ST. LOUIS — David Freese and Matt Carpenter each had three of St. Louis’ season-high 18 hits as the Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4, handing them their second straight loss since acquiring Hanley Ramirez. ST. LOUIS — David
ST. LOUIS — David Freese and Matt Carpenter each had three of St. Louis’ season-high 18 hits as the Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4, handing them their second straight loss since acquiring Hanley Ramirez.
Obtained a day earlier from Miami, Ramirez started at third base and batted fifth for the second straight game. He had an infield hit, two walks and a steal, and he also hit a double-play grounder. The 2009 NL batting champion is 2-for-6 with three walks an RBI with his new team.
Matt Holliday hit his 17th homer, his third on a 6-1 homestand for St. Louis, which fell behind 4-2 by allowing four runs in the fifth. The Cardinals then scored four in the bottom half.
Allen Craig and Tony Cruz each had an RBI for the Cardinals, who are six back in the NL Central.
Jake Westbrook (9-8) pitched seven innings, lasting at least that long for the third straight start. He allowed four runs — three earned — and seven hits with six strikeouts.
Jason Motte pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 26 chances.
Chris Capuano (10-6) gave up six runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings.
NATIONALS 8, BREWERS 2
MILWAUKEE — Edwin Jackson pitched seven scoreless innings, Steve Lombardozzi hit a three-run triple, and Washington sent Milwaukee to its seventh consecutive loss.
The Nationals have won six consecutive games, matching a season high, and improved to 59-39. The last time a Washington-based team was 20 games over .500 was 1933, when the American League Senators finished 99-53 and lost the World Series in five games to the New York Giants.
INDIANS 5, TIGERS 3
CLEVELAND — Asdrubal Cabrera singled home the go-ahead run in a four-run seventh inning as Cleveland rallied to beat Detroit ace Justin Verlander.
Carlos Santana and Travis Hafner tied it at 3 by homering on the first two pitches of the inning by Verlander (11-6).
Joe Smith (7-2) threw two pitches to get the win. He got Miguel Cabrera to ground into an inning-ending double play in the top half.
Vine Pestano pitched the eighth and Chris Perez the ninth for his 29th save in 31 chances.
PIRATES 5, ASTROS 3
HOUSTON — Prized prospect Starling Marte homered on his first major league pitch to help the Pirates hand the Astros their 10th straight loss.
A.J. Burnett (12-3) shut out Houston until Chris Johnson and Carlos Corporan connected for solo homers in the eighth. Burnett allowed four hits with five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.
Garrett Jones and Clint Barmes each added a two-run homer for Pittsburgh.
BLUE JAYS 10, A’S 4
TORONTO —Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, and Kelly Johnson added a solo shot as the Blue Jays ended the Athletics’ seven-game winning streak.
Johnson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs as the Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep and rebounded from Wednesday’s 16-0 loss.
ORIOLES 6, RAYS 2
BALTIMORE — Chris Tillman took a three-hitter into the seventh inning, Chris Davis homered and drove in four runs, and Baltimore avoided a three-game sweep.
Nick Markakis had two hits for the Orioles, who had scored only one run in each of their three previous games.
MARINERS 4, ROYALS 1
SEATTLE — Jason Vargas allowed one hit in eight innings to win his career-high 11th game, and Mike Carp had three hits to lead Seattle.
Vargas (11-7) allowed only a fourth-inning double. He struck out five and walked three.
He retired the first 11 batters he faced before Billy Butler’s 200th career double drove in Lorenzo Cain in the fourth.
METS 3, D’BACKS 1
PHOENIX — Matt Harvey dazzled in his major league debut, holding Arizona to three hits and striking out 11 over 5 1/3 innings.
Scott Hairston hit a two-run double, and Andres Torres tripled and scored for the Mets, who snapped a six-game losing streak.
