SAN DIEGO -- Shelby Miller and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Oscar Taveras hit a two-run homer for the St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep.
The Cardinals acquired right-hander John Lackey from Boston just before the trade deadline to bolster their rotation. They open a series today against NL Central-leading Milwaukee on Friday in St. Louis.
Miller (8-8) held San Diego to two runs and three hits in six innings, struck out five and walked none. He earned his first win since June 7.
St. Louis roughed up San Diego rookie Odrisamer Despaigne a day after playing what manager Mike Matheny called the team's ugliest loss of the season, a 12-1 defeat Wednesday night.
Taveras' homer to right with two outs in the second, his second, gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead that didn't last long.
Jedd Gyorko, on a tear since returning Monday from a 44-day stay on the disabled list, homered to right off Miller with one out in the second. It was Gyorko's second in two games and seventh overall. Will Venable homered to right with two outs, his fifth.
Matt Holliday singled with one out in the third to bring in Matt Carpenter, who hit a leadoff single, and Kolten Wong, who doubled.
Peter Bourjos hit an RBI single with two outs in the sixth followed by a single by Miller that chased Despaigne. Carpenter drew a bases-loaded walk off Blaine Boyer.
Cubs 3, Rockies 1
CHICAGO -- Jake Arrieta struck out seven in seven innings, leading the Chicago Cubs to a victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Arrieta (6-2) allowed one run and three hits in his first victory since June 30 at Boston. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has a 1.73 ERA in his last 11 starts, holding opponents to a .162 batting average.
The Cubs won three of four in a matchup of last-place teams. The Rockies have lost four of five and 11 of 15 overall.
Pedro Hernandez (0-1) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings in his first start for Colorado.
Chicago scored three times in the sixth despite getting one ball out of the infield the entire inning.
White Sox 7, Tigers 4
DETROIT --Moises Sierra had four hits, and Jose Abreu and Adam Eaton added three apiece to lift the Chicago White Sox to a victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
Joakim Soria (1-4) hit Paul Konerko with the bases loaded in the seventh to give the White Sox a 5-4 lead.
Abreu extended his hitting streak to 20 games.
Ronald Belisario (4-7) got the win in relief, and Jake Petricka pitched the ninth for his sixth save.
Sports on 08/01/2014