Padres hand Cubs fifth straight loss

(TSX / STATS) -- SAN DIEGO -- The name is spelled Dinelson Lamet. It is pronounced D-nelson la-met. And it might be worth remembering.

The 24-year-old right-hander held the Chicago Cubs to two runs over five innings Tuesday night to earn his second win in as many major league starts as the San Diego Padres scored a 6-2 victory and handed the reigning World Series champions a fifth straight loss.

Lamet allowed five hits and a walk while striking out eight.

San Diego's Austin Hedges drove in a career-high four runs with a two-run homer and a two-run double, and Hunter Renfroe hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in a four-run fifth inning.

The Padres scored a third straight win, a second straight over the struggling Cubs.

Chicago (25-26) slipped under .500 after collecting a total of nine hits in the first two games of the three-game series.

"Two runs yesterday, two today, it's been a very non-productive offensive trip," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "They did pitch well again. But we gave up the lead, and that was largely because we're not hitting like we can. ... It's a bad combination."

Maddon then spoke about Lamet and a Padres bullpen that has allowed one hit over nine scoreless innings in the series that ends Wednesday afternoon.

"Their starter was really good for a young man," said Maddon. "And their bullpen performed really well again."

Lamet became only the 13th pitcher in major league history to record eight strikeouts in each of his first two starts.

"He's got great stuff," Padres manager Andy Green said of Lamet. "We feel really good about what he is doing. The ball moves, and he has three above average major league pitches.

"We told Hedges before the game, 'Don't worry about the corners, just give him a target in the zone.' The biggest thing is his composure."

Lamet has a 2.70 ERA after 10 major league innings.

"I've been working on my slider, the changeup and pitching when there are runners on base," he said. "I feel a lot more confident.

"A pretty big mistake you can make is not trusting your pitches. I want to be aggressive. Today it started with what we did warming up in the bullpen."

Speaking of the bullpen, three Padres relievers held the Cubs to one hit and four baserunners over the final four innings. Right-hander Kirby Yates allowed a single to Jon Jay leading off the eighth, then retired the last eight Cubs he faced, four by strikeouts.

Cubs starter Eddie Butler (2-1) gave up all six runs on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Jason Heyward doubled inside the first base bag with two outs and scored when Willson Contreras' sharp grounder to third ate up Padres third baseman Cory Spangenberg for what was scored a run-scoring double.

Hedges put the Padres on top in the bottom of the inning with his ninth homer of the season after Franchy Cordero opened the inning with a single. Hedges drove a 1-1 pitch from Butler 404 feet to left.

Kyle Schwarber, who had had been hitless in his previous 13 at-bats, got the Cubs even in the top of the fifth with a 404-foot homer to right off Lamet on an 0-2 count.

The Padres broke the game open in the bottom of the inning.

Yangervis Solarte started the rally with a one-out single to center and moved to second on Wil Myers' single to right. Solarte and Myers both scored when Renfroe lined his double into the left field corner to break the tie.

After Cordero drew a walk, left-hander Brian Duensing replaced Butler and struck out Spangenberg for the second out. Hedges then followed Renfroe's lead and doubled into the left field corner, driving in Renfroe and the swift Cordero.

On both doubles into the corner, a Padre scored from first as Schwarber had trouble playing the carom and making a strong throw.

NOTES: Cubs INF/OF Ben Zobrist, a switch-hitter, has a sore left wrist, which is limiting him to hitting from the left side against right-handed hitters. ... Cubs manager Joe Maddon blamed RHP Jake Arrieta's slow start on the home run ball. Arrieta, who will start the Wednesday afternoon series finale, has a 4.92 ERA after 10 starts thanks to allowing 10 home runs. ... Padres rookie CF Manuel Margot had an MRI exam on his injured right calf Tuesday. Manager Andy Green said there was no structural damage, merely a buildup of inflammation and fluid in the muscle. ... San Diego RHP Jered Weaver, who is on the 10-day disabled list due to left hip inflammation, threw Tuesday afternoon.

Marrero helps Red Sox, Sale beat White Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale was supposed to be the marquee performer when he faced his former team, the Chicago White Sox, for the first time on Tuesday.

But instead of shining, Sale got lit up -- and he still won.

Light-hitting Deven Marrero cracked a pair of home runs and had five RBIs, and the Red Sox went deep six times while outslugging the White Sox for a 13-7 victory.

Sale (6-2), who spent his first seven seasons with the White Sox, allowed six runs on 10 hits in five innings -- his shortest and shakiest outing this season. The lanky lefty, traded to Boston last December for four prospects, struck out nine to boost his major-league-leading total to 110.

"I had a bad night, I really did," Sale said. "I wasn't throwing a whole lot of strikes and was falling behind guys."

Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a three-run home run and an RBI double, and Xander Bogaerts had four hits, including a solo homer. Mitch Moreland had a two-run homer, Mookie Betts added a solo shot and Sam Travis had three hits in Boston's 16-hit onslaught.

"This ballpark played extremely small here tonight, but Chris Sale gave us everything he had to get through five innings to get a win for himself and us," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Good to see us swing the bats the way we did here tonight."

Sale added, "I didn't do a whole lot to help us win, and that says a lot about the guys behind me."

Marrero entered the game hitting .175 with a home run and six RBIs. He launched two- and three-run shots off struggling White Sox starter Jose Quintana for his first career multi-homer game.

"This game tonight delivered the unexpected," Farrell said. "The way this game was going, we needed every run we could score. But to see what (Marrero) and Jackie did at the bottom of the order was outstanding."

Marrero, who couldn't recall the last time he homered twice in game, connected on two Quintana curveballs.

