White Sox had scored three runs to pull to 5-4. He pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save, preserving the win for rookie Adrian Sampson (6-4).
Tim Federowicz and Danny Santana hit two-out, two-run homers in the second inning to help the Rangers win for the third time in four games. They took two of three from the White Sox and have either won or split eight straight series.
Sampson, who earned his first major league win on May 17, allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings, struck out four and walked one. He gave up the run on three straight singles to begin the fifth inning, Eloy Jimenez scoring on an opposite-field hit by Anderson. Sampson retired the next three batters without allowing the ball out of the infield.
Ivan Nova (3-6) gave up three earned runs in six innings for Chicago. Nova is 0-2 in his last six starts.
Lucas Giolito (10-2, 2.74) will open the three-game series against the Red Sox on Monday. Giolito shares the American League lead in wins but allowed a season-high six earned runs in a 7-3 loss to the Cubs last Wednesday, his first loss in 12 starts.
>>Cardinals Rally Falls Short Against Angels
Albert Pujols capped off a stirring three-day return to St. Louis by exchanging jerseys with long-time friend and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina following the Angels' 6-4 win on Sunday.
Pujols met with Molina, his long-time friend, after the game. The two autographed and then exchanged jerseys on the field.
The 39-year-old Pujols was 4 for 11 over the three-game set, including a home run during a 4-2 loss Saturday. He spent 11 years in St. Louis and won three MVP awards and two World Series (2006, 2011) with the Cardinals.
Tommy La Stella and David Fletcher drove in two runs apiece, and Tyler Skaggs tossed five shutout innings for the Angels. Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak and finished a long road trip with a 6-5 mark.
The Cardinals rallied for four runs with two outs in the ninth, sparked by Jose Martinez's solo homer. Angels closer Hansel Robles came on to get the final out in a non-save situation.
La Stella had run-scoring hits in the second and sixth innings to back a strong effort from Skaggs and five other relievers.
Skaggs (7-6) allowed four hits over five scoreless innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.
St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas (5-8) gave up one run and seven hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The Cardinals struggled with runners in scoring position over the first eight innings before coming up big in the ninth.
Jack Flaherty (4-4, 4.24) will take on Oakland RHP Chris Bassitt (4-3, 3.64) in the first of a two-game set on Tuesday.
