Chris Sale Dominates Chicago Cubs in Win

Chicago Cubs starter Jake Arrieta throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of an interleague baseball game Saturday, August 15, 2015, in Chicago. Sale was backed by three solo home runs – Jose Abreu, Alexei Ramirez and Melky Cabrera. Like Dexter Fowler spoiling Sale’s no-hit bid with single in the sixth inning, the only one the Cubs tallied off him over seven innings.

The Cubs (67-48) have won nine straight and 15 of their last 16 and have been particularly potent offensively during the winning streak, averaging 5.8 runs and collecting 32 extra-base hits.

Dan Haren, a right-hander, took the loss after pitching just 4 2/3 innings and allowing all three homers. Clayton Richard was summoned from the bullpen to finish the inning, and sandwiched a base hit between a force out and a strike out. After Addison Russell followed that with an infield single, Starlin Castro came to the plate and grounded out to end the game. Maddon revealed one superstition he had adhered to during his team’s impressive run. Haren was hit hard on the right foot on a ground ball in the second, but stayed in the game.It didn’t take long for Sale to assert his dominance on a hot, sunny day.

It was the eighth straight game in which the opposing pitcher has failed to get through six innings against this Cubs lineup. If I’m being totally honest, I think the White Sox blow out the Cubs this game.

Toronto tries to snap its first losing streak since late July and avoid a three-game sweep by the Yankees.

MARLINS 6, CARDINALS 4: Derek Dietrich drove in three runs, Dee Gordon had three hits and Miami broke a six-game losing streak against St. Louis.

-RHP Jason Hammel (6-5, 3.10) will start for the Cubs on Tuesday in a series-opener against the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field. Right-hander Nate Jones pitched a scoreless eighth, striking out the side, and closer David Robertson picked up his 24th save. He leads the AL with a 2.06 ERA, but missed his last scheduled start because of spasms. The over is 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings in Chicago. Thompson is 6 for 12 with a home run.

Hutchison (12-2) improved to 10-1 with a 2.57 ERA in 13 home starts.

Dodgers 8, Reds 3: Yasiel Puig and Kike Hernandez homered during a five-run second inning, Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Turner also went deep, and Los Angeles beat Cincinnati.

BREWERS 6, PHILLIES 1: Ryan Braun hit a grand slam to tie Robin Yount’s franchise home run mark and Milwaukee swept the season series from Philadelphia. “They put some stuff in play and they scored when we made some mistakes”. Trevor Plouffe hit his 17th home run for the Twins.