WASHINGTON — Mike Leake outpitched 2016 NL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, Stephen Piscotty homered and had five RBI, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 6-1 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Leake (1-1) gave up four hits, struck out seven and walked none over seven shutout innings. The right-hander allowed hits to the first two batters, then picked off a runner before getting 19 straight outs. The streak ended when Daniel Murphy singled with two outs in the seventh.

By that time, St. Louis had taken a 3-0 lead against Scherzer, who yielded only one earned run. He did, however, throw three wild pitches – two in the third inning – after tossing only two all last year while going 20-7.

PADRES 6, ROCKIES 0: Zach Lee and four relievers combined on a three-hitter and Ryan Schimpf homered as part of a four-run first inning as San Diego won at Denver.

Lee (1-0) earned his first major league win in his second career start. The righty was filling in for Luis Perdomo, who went on the disabled list before the game with shoulder inflammation.

Lee went 51/3 solid innings, allowing two hits, before the bullpen completed the first shutout of the Rockies at Coors Field since July 2015.

It was a rough first inning for Denver native Kyle Freeland (1-1), who allowed an RBI double to Wil Myers, a run-scoring single to Yangervis Solarte and a two-run homer to Schimpf.

The rookie Freeland lasted 42/3 innings and allowed six runs in his second start at the ballpark he used to visit as a kid.

DODGERS 2, CUBS 0: Brandon McCarthy pitched four-hit ball over six innings, Andrew Toles hit his first leadoff homer and Los Angeles won at Chicago after the Cubs received their championship rings.

The Cubs put the finishing touches on a celebration that started when they beat Cleveland in Game 7 last November to win the World Series for the first time since 1908. They raised the banner Monday night and got 14-karat white gold rings with a total of 214 diamonds in a ceremony Wednesday that drew more roars from the fans at Wrigley Field.

REDS 9, PIRATES 2: Rookie Amir Garrett threw another gem, taking a shutout into the seventh inning and leading visiting Cincinnati over Pittsburgh for a three-game sweep.

Garrett (2-0), the former St. John’s basketball player, blanked the Pirates until David Freese hit a two-run homer.

Garrett gave up five hits, walked none and struck out five in 6 2/3 innings. In his major league debut last week, the 24-year-old lefty pitched six scoreless innings to win at St. Louis.

The Pirates were outscored 21-5 in the series and were hitless in 23 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

METS 5, PHILLIES 4: Zack Wheeler earned his first win in 2 1/2 years, Michael Conforto hit a solo homer and visiting New York held off Philadelphia to complete a three-game sweep.

Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera each drove in two runs for the Mets. Wheeler (1-1) was charged with three runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander missed the last two seasons following Tommy John surgery and had not won since Sept. 19, 2014, against Atlanta.

BRAVES 5, MARLINS 4: Ender Inciarte hit two home runs and Tyler Flowers had a go-ahead single in the ninth inning as visiting Atlanta broke a five-game losing streak by rallying past Miami.

Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton hit a pair of two-run homers, his first of the year. Freddie Freeman hit his third homer for the Braves.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

YANKEES 8, RAYS 4: Pitcher Jordan Montgomery showed power and poise in his major league debut after allowing Rickie Weeks’ two-run homer in the first inning as the Yankees rallied past sloppy Tampa Bay to get back to .500 with a win at New York.

New York’s Brett Gardner and Weeks both left the game after a collision at first base in the sixth inning. Running hard on a comebacker, Gardner slammed into Weeks, who had not played first in the major leagues before this season and stayed in the baseline as he reached for reliever Xavier Cedeno’s poor throw. Both fell to the field as Chase Headley came home with the go-ahead run.

Gardner was diagnosed with a bruised jaw and a strained back, and Weeks with neck and right shoulder soreness.

New York won its third straight after a 1-4 start. Aaron Judge homered for the third straight game, a long drive to center, and had three RBI.

TIGERS 5, TWINS 3: Andrew Romine hit his first career grand slam and Detroit rallied from an early three-run deficit to win at home.

The Tigers trailed 3-0 before scoring five runs in the fourth inning, with Romine delivering the key hit when his drive to right field easily cleared the wall to give Detroit the lead.

Michael Fulmer (1-0) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings, walking one and striking out seven.

WHITE SOX 2, INDIANS 1: Derek Holland held Cleveland hitless until the sixth inning and late fill-in Matt Davidson had a two-run single that helped visiting Chicago.

Holland (1-1) gave up a leadoff double to Francisco Lindor in the sixth. The White Sox lefty struck out four, walked four and threw 101 pitches in six innings.

ATHLETICS 8, ROYALS 3: Andrew Triggs pitched six shutout innings, Jed Lowrie drove in three runs as visiting Oakland beat Kansas City.

The A’s have won eight in a row over the Royals, six of those coming at Kauffman Stadium – and most of them in romps. Oakland has outscored the Royals 53-15 in the games played in Kansas City.

INTERLEAGUE

BREWERS 2, BLUE JAYS 0: Chase Anderson and two relievers combined on a four-hitter, Jonathan Villar homered and visiting Milwaukee handed Toronto its fifth straight loss.

Related Stories