Seiya Suzuki and Miguel Amaya hit solo home runs, aiding Kyle Hendricks and the Chicago Cubs’ 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Chicago, leading the NL’s final wild card by one game, won back-to-back games after losing the series opener.
Hendricks (5-6) secured his first win since July 25, allowing one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He retired 10 straight batters before a fifth-inning walk to Matt Beaty.
Jordan Lyles (3-14) became the majors’ first 14-game loser as Kansas City dropped to 40-86, better only than Oakland among MLB’s 30 teams.
Mark Leiter Jr. and Julian Merryweather contributed, with Adbert Alzolay earning his 18th save in 19 chances.
Suzuki and Amaya each delivered home runs. Cubs’ Suzuki hit his 12th home run this season in the fifth, and Amaya hit his fourth in the eighth inning.
Cubs manager David Ross added LHP Drew Smyly to the starting rotation, hoping to build on recent bullpen performances. The game lasted 2 hours, 2 minutes, the fastest at Wrigley Field since 2005.
Suzuki’s improved performance followed his return to the lineup in early August. He hit his third home run since Aug. 9, batting .343 with six RBIs in that period.
Royals’ Garcia missed consecutive starts due to upper-body soreness. Manager Matt Quatraro anticipates his return for Monday’s game against Oakland.
Next games: Royals’ LHP Tucker Davidson (1-2) to start against Oakland, Cubs’ RHP Javier Assad (2-2) to start against Detroit.
Paul Goldschmidt’s homer and Richie Palacios’ two-run single propelled the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets, preventing a four-game series sweep.
Goldschmidt’s three hits and three RBIs halted the Cardinals’ four-game skid. Dakota Hudson (5-0), a Cardinals right-hander, struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits for his fourth consecutive win.
Goldschmidt’s 20th homer, a two-run shot, off Carlos Carrasco gave the Cardinals a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning.
St. Louis secured four more runs in the seventh, with contributions from Willson Contreras, Jordan Walker, and Palacios, who also made a stunning defensive play to rob a home run.
Mets’ Pete Alonso homered, extending his streak to four homers in five games.
The Cardinals improved their Sunday record to 13-7 this season, their only winning day of the week.
Injury: Cardinals’ LHP Matthew Liberatore’s Monday start was rescheduled to Wednesday due to a sore back.
Next games: Mets’ LHP David Peterson (3-7, 5.45 ERA) to start against Atlanta; Cardinals’ LHP Drew Rom, acquired from Baltimore in the Jack Flaherty deal, to make his major debut against Pittsburgh. The Pirates’ starter is yet to be named.
Interleague:
- Toronto 10, Cincinnati 3
- Minnesota 2, Pittsburgh 0
- Chicago Cubs 4, Kansas City 3
- Milwaukee 6, Texas 2
- Chi White Sox 10, Colorado 5
American League:
- Seattle 7, Houston 6
- Boston 6, NY Yankees 5
- Detroit 4, Cleveland 1
- Tampa Bay vs. LA Angels (Postponed)
- Baltimore 12, Oakland 1
National League:
- San Francisco 4, Atlanta 3
- St. Louis 7, NY Mets 3
- Miami vs. LA Dodgers (Postponed)
- Arizona vs. San Diego (Postponed)
- Washington 4, Philadelphia 3
