WASHINGTON (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes homered and doubled twice, David Wright hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning and New York ended Washington’s five-game winning streak Monday to open a key NL East series.

Michael Conforto and Wilmer Flores also homered for New York, which increased its division lead to five games over the Nats with 25 remaining. The teams play twice more in this set.

Dario Alvarez (1-0), pitching in the majors for the first time this season, faced only one batter – Bryce Harper – and struck him out to get his first major league win. Five Mets relievers combined for 5 2-3 scoreless innings, with Jeurys Familia closing for his 37th save.

Wilson Ramos hit a grand slam for Washington.

Nationals ace Max Scherzer allowed five runs over six innings. Blake Treinen (2-3) took over in the seventh as Washington used four relievers during a three-run burst by the Mets.

YANKEES 8, ORIOLES 6

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Greg Bird hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer off Brian Matusz in the seventh inning, and New York rallied past reeling Baltimore.

Alex Rodriguez and John Ryan Murphy also homered for the Yankees (77-59), who overcame a 4-1 deficit and improved to 18 games over .500 for the first time since 2012. With his 29th home run this season, A-Rod got his 3,054th career hit and passed Rod Carew for sole possession of 22nd place.

Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado homered for the Orioles (65-72), who have lost 15 of 18 since and faded from AL wildcard contention.

Justin Wilson (5-0) got the win. Andrew Miller pitched the ninth for his 32nd save in 33 chances, allowing Chris Davis’ twoout single, his 101st RBI.

Jorge Rondon (0-1) took the loss.

CUBS 9, CARDINALS 0

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dexter Fowler had a leadoff home run and two-run double in the first two innings and Dan Haren worked seven innings for Chicago in a win over St. Louis.

The NL Central-leading Cardinals maintained a 5 1/2-game lead over Pittsburgh, which lost 3-1 to Cincinnati. The Cubs are 7 1/2 games back.

Addison Russell’s three-run homer capped a five-run third that made it 8-0. The Cubs have won four in a row and got an 11-game trip off to a rocking start.

Haren (9-9) had five strikeouts and two walks. He contributed a single and sacrifice fly in Chicago’s second victory in eight games in St. Louis this season.

INDIANS 3, WHITE SOX 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Ryan Raburn hit a pair of solo home runs and Trevor Bauer pitched two-hit ball for seven innings as Cleveland beat the White Sox, ending Chicago’s four-game winning streak.

Raburn has eight multihomer games in his career, four of them against the White Sox. He connected both times against Chris Sale (12-8) and is 10 for 33 with four home runs lifetime versus the lefty ace.

Sale (12-8) struck out eight in seven innings. He has fanned 247 this year, nearing the single-season team record of 269 set by Ed Walsh in 1908.

Bauer (11-11) shrugged off a lack of command early to allow two runs on two hits in seven innings. He walked five and struck out six.

BREWERS 9, MARLINS 1

MIAMI (AP) — Hernan Perez had three hits and three RBIs and Zach Davies earned his first major league win as Milwaukee beat Miami.

Khris Davis homered and drove in two and Jonathan Lucroy had two doubles and knocked in a run for the Brewers, who have won seven of eight.