Marrero called that "awesome" but was just as happy with being able to help pick up Sale and keep Boston ahead throughout the night.

"It felt good to have those bounce-back innings for Chris," Marrero said, "when we score, then they score and we score again. I think that kind of set the tone for the game and that we weren't backing down."

Boston's Craig Kimbrel got the final four outs for his 14th save.

Todd Frazier hit a two-run homer for Chicago, while Tim Anderson had a solo shot and two RBIs and Jose Abreu drove in two runs with a single. Leury Garcia and Melky Cabrera each had three hits of the White Sox's 14 hits.

Quintana (2-7) was hit hard for the second straight outing and lost his third straight decision. The left-hander allowed seven runs on 10 hits and was yanked with two outs in the third after Marrero's second homer.

"We're just going to have to keep grinding it out," manager Rick Renteria said. "It's not the stuff. It's the command and the execution.

"If we can get that back on track, I think Q's going to be who he is, which is a very effective major league pitcher."

Sale was a five-time All-Star with the White Sox, going 74-50 with a 3.00 ERA. He was dealt to Boston once Chicago committed to rebuilding.

Sale got a warm, but not rousing, standing ovation from the crowd of 21,852 when he took the mound in the bottom of the first. He recorded his first five outs on strikeouts.

The Red Sox staked Sale to a 4-0 lead in the second as they sent nine men to the plate.

After Travis and Bradley Jr. doubled, Marrero smacked a two-run shot to left-center. Betts, the next hitter, launched a home run to left as the Red Sox went deep back-to-back for the second time this season.

The White Sox closed the gap to 4-3 in the bottom of the second, doing all the damage after Sale fanned the first two hitters. Leury Garcia drove in one run and then Abreu knocked in two more, each with sharp singles.

Marrero lofted a three-run homer in the third to restore Boston's four-run lead and chase Quintana.

After Chris Young and Travis singled to open the inning, Quintana retired the next two hitters and was on the verge of escaping of the jam. However, Marrero hit a 3-2 curveball just over the railing in right-center.

Tim Anderson singled in Avisail Garcia from third in the bottom of the inning to cut Boston's lead to 7-4. Frazier's two-run homer to left with two outs in the fourth trimmed it to 7-6.

Bradley Jr. lined his three-run home run to right in the fifth to increase Boston's lead to 10-6.

Bogaerts' homer in the eighth made it 11-6. Anderson replied in the bottom of the inning.

Moreland hit a two-run shot in the ninth.

NOTES: Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia was placed on the 10-day disabled list earlier on Tuesday with a left wrist sprain sustained during a collision with White Sox 1B Jose Abreu in Monday's series opener. An MRI revealed no structural damage. Pedroia is dealing with soreness and swelling, and his hand and forearm were bandaged in a splint as he talked to media before Tuesday's game. "It could have been a lot worse," Pedroia said. ... Josh Rutledge started at second base for Boston on Tuesday. ... Red Sox activated 3B Pablo Sandoval to take Pedroia's place on the 25-man roster. Sandoval missed 31 games with a right knee sprain. ... Before the game, Chicago manager Rick Renteria said RHP James Shields (strained right lat) and RHP Nate Jones (elbow nerve irritation) continue to progress through bullpen sessions, but he gave no timeline for rehab assignments or returns. ... Boston LHP Drew Pomeranz (4-3, 4.70 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-4, 4.41 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday night.

Renfroe, Padres slam wasteful Cubs

(TSX / STATS) -- SAN DIEGO -- Manager Joe Maddon sounded a bit frustrated Monday afternoon after his Chicago Cubs stranded seven runners in scoring position in a 5-2 loss to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

"We had 11 left on base in this game and only three hits, that's the real tale of the tape," Maddon said after a fourth-inning grand slam by rookie Hunter Renfroe off Kyle Hendricks helped hand the Cubs a fourth straight loss for the third time this season, dropping the reigning World Series champions to 25-25.

"That's the story more so than Kyle's performance. We just have to be more efficient. That's the thing that has to happen for us. We need to hit like we're capable of hitting."

Five Padres pitchers combined to hold the Cubs to three hits. However, San Diego pitchers also walked 10 Cubs and hit two.

Twice the Cubs left the bases loaded. Four times they failed to get a runner home from scoring position with less than two outs. Once they didn't score with a runner at third and no one out.

"We've tried everything possible," Maddon said. "Guys have been rested. We've given guys days off. These are our players. I have all the faith in the world.

"We came off a 7-2 homestand. Everybody loved us a couple days ago. And now, all of a sudden, we've had a rough time scoring runs on the road, and we just got to do better. That's all it comes down to.

"The thing is everyone's trying too hard, proverbially, way too hard ... just try not to hit homers, but really just take what they give you. Play with the middle. You've got to convince them to do it. It's not that complicated.

"You can see big swings coming out of our zone when just a single would do. We've done it before. We can do it again."

But the Cubs didn't do it Monday. They were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The lone hit was Jason Heyward's two-out, two-run, bases-loaded single that followed two walks and a hit batter from Padres starter Jarred Cosart in the first to give Chicago a quick 2-0 lead.

After that, nothing.

Not that it seemed that the Cubs would need a lot the way Hendricks was dealing at the start of the game. He retired the first 10 Padres he faced, including five by strikeout. But the game turned instantly on Hendricks, who entered with a career 1.56 ERA against the Padres.

Yangervis Solarte started the San Diego fourth-inning rally with a one-out single on a grounder toward center. The ball was stopped on the outfield grass by Cubs second baseman Javier Baez, whose throw to first was just late.

