UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the three most storied franchises in National League history, but they’ve never had a winning streak as long as they own right now.
The Cardinals picked up their 15th consecutive win as Harrison Bader, Tyler O’Neill and Paul DeJong (deh-YUHNG’) homered in an 8-5 win over the Cubs in Chicago. Catcher Yadier (YAH’-dee-ehr) Molina and center fielder Bader were part of a pair of rundowns that became a double play, preserving the Redbirds’ one-run lead in the eighth. It was the fourth double play of the afternoon for the Cards, who have homered 11 times in the first three games of the series.
St. Louis topped the previous club record of 14 straight wins set in 1935.
In Saturday’s other major league action:
— The Braves still lead the NL East by 1 1/2 games over Philadelphia after Jorge Soler delivered a tiebreaking double in the 10th inning of a 10-8 win at San Diego. Soler also hit a three-run homer in the sixth as Atlanta eliminated San Diego from playoff contention.
— Ranger Suarez pitched a four-hit shutout while striking out seven as the Phillies beat the Pirates, 3-0. Bryce Harper hit his 34th home run and Matt Vierling (VEER’-lihng) hit his first major league homer, both coming in the third inning of Philadelphia’s fifth win in a row.
— Brandon Belt went deep twice and the Giants increased their lead in the NL West to two games over the Dodgers with a 7-2 win against the Rockies. Belt’s second blast was San Francisco’s 236th homer of the season, surpassing the 235 total of the 2001 club.
— Ketel (keh-TEHL’) Marte and Carson Kelly homered early off Clayton Kershaw before the Diamondbacks completed a 7-2 win over the Dodgers. Zac Gallen pitched one-run ball for six innings as Arizona denied Los Angeles its 100th victory.
— The Brewers’ magic number to clinch the NL Central is one after Corbin Burnes struck out nine while allowing five hits over six innings of a 2-1 win versus the Mets. Eduardo Escobar’s two-run single in the third highlighted Milwaukee’s four-hit attack.
— The Rays rolled to a 7-3 win over the Marlins to become the second AL team to wrap up a division title. Mike Zunino (zoo-NEE’-noh) smacked a go-ahead homer and Brandon Lowe later added a pair of RBI doubles for the AL East champs.
— The Yankees picked up their fifth straight win and moved into a tie with Boston for the first AL wild card by defeating the Red Sox, 5-3 on Giancarlo Stanton’s grand slam in the eighth inning. Kevin Plawecki (plah-WEH’-kee) and Bobby Dalbec homered for the Red Sox, who have dropped two straight after carrying a seven-game winning streak into the series.
— The Blue Jays remain two outs out of an AL playoff berth after Teoscar (tay-AHS’-kur) Hernández, Marcus Semien and George Springer homered in their 6-1 downing of the Twins. Semien hit his 43rd home run to tie the record for most home runs in a season by a second baseman.
— The Athletics pulled out a 2-1 decision over the Astros on Starling Marte’s game-ending double with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Josh Harrison had an RBI single and Elvis Andrus (EHL’-vihs AN’-droos) singled twice for the A’s.
— The Indians posted a 6-0 shutout of the White Sox behind Eli Morgan, who allowed one hit in six innings. José Ramirez hit a two-run homer and had an RBI single off All-star Lance Lynn, whose winless streak reached nine starts.
— Nick Castellanos (kas-tee-AH’-nohs) slugged a solo home run with one out in the ninth inning to send the Reds past the Nationals, 7-6. Castellanos finished with three RBIs and Eugenio (AY’-oo-heh-nee-oh) Suarez drove in two for Cincinnati.
— Miguel Cabrera drove in four runs, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning of the Tigers’ 5-1 decision over the Royals. Jeimer (JAY’-mur) Candelario supplied a run-scoring double in Detroit’s fifth win in six games.
— Kelvin Gutierrez homered to cap a three-run seventh inning and the Orioles beat the Rangers, 3-2. The game was scoreless in the seventh when the 105-loss Orioles broke through against Texas starter Jordan Lyles.
