MLB Game Recaps: Cubs Stop Cards’ Streak, Harper Hits 3 Homers

UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have just seen their division lead shrink for the first time since April 27.

The Redbirds had won eight in a row before Anthony Rizzo belted a solo homer and added a two-run double in the Chicago Cubs' 6-5 triumph at St. Louis. Kris Bryant and Starlin Castro delivered RBI singles in the top of the first and Jorge Soler drove in the deciding run with an eighth-inning single.

Jon Lester gave up one earned run and seven hits in seven innings as the second-place Cubs pulled within 5 ½ games of the Redbirds in the NL Central.

Jhonny Peralta hit a solo homer and Yadier Molina had two RBIs, but the Cardinals fell to 20-7.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— Bryce Harper hit three home runs and collected five RBIs as Washington outscored Miami, 7-5. Harper is the fourth National to homer three times in a game since the team moved from Montreal after the 2004 season.

— Brandon Moss hit a solo homer and had three RBIs as Cleveland rocked Kansas City 10-3. Carlos Carrasco gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings for his fourth win.

— Melky Cabrera had four RBIs and the White Sox scored four times in the bottom of the eighth to beat Detroit 7-6 in Chicago. Cabrera tied it with a three-run homer and Avisail Garcia singled home the lead run as the White Sox won their second straight since a five-game skid.

— The Angels beat Seattle 4-3 on Johnny Giavotella's RBI double in the bottom of the ninth. Mike Trout hit a two-run homer in the Angels' second straight win.

— Russell Martin hit a solo shot and Chris Colabello had a career-high four hits as Toronto beat the New York Yankees 5-1 in the rubber match of the three-game set. Mark Buehrle held the Yanks to a run and six hits in five innings after posting an 0-12 record with a 7.27 ERA in his previous 17 starts against them.

— Alexi Amarista provided three of the Padres' 16 hits and had two RBIs in a 9-1 drubbing of the Giants in San Francisco. Jedd Gyorko drove in two runs, Austin Hedges collected his first major league hit and first two RBIs, and Ian Kennedy limited the Giants to one run in seven innings.

— Brandon Leake gave up six hits in eight innings of Cincinnati's 3-0 shutout of Pittsburgh, the Pirates' fifth consecutive loss. Marlon Byrd hit a solo homer and Brandon Phillips was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to help the Reds move back over .500.

— The New York Mets were 5-1 winners against Baltimore as Jacob deGrom held the Orioles to a run and six hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings. Dilson Herrera was 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and three RBIs for the 18-10 Mets.

— Freddie Freeman doubled twice and had three RBIs in Atlanta's 7-5 verdict over Philadelphia. Andrelton Simmons went 3-for-4 with a solo shot, and Nick Markakis had two RBIs as the Braves moved back to .500.

— Milwaukee won for the fourth time in five games as Scooter Gennett and Adam Lind slammed two-run homers in a 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wily Peralta yielded two earned runs and seven hits in eight innings for his first win of the year.

— Evan Longoria hit two solo homers and Joey Butler delivered a tiebreaking, two-run single as Tampa Bay handed the Red Sox their 10th loss in 14 games, 5-3. The Red Sox trailed 4-3 with the bases loaded in the eighth before Kevin Jepsen got out of the jam.

— Carlos Peguero hit a solo homer and drove in three runs to help Texas complete a three-game sweep of Houston, 11-3. Robinson Chirinos also had three RBIs and Colby Lewis held the Astros to a run and six hits in eight innings.

— Eduardo Escobar was 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and five RBIs to lead Minnesota's attack in a 13-0 laugher over Oakland. Pinch-hitter Kennys Vargas smacked a three-run shot and Eddie Rosario homered on the first pitch he saw in his major league career.

— The Diamondbacks swept a pair from the Rockies. Aaron Hill belted a three-run homer and tied a career high with four RBIs to help Arizona post a 13-7 rout of Colorado in Game 1. Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer and an RBI double for the Diamondbacks, who collected 18 hits after being rained out in Denver the previous two days.

— Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo homer and had two ribbies as Arizona dumped the Rockies 5-1 in the nightcap. David Peralta also drove in a pair and Robbie Ray scattered five hits in six frames to win his season debut.