Wil Myers followed with a single to right, and Hendricks hit Ryan Schimpf with a pitch to load the bases.

Renfroe unloaded them on a 1-1 sinker from Hendricks, his 374-foot drive to left being the 10th homer of his rookie season and the second grand slam of his career.

"He threw me the same pitch on my first at-bat and I was late on it," Renfroe said. "I thought he'd come back to it."

Hendricks said, "I was just trying to run a fastball in there that kind of straightened out on me. That's how it goes."

The Padres extended their lead to 5-2 in the fifth on three consecutive singles by reliever Jose Torres (his first major league hit), Allen Cordoba and Solarte and a groundout by Myers, who just beat Baez's relay throw on a potential inning-ending double play.

Hendricks (4-3) departed after five innings. He gave up five runs on six hits and a hit batter with no walks and five strikeouts. Seven of the last 11 hitters he faced reached base.

Meanwhile, Cosart was gone before Hendricks. After lasting only 2 2/3 innings in his previous start, Cosart went four innings Monday, with only 42 of his 87 pitches going for strikes. He allowed two runs on three hits and five walks while striking out two.

While Padres manager Andy Green was happy with a second straight win, he wasn't exactly delighted with the process.

"That should have been a disaster pitching-wise," said Green. "Ten walks and two hit batters is not a recipe for success. We're very fortunate."

Speaking of Cosart, Green said: "You don't stay in the major leagues like that."

Torres (3-2) got credit for the win with two scoreless innings in relief of Cosart. Brandon Maurer got his second save in as many days and his seventh of the season.

NOTES: Before Monday's game, the Cubs recalled RHP Justin Grimm from Triple-A Iowa and optioned RHP Felix Pena to Iowa. Grimm, 28, started his third stint with the Cubs by allowing a hit with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings Monday. ... SS Chase d'Arnaud made two more defensive gems in his second straight start for the Padres. ... Padres 2B Yangervis Solarte and Cubs OF Jason Heyward were the only players to collect two hits. ... RF Ben Zobrist, Chicago's leadoff hitter, drew three walks while going 0-for-1.

Red Sox gain Price, lose Pedroia in loss to White Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- On a day when the Boston Red Sox welcomed back one of their top starting pitchers from injury, they might have lost their star second baseman for an extended period of time.

Dustin Pedroia will return to Boston for further examination after he injured his left wrist Monday afternoon in a 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The team announced Pedroia's injury as a left wrist sprain, but an MRI exam could show more.

"Any time you're dealing with a position player's wrist, a hitter's wrist, that's always cause for concern," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "We've got to get a full battery of tests tomorrow."

Pedroia has a history with wrist injuries, as he underwent season-ending surgery on his left wrist during the 2014 season.

His injury was not the only reason for disappointment in the Red Sox locker room, however. Boston (27-23) squandered a pair of leads and dropped its second consecutive game after winning the previous six.

In his season debut, Red Sox left-hander David Price surrendered three runs in five innings. He returned from the disabled list to allow two hits, two walks and two hit batsmen. He struck out four.

"It's definitely a step in the right direction," said Price, who threw 88 pitches. "I felt good. I just need to command the baseball a little bit better with my fastball, and I think things will take off for me."

Melky Cabrera went 2-for-4 with a home run, a go-ahead single and four RBIs to lead the White Sox at the plate. Chicago (24-26) notched its fourth win in the past five games.

White Sox right-hander David Robertson finished the game with a perfect ninth inning. He pumped his fist and screamed after striking out pinch-hitter Sandy Leon to rack up his eighth save.

"It's a lot of fun when you get a big crowd in here," Robertson said. "It was a big game, playing a big rival. When the crowd is behind you, I feel like special things happen for us."

Mookie Betts finished 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in a losing effort for the Red Sox. Josh Rutledge and Christian Vazquez tallied Boston's only other hits.

Pedroia's injury overshadowed a sleepy day of offense for the Red Sox. He was injured in the first inning when he collided with White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu while trying to beat out an infield hit.

Abreu fielded Pedroia's ground ball and looked to flip the ball to left-hander David Holmberg. But Holmberg seemed a step slow off the mound, so Abreu kept the ball and raced for the bag. He slid feet-first ahead of Pedroia, who had nowhere to go and tumbled over the top of the burly first baseman.

Pedroia hurt his wrist as he tried to break his fall.

"A real freakish play there at first base," Farrell said. "There is some swelling in there. He's tender."

White Sox right-hander Juan Minaya (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning of relief with three strikeouts to earn the victory.

Right-hander Matt Barnes (3-2) drew the loss for the Red Sox after allowing Cabrera's go-ahead single in the seventh.

In the first inning, Betts doubled and scored to give Boston a 1-0 advantage. Abreu sprinted back to catch Xander Bogaerts' pop fly just across the foul line in shallow right field, but Betts tagged from third base and scored ahead of Abreu's throw home.

Chicago grabbed a 3-1 lead on a three-run shot by Cabrera in the third. Price left a pitch over the plate, and Cabrera belted it into the left-field bleachers for his sixth home run.

Boston scored two in the fourth to even the score. Christian Vazquez and Jackie Bradley Jr. each drove in a run.

Betts struck again to start the fifth. He tucked his home run over the left-field wall to give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead.

The White Sox rallied in the seventh to regain a 5-4 edge. Yolmer Sanchez tripled down the right-field line and scored on Kevan Smith's double. Smith scored the go-ahead run on Cabrera's bloop hit past the infield.

"Things are going well for us right now," Cabrera said.

