CHICAGO — Addison Russell hit a two-run single with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Thursday night.

The Cubs spoiled a shaky Jeff Samardzija’s return to Wrigley Field and started September on a winning note after going 22-6 to match the 1932 team for the best August in franchise history.

The major league leaders also moved a season-high 39 games over .500 and a jaw-dropping 151/2 games ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central – their largest lead in the standings since the 1907 team finished 17 games ahead of Pittsburgh, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

MARLINS 6, METS 4: Christian Yelich showed off his bat, legs and glove, capped by hitting a three-run homer that helped the Marlins beat shaky Jacob deGrom at New York to end their season-worst five-game losing streak.

Yelich homered and singled twice, drove in four runs and stole two bases. He also made a dashing, diving catch in center field with the bases loaded and two outs, making up for later dropping a routine fly for an error.

Jose Urena (3-5) outpitched deGrom (7-8) as Miami averted a four-game sweep.

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Down 6-1, the Mets made it close, boosted by pinch-hitter Asdrubal Cabrera’s two-run homer in the ninth off Fernando Rodney.

BRAVES 9, PADRES 6: Freddie Freeman homered and host Atlanta broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning, beating San Diego to complete its first three-game sweep at Turner Field this season.

One day after Minnesota dipped below Atlanta to the worst record in the majors, the Braves kept on winning behind a six solid innings from Mike Foltynewicz (8-5) and another strong showing from the hitters. They scored at least seven runs for the fifth straight time at home.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

TWINS 8, WHITE SOX 5: Byron Buxton homered in his return to the majors and Trevor Plouffe continued his resurgence with a two-run shot as host Minnesota ended a 13-game losing streak.

NOTES

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RED SOX: Minor league outfielder Chad Hardy was suspended for 60 games without pay after testing positive for Tamoxifen, a performance-enhancing substance.

Hardy is on the roster of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox.

ANGELS: Outfielder Mike Trout was involved in a traffic collision Wednesday evening in Orange County but was not injured, according to his agent.

The crash involved three vehicles and occurred about 9 p.m. along the southbound 55 Freeway near McFadden Avenue in Tustin according to the California Highway Patrol.

One person suffered injuries in the crash and was taken to the hospital. The person’s condition was not known, according to a CHP dispatcher.

METS: Second baseman Neil Walker will miss the rest of the season because of surgery for a herniated disk in his back, the latest in a series of severe injuries to strike the defending NL champions.

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“It just wasn’t getting better,” he said.

Had he continued to play, he estimated he would’ve been at “60 percent.”

CUBS: The team expects starter John Lackey to return from a strained right shoulder to start against San Francisco on Sunday.

Also, reliever Hector Rondon (strained right triceps) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.


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