PITTSBURGH’S Neil Walker (18) is out at home as he collides with Miami Marlins catcher Jeff Mathis while trying to score from second on a single by Pedro Alvarez in the fifth inning of a baseball game on Thursday in Pittsburgh. The Pirates won 5-4 in 10 innings.
Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs as the AL Central leaders completed a fourgame sweep and opened a seven-game lead over the second-place Indians.
Scherzer (17-1) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings. He helped the Tigers beat Cleveland for the 12th time in their last 13 meetings.
Cleveland’s futility for the series was summed up when manager Terry Francona let utilityman Ryan Raburn pitch the ninth inning. Raburn retired three straight hitters, striking out Matt Tuiasosopo, in his professional pitching debut and drew a standing ovation.
Zach McAllister (4-7) allowed six runs in 2 1-3 innings, his shortest start of the season.
Pirates 5, Marlins 4
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Russell Martin’s pinch-hit single with two outs in the 10th inning lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Miami Marlins for their fifth straight win.
Martin delivered his fourth game-ending hit at PNC Park this year for the NL Central leaders.
The Pirates swept the three-game series and improved to 70-44, the best record in the majors. Miami lost its fifth in a row.
Josh Harrison opened the 10th with a single off Steve Ames (0-1) and took second on Clint Barmes’ sacrifice bunt. After Jose Tabata bounced out and Starling Marte was intentionally walked, Martin batted for Jared Hughes (2-2) and grounded a single down the left-field line.
Neil Walker had three hits and two RBIs for Pittsburgh. Marte had two hits.
Marlins rookie Christian Yelich had three hits, including his first major league homer.
Dodgers 5, Cardinals 1
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A.J. Ellis hit a threerun home run and rookie Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched seven stellar innings to help the red-hot Dodgers beat the Cardinals.
The Dodgers have won 17 of their last 18 games on the road, with the only loss coming Tuesday to St. Louis in the second game of the four-game set. Los Angeles returns home for a six-game home stand against Tampa and the New York Mets.
Ryu (11-3) allowed one unearned run on five hits while striking out seven and walking no one. He increased his winning percentage to .786, which is the highest winning percentage for a rookie in Dodgers’ history.
Los Angeles spoiled the first start for St. Louis rookie Carlos Martinez (0-1), who was called up from Triple-A Memphis earlier in the day to make the start.
Giants 4, Brewers 1
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tim Lincecum pitched another gem, allowing only one hit over eight shutout innings and leading the Giants past the Brewers.
Lincecum, who threw his first career no-hitter on July 13 at San Diego, permitted just a double to Juan Francisco leading off the third inning.
Lincecum (6-11) struck out eight and walked one in eight innings before getting pulled for a pinch-hitter. The twotime NL Cy Young Award winner had been 0-2 in three starts since throwing 148 pitches in his no-hitter.
Phillies 12, Cubs 1
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ethan Martin earned his first major league win, Cody Asche hit his first home run and the Phillies routed the Cubs.
Asche’s two-run drive capped a six-run burst in the fourth inning that made it 10-1. He had three hits and fellow rookie Darin Ruf also homered.
Martin (1-1) got more than enough support. He pitched five innings and allowed one run and four hits, striking out four and walking three. Nat Schierholtz homered in the fourth.
Chase Utley delivered an RBI double on the day the Phillies announced a new contract with the star second baseman that goes through the 2015 season.
Mets 2, Rockies 1
NEW YORK (AP) — Dillon Gee followed Matt Harvey’s first career shutout with an impressive outing of his own, helping the Mets beat Colorado and sending the Rockies home after matching the worst road trip in team history.
Gee (8-8) scattered eight hits without yielding a walk in 7 2-3 innings to win for the first time since July 14. He allowed Corey Dickerson’s homer leading off the fourth inning.
Rookie Wilmer Flores had an RBI groundout and Anthony Recker a sacrifice fly off spot starter Jeff Manship as the Mets completed their first threegame sweep over the Rockies since 2008 at Shea Stadium.
Manship (0-1) was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs for the start because right-hander Tyler Chatwood experienced inflammation in his right elbow after a bullpen session Tuesday. Chatwood was throwing to test a tight hamstring that forced Colorado to push back his start two days to Thursday.
Now he’s headed to the DL, the latest blow for the sinking Rockies.
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