NOTES: Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia was not available for comment after spraining his left wrist in the first inning Monday. He remained in the game for one inning of defense before he was replaced by 2B Josh Rutledge. ... The White Sox honored Boston LHP Chris Sale with a video tribute before the bottom of the first. The video showed highlights from Sale's seven-year tenure with Chicago and ended with the message, "Thank you, Chris." Sale tipped his cap to fans. ... Boston optioned RHP Brandon Workman to Triple-A Pawtucket to clear a roster spot for starting pitcher LHP David Price. ... White Sox 1B Jose Abreu's 10-game hitting streak ended as he went 0-for-4.

Dodgers belt four HRs in 9-4 win over Cubs

(TSX / STATS) -- LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw looked at the final results from Los Angeles' win on Sunday and series sweep of the Chicago Cubs, and he viewed it the best way possible.

"It was a great series win," Kershaw said after the Dodgers' 9-4 victory. "No one gave up a run but me."

Indeed, the Dodgers shut out the Cubs in the first two games, and the bullpen worked 4 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings after Kershaw left the Sunday game.

For Kershaw as well as Cubs starter Jon Lester, the series finale was something from a different reality. A pitching duel seemed on tap, but neither got past the fifth inning. The teams combined for seven home runs that accounted for all 13 runs, Lester giving up two and Kershaw three.

Kershaw had one of his worst outings in his career, allowing 11 hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings. He left the game with a two-run lead and two Cubs in scoring position. Lester allowed seven hits, two walks and six runs on a pair of three-run home runs, throwing just 76 pitches in 3 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers won because their home runs produced more and the bullpen was stellar behind Kershaw, most notably Josh Fields, who inherited that two-on, one-out situation in the fifth and struck out Javier Baez and Kris Bryant to end it.

"They did a great job," Kershaw said of the bullpen. "Games like this are a part of baseball, sometimes they don't go the way you expect. Josh came into a high-stress situation and got the big outs, and everyone down the line did their job."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw, "Initially his velocity was good. But his first pitches were broken-bat hits, and it created a stressful situation which never should have manifested itself.

"They hit a few balls hard after that and grinded back. It was billed as a pitchers' duel, but these are good hitting teams and they squared up all day."

Willson Contreras homered in the second for a 1-0 Cubs lead, but Los Angeles' Cody Bellinger hit a three-run shot, his 10th of the season, in the bottom of the second to make it 3-1, and Enrique Hernandez hit a three-run shot, his fourth, in the third to make it 6-1.

Baez hit his eighth home run in the fourth and Anthony Rizzo his 12th, a two-run shot, in the fourth to make it 6-4. Kershaw came back out for the fifth but allowed two singles. Fields (2-0) doused that rally, and Sergio Romo, Adam Liberatore and Kenley Jansen followed suit with hitless relief.

Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes hit a solo homer in the fifth to make it 7-4, and Yasiel Puig added a two-run shot in the seventh to make it a 9-4 game.

Puig wasn't in the starting lineup. Franklin Gutierrez got the start in left, but he exited after the top of the first due to an illness.

Puig entered, and he singled in addition to his home run. He also made a nice leaping catch in the right field corner on a rope by Rizzo in the sixth.

"I haven't been helping the team much on offense, so I do what I can on defense," Puig said.

The Cubs took the loss and the game in stride. Manager Joe Maddon praised the Dodgers' ability to find ways to win regardless of how the nine innings play out.

"That's a good club," Maddon said. "We knew that coming in, and they're playing very well right now."

Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant wasn't too down about the sweep, which followed the Cubs winning seven of nine.

"I don't see any reason to worry," Bryant said. "There are good years and bad years, and good weeks and bad weeks. We're off to an average start, but we're not terrible.

"We're probably a little spoiled by the start we had last year, but it's a long season. We know we're capable of playing well. We had a good homestand before coming here. It'll be OK."

NOTES: The win was the Dodgers' ninth in their last 11 games. They went 8-2 on their just-completed homestand. The Dodgers are 21-8 at home this year. ... Chicago was swept by the Dodgers in a series for the first time since 2012. ... The Dodgers rested several starters with Cubs LHP Jon Lester starting -- C Yasmani Grandal, 1B Adrian Gonzales and OF Yasiel Puig. ... Dodgers CF Chris Taylor, who had recently assumed the leadoff spot with his hot May, batted third in the order for the first time in his career. He went 1-for-5. ... Javier Baez was back in the Cubs' lineup at second base. Rookie Ian Happ started in left and hit cleanup. Happ was the only Cub who struggled against LHP Clayton Kershaw, striking out three times.

Gonzalez perfect for 6 innings as White Sox beat Tigers

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- The way Miguel Gonzalez was pitching in his last five starts, a no-hitter seemed unlikely.

The right-hander sported a 6.99 ERA during a career-worst, five-game losing streak.

Yet Gonzalez took a perfect game into the seventh inning before he allowed three hits and a run in the inning in the Chicago White Sox's 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon.

"Strike one from the get-go, getting ahead, especially against this team that's aggressive," Gonzalez said. "It was fun to be out there again and get back on track."

The perfect game ended when leadoff hitter Andrew Romine reached on a hard grounder to shortstop Tim Anderson that was initially ruled an error. The call was later changed to a hit.

"I kind of didn't pick it up until it hit the ground," Anderson said. "I would have definitely taken the error for that one. It was a tough play, and I didn't make the play."

Alex Avila followed with a single to right-center field before Miguel Cabrera also singled to right center to end the shutout.

Gonzalez (4-5) struck out six and allowed three runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings. He kept his perfect-hit bid alive despite a 30-minute rain delay in the fourth inning.

"He was focused; I saw him earlier today, everything about him, his demeanor," White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier said. "That's the Miguel Gonzalez we know and love."

Gonzalez struggled in his last five starts after he began the season 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in four starts. However, he was 6-3 with a 3.17 ERA in his previous 10 home starts.

"I started off really good," Gonzalez said. "I was struggling for a couple outings and all you can do is keep working hard and things are going to happen. If you work hard in between your starts, you have a pretty good chance of getting back on track, and that's how I felt today."

Gonzalez retired the game's first 18 batters for the White Sox's longest perfect-game bid since Chris Sale set down the first 19 batters against the Los Angeles Angels on May 12, 2013, according to STATS, LLC.

"He mixed pitches very well, he had good movement," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He threw all four pitches. He kept the ball down in the zone, got some ground balls. He had his location -- he's a location-style pitcher. Combined that with the fact we're not swinging the bats as well as we normally can, that's kind of what happens."

Gonzalez said the closest he has come to throwing a no-hitter was losing one in the ninth in a Mexican League game.

"I was just trying to stay focused and concentrate on each hitter," he said. "Every time I was out there, first pitch trying to throw for a strike and things worked out. (Catcher Omar) Narvaez did a really good job back there calling the game, and our offense was fantastic."

Melky Cabrera, Matt Davidson and Todd Frazier homered for the White Sox, who won three of the series' four games.

David Robertson got the final two outs with two on for his seventh save in eight opportunities.

Willy Garcia hit an RBI triple and scored on Jose Iglesias' throwing error to put the White Sox ahead in the third. Melky Cabrera followed with his fifth home run of the season.

After the rain delay in the top of the fourth, the White Sox added two runs in the bottom of the inning. Davidson hit his 10th home run, and Yolmer Sanchez doubled and scored on Narvaez's single to extend the lead to 5-0.

Frazier added a two-run homer in the fifth.

Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann (4-4) allowed seven runs and eight hits, struck out three and walked one in five innings. He has given up 16 home runs this year.

"We need him to pitch better," Ausmus said.

Alex Presley hit an RBI double and Romine had an RBI triple in the eighth to prompt Gonzalez's exit.

The Tigers are 2-6 on their road trip.

"Between Houston and here, there were a few games this road trip where we just couldn't getting anything going," Detroit catcher Alex Avila said. "A lot of guys just kind of in a funk right now all at the same time, so runs have been at a premium.

"It's unfortunate it's coming on the road on a road trip where we've had some crazy weather and some crazy scheduling, it just kind of adds to the frustration, but ... it's part of the game."

NOTES: The Tigers designated OF Tyler Collins for assignment to make room for OF Alex Presley from Triple-A Toledo before the game. Collins hit .200 with 46 strikeouts in 146 plate appearances. ... The Tigers purchased the contract of Presley, who hit .213 with two home runs in 40 games with Toledo. He started in center field and went 1-for-3 with an RBI. ... The Tigers also returned RHP Buck Farmer to Triple-A after he was the 26th man for Saturday's doubleheader. ... Detroit RHP Arcenio Leon threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning in his major league debut. ... The Tigers' Mikie Mahtook took over for J.D. Martinez (sore foot) in right field in the sixth inning. ... The White Sox announced LHP David Holmberg (0-0, 0.87 ERA) will start Monday's series opener against the Boston Red Sox and LHP David Price. ... Detroit LHP Daniel Norris will pitch Monday in Kansas City against Royals RHP Jason Hammel.

Tigers, White Sox rained out in first game of doubleheader

(TSX / STATS) -- A forecast for rain prompted the Chicago White Sox to postpone the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the visiting Detroit Tigers.

Meanwhile, the second game of the doubleheader is still scheduled to be played Friday night, the White Sox announced.

The postponed game will be played as part of a straight doubleheader Saturday. The first game of Saturday's doubleheader will start at 1:10 p.m. CT as originally scheduled. The second game will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

White Sox right-hander Mike Pelfrey is scheduled to start Friday night. For Saturday's doubleheader, Chicago will turn to left-hander Derek Holland in the first game and right-hander Tyler Danish in the second game.

Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd is slated to start Friday night. Detroit will send right-hander Buck Farmer to the mound in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, and right-hander Michael Fulmer will start Game 2.

Fans who have tickets to Saturday's originally scheduled game will be able to remain in the ballpark for the second game of the doubleheader, the White Sox announced.

Cubs power way past Giants

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs continued to flex their home run muscles on Friday.

The Cubs (25-21) hit three solo homers and closed a nine-game home stand with 20 as they beat the San Francisco Giants 5-1.

"We know a lot of good things can happen if we're patient and aggressive in the strike zone, at the plate," said Jason Heyward, who had one of the Cubs' homers. "You can get a lot of momentum that way."

Chicago got home runs from Kris Bryant, Heyward and Ben Zobrist and added two eighth-inning runs on a wild pitch as they took three of four from the Giants (20-29).

The decision wrapped up a 7-2 home stand, their best since going 8-2 between Aug. 9-18, 2016.

The Cubs have 26 home runs in their last 14 games, second most in the majors in that span.

They also had solid pitching performances from starter Eddie Butler (2-0) in a five-inning effort and an extended four-inning outing from reliever Mike Montgomery, who earned his first save.

"It could have been a little better today; a couple times I just failed to keep the ball in the zone and I really just need to attack the guys even more," said Butler, making his third start since a call up from Triple-A Iowa.

Butler, who hopes to maintain a starting spot, allowed one run on four hits. He walked two and struck out a pair.

Montgomery, meanwhile, walked one and gave up one hit.

"It was fabulous," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Montgomery's effort. "We've had him out there different times and (the Giants') lineup was really built for his abilities. The big thing with Mike is that if he's throwing strikes, he's going to pitch really well versus righties and lefties. And he did."

Giants starter Jeff Samardzija fell to 1-6 in his seven-inning appearance as San Francisco dropped its third straight.

"Against a team like (the Cubs) it's a fine line," Samardzija said. "When you're facing a lineup like theirs you've got to be on the whole time. We gave up a leadoff home run to Heyward (in the fifth inning) and that can't happen. You've got to regroup there and get your pitches down in the zone and get an out."

San Francisco scored first for the third time in the four-game series as Brandon Belt doubled home Denard Span from third base with one out in the top of the first. Span reached on a leadoff two-base hit and advanced to third on Joe Panik's sacrifice.

The Cubs replied with two out in their half of the frame when Bryant launched Samardzija's first pitch into the left-field bleachers for a solo home run, his 11th of the season.

The Giants questioned whether there was fan interference on Bryant's homer, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy said they weren't able to challenge since a phone to the dugout was not operating.

Heyward lined his solo home run to right field -- his fifth of the season -- to lead off the fifth and give the Cubs a 2-1 lead.

Zobrist connected on the Cubs' third solo shot to lead off the sixth inning, sending Samardzija's 2-1 offering to right for his sixth of the season and a 3-1 Chicago lead.

Samardzija worked through seven innings before he was pulled for a pinch hitter. He gave up three runs on six hits, struck out eight and walked one while throwing 115 pitches.

The Cubs had the bases loaded with two out in the eighth against Giants reliever Josh Osich and scored two more runs on a wild pitch and an error during Heyward's at-bat.

"We just sputtered offensively and that, to me, was probably the biggest difference," Bochy said. "The eighth, we let get away. It's a 3-1 game and you'd like to keep it that way. But wild pitches scored two runs."

NOTES: San Francisco INF Eduardo Nunez sat out the series finale after tweaking his left hamstring during Wednesday's 5-4 loss to Chicago. ... The Giants remain the only major league team without a three-run homer this season. Their 40 homers include 33 solo shots. ... San Francisco returns home for a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves and will send RHP Matt Cain (3-2, 4.91 ERA) against Braves LHP Jaime Garcia (1-3, 4.07 ERA). ... The Cubs open a three-game series on Friday at the Los Angeles Dodgers, sending RHP Jake Arrieta (5-3, 4.80 ERA) against LHP Alex Wood (5-0, 1.88 ERA) . ... The Cubs allowed their 45th first-inning earned run on Thursday and own an 8.80 ERA in the opening inning. ... 2B Ben Zobrist singled in the third inning to extend an on-base streak to 22 games, the big league's third-longest streak, topped only by Cincinnati's Joey Votto (27) and Seattle's Mitch Haniger (25). He later homered to right. ... Chicago returns to Wrigley Field on June 2 to face the St. Louis Cardinals.

3 facing charges after 2,000 grams of cannabis found in Park City home

Sun-Times Wire

Three people are facing drug charges after nearly 2,000 grams of cannabis were found at a home in north suburban Park City.

The Lake County sheriff’s office received a tip that cannabis was being sold from a home in the 3300 block of Judy Lane in Park City, according to the sheriff’s office.

On Tuesday, the sheriff’s Gang Task Force executed a search warrant with K-9 Dax and found nearly 2,000 grams of cannabis, drug paraphernalia and more than $10,000 in cash, according to the sheriff’s office.

Angel L. Feliciano, 20, was charged with felony counts of possession of cannabis with intent to deliver and possession of cannabis, according to the sheriff’s office.

Jasmine A. Rodriguez, 18, was charged with one misdemeanor count of possession of cannabis; and 21-year-old Wilkins Feliciano was charged with one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lester throws complete game in Cubs' win over Giants

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Jon Lester started strong Tuesday night, and with the exception of one inning, kept getting better in a complete game.

The Chicago Cubs left-hander allowed one run and three hits in the fifth inning but otherwise kept the San Francisco Giants in check in a 4-1 victory.

"It's a hard thing to do now, and there's always that gratification to go out there and finish it," Lester said.

He shrugged off a 65-minute rain delay before the game and struck out the side in the opening inning. Lester then allowed just four hits while striking out a season-high 10 in his first complete game this season. He didn't issue a walk.

"That's just classic stuff," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He just kept getting better."

Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward and Anthony Rizzo provided offensive punch with home runs off Giants starter Johnny Cueto as the Cubs (23-21) won for the second time in three games.

Cueto had given up just eight homers in nine starts entering Tuesday.

"To hit three home runs against a guy like Cueto, that's pretty impressive stuff," Maddon said.

The victory was the second straight for Lester (3-2), who struck out two in the ninth and is now 5-1 lifetime against San Francisco.

Cueto (4-4) allowed four runs and five hits, walked one and struck out eight in a six innings. He was slightly affected by blisters on two pitching fingers.

"That's not an excuse," he said through a translator. "I flat out had a bad game today."

The Giants (20-27) are still 8-3 in their past 11 games.

Lester, whose longest previous outings this season were two seven-inning starts, threw 99 pitches, 70 for strikes. He is now 13-2 at Wrigley Field since the start of last season and has a 12-game home winning streak.

He was the first Cubs pitcher with fewer than 100 pitches in a complete game since Carlos Zambrano on Sept. 29, 2009.

"He threw a lot more changeups than I've ever seen when facing him," Giants catcher Buster Posey said. "He's shown it in the past, but tonight he had command of it."

The complete game was the 15th of Lester's career. His last was Sept. 2, 2016, a 2-1 victory also over San Francisco.

Schwarber's seventh homer of the season opened the scoring in the first inning. The bases-empty homer to right came on a full-count pitch and landed outside the park on Sheffield Avenue for the first ball out of the park in that direction in Maddon's tenure.

"It got small fast," Maddon said.

Heyward made it 2-0 with his fourth home run with one out in the second, sending a first-pitch shot into the right field basket.

Rizzo slugged a two-run, first-pitch homer in the fourth for a 4-0 lead. His ninth homer of the season brought in Kris Bryant, who had reached on a leadoff single.

Lester gave up a second-inning hit when Schwarber missed on a diving try on Justin Ruggiano's long fly to left. He allowed three more hits in a one-run Giants fifth as Brandon Crawford doubled home Posey from second to trim the deficit to 4-1.

NOTES: The Giants, who hit three solo home runs on Monday, have hit 18 consecutive solo homers. ... Giants RHP Mark Melancon has successfully converted nine of 11 save opportunities, including his last four. ... Rehabbing Giants INF Conor Gillespie (back spasms) is 2-for-13 in four games with Triple-A Sacramento. INF Aaron Hill (right forearm strain) is 2-for-9 with two runs scored in three games with the River Cats. ... The Giants sent LHP Matt Moore (2-4, 5.37 ERA) against Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-2, 3.35 ERA) in Wednesday's game. ... Chicago 3B Kris Bryant and 1B Anthony Rizzo each have had nine career multi-homer games before their 26th birthdays, third in franchise history behind Ron Santo and Sammy Sosa (10 each). ... The Cubs are 8-0 this season when they hit three or more home runs. ... Chicago 2B Ben Zobrist's third-inning single extended his on-base streak to 21 games dating to April 28. His longest is a 23-game run in 2011.

Diamondbacks pull out win over White Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- PHOENIX -- Jake Lamb hit a two-run homer and Chris Herrmann hit a solo shot as the Arizona Diamondbacks held on for a 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

Paul Goldschmidt had two hits, including a first-inning RBI triple, and Yasmany Tomas added a pair of hits for the D-backs (28-19).

Arizona starter Patrick Corbin (4-4) allowed three runs in the first three innings but then blanked the Sox from the fourth through the sixth. He allowed a single to start the seventh, then was relieved by Archie Bradley.

Corbin yielded three runs and eight hits while striking out five and walking one.

The White Sox (20-24) got a two-run homer from Todd Frazier and solo shots from Jose Abreu and Melky Cabrera.

Abreu belted his 100th career homer. His shot to left field off Jorge De La Rosa to lead off the eighth inning cut the D-backs' lead to 5-4.

The Sox then loaded the bases with one out, but reliever J.J. Hoover came in and struck out Omar Narvaez and Yolmer Sanchez.

Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the save.

Dylan Covey (0-4) had to come out of the game in the third inning due to left oblique soreness. He pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up four runs and five hits. He will be evaluated further on Wednesday.

A key point in the game came in the top of the fourth.

Chicago's Leury Garcia reached on an infield single, then Willy Garcia drew a walk.

Kevan Smith, attempting to bunt with two strikes, rolled the ball up the third base line almost to the bag. Instead of hitting the bag for a hit, the ball curled foul for a strikeout. Corbin then was able to retire the side.

With one on and two outs in the fifth, Tomas made a diving catch of Frazier's line drive to left-center.

The D-backs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first when Rey Fuentes led off with a single and Goldschmidt tripled to right-center to drive him home.

Lamb then belted a two-run homer to right field.

The White Sox got a run back in the second on Cabrera's solo homer.

The D-backs stretched the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the second when Herrmann hit a fly ball that just cleared the fence near the left-field foul pole.

The White Sox pulled within 4-3 when Abreu singled and Frazier homered in the top of the third.

In the fourth, the D-backs hiked the lead to 5-3 when Tomas singled, then raced home on Brandon Drury's double to left center.

NOTES: The D-backs have launched a discounted-ticket program for the summer that offers all June and July home games for just $50. If fans attended all 25 games, that would mean spending $2 per ticket to an outfield reserve seat. ... A decision on whether to bring OF A.J. Pollock on the 11-game road trip that starts Thursday in Milwaukee will be made by Wednesday. Pollock, out with a groin injury, is eligible to come off the DL Friday, but there's no indication he'll be activated that soon. ... White Sox OF Avisail Garcia did not start because of flu-like symptoms, though he entered the game as a pinch hitter. ... Chicago 2B Tyler Saladino, who has been hampered by back pain though available to play, started for the first time since May 16. He went 1-for-5.

Blach, Giants hold on to beat Cubs

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Ty Blach set the tone on Monday when he prevailed in a 13-pitch showdown with Chicago Cubs leadoff batter Ben Zobrist.

The San Francisco Giants right-hander caught Zobrist looking at a third strike, and he wound up pitching into the eighth inning for a 6-4 victory in a series opener at Wrigley Field.

"It was good to have a battle like that, it kind of gets you locked in especially being able to come out on top," said Black, who finally ran into trouble in a four-run Cubs eighth. "It gets you focused and be like, 'OK, I can execute pitches and get some guys out.'"

Blach (2-2) got quick support with runs in four of the first five innings, including a leadoff home run by Joe Panik.

"To jump on the board early, it was cool," said Panik, who went 3-for-4 with his first career leadoff homer. "I felt good, I was seeing the ball well, the swing path was good. Hopefully this is the start of some good things."

Panik added a third-inning RBI double.

Brandon Belt (2-for-5) and Justin Ruggiano (2-for-4) also hit solo home runs for San Francisco. Ruggiano's blast to left came in the eighth inning off Hector Rondon, the Cubs' third pitcher of the night, and gave the Giants a 6-0 lead.

The Giants (20-26) made it eight wins in their past 10 games while the Cubs (22-21) fell for the second time in their past three.

Blach, a left-hander, lost the shutout in the eighth when Javier Baez clubbed a two-run home run to right with no outs, scoring Jason Heyward to make it 6-2.

Cubs pinch hitter Ian Happ then tripled to deep center, and Blach was pulled in favor of right-hander Derek Law. The Cubs added two runs as Zobrist hit a two-run homer to right off Law , trimming the deficit to 6-4.

Hunter Strickland, the fourth Giants pitcher of the inning, got Willson Contreras to roll into an inning-ending double play.

Blach allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out three with no walks in seven-plus innings.

"That's a tough night to pitch," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "The ball was just flying out. He probably got a little tired in the eighth, (but) he really set the tone, and our guys did a nice job swinging the bat."

Giants closer Mark Melancon faced four batters in a scoreless ninth for his ninth save.

Cubs starter John Lackey (4-4) worked five innings -- his shortest outing of the season -- and took his first loss since April 23. Lackey gave up five runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking a pair. He allowed two homers and hit two batters.

"Honestly, I threw the ball better tonight than my last three," Lackey said. "I felt like I executed quite a few pitches, but they got a few more balls up than we did."

It was San Francisco's first visit to Wrigley Field since the 2016 National League Division Series, won in four games by Chicago en route to a World Series championship.

Panik slugged his second homer of the year as the Giants claimed a 1-0 first-inning lead. The shot off Lackey came on a full count and narrowly cleared the left field basket.

Panik struck again in the third, doubling home Gorkys Hernandez with one out for a 2-0 lead. The Giants second baseman then scored from second on Belt's two-out base hit to left for a 3-0 advantage.

The Cubs threatened in their half of the third when Zobrist tripled to right-center with two outs. Zobrist reached base in a 20th consecutive game dating to April 28, but he was stranded when Albert Almora Jr. grounded to short to close the inning.

Ruggiano's double to right with no outs in the fourth plated Eduardo Nunez for a 4-0 Giants lead, while Belt got in the scoring parade with a leadoff homer to left in the fifth to make it 5-0.

"They took advantage of the wind tonight and we didn't," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

NOTES: The Giants were 1-5 at Wrigley Field last season and are now 2-9 against the Cubs over their past 11 in Chicago. ... Giants OF Denard Span will be out at least until Wednesday due to a sprained left thumb he sustained Sunday at St. Louis. ... The Giants send RHP Johnny Cueto (4-3, 4.50 ERA) against Cubs LHP Jon Lester (2-2, 3.57 ERA) in Tuesday's second of a four-game series. ... Chicago's rainout last Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers has been rescheduled for July 6 at Wrigley Field, an open date for both teams. ... The Cubs called up LHP Zac Rosscup from Triple-A Iowa while RHP Jake Buchanan was designated for assignment. ... LHP Brett Anderson remains on the disabled list (back strain), but Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he is progressing toward a return. However, Maddon did not specify how soon that might occur.

Greinke nearly goes distance as D-backs top White Sox

(TSX / STATS) -- PHOENIX -- Zack Greinke is becoming almost unhittable again, pitching in a manner that is reminiscent of his stellar 2015 season.

Greinke bedazzled the Chicago White Sox on Monday night, guiding the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-1 win.

In lowering his ERA to 2.82, Greinke (6-2) allowed just one run and four hits while striking out a season-high 12 and walking one over 8 2/3 innings.

Archie Bradley threw one pitch to record the final out.

"Right now, I'm making really good pitches," Greinke said. "The pitches aren't quite as sharp maybe as (in 2015), but the location has been just as good."

Greinke leads the National League with 78 strikeouts.

"He is in a very good place," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "When he takes the mound, he's ready to execute."

Fans wanted to see Greinke complete the game. However, after Jose Abreu doubled with two outs in the ninth on Greinke's 104th pitch, Lovullo made the move to Bradley, much to the displeasure of some booing fans.

"Sometimes you got to sit in the seat and not make popular decisions," Lovullo said. "(Greinke and I) both had a clear understanding of what was going to happen.

"If it's August, it might be a different story. It's May. We got to remember that. Everybody has to stay healthy, be healthy for the rest of the year. I know it's a very unpopular decision, but that's my job. I guarantee it's not the last time they'll boo me."

Daniel Descalso hit a three-run homer off Miguel Gonzalez to give the D-backs an early 3-0 lead.

"That gave us a chance to play a little downhill baseball," Lovullo said.

Descalso said, "A first-pitch breaking ball out over the middle of the plate. He made a mistake and hung a curveball."

Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo homer for the D-backs and went 2-for-4. Gregor Blanco also finished 2-for-4.

Gonzalez (3-5) gave up five runs (four earned) and seven hits in five-plus innings.

"He made some good pitches," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He just left one, I think it was center cut.

"Our guys are grinding, but you got to tip your cap to Greinke. He did a really nice job."

The Diamondbacks (27-19) have gone 6-1 in their past seven games and 9-3 in their past 12. They also moved their record in interleague play to 5-1 and improved their NL-best home record to 19-8.

The White Sox (20-23) saw their modest three-game winning streak snapped.

The teams are meeting for the first time since the Diamondbacks took two of three games in Chicago from May 9-11, 2014. This is the White Sox's first trip to Chase Field since June 17-19, 2011.

Greinke is 5-1 in his last six starts, recording 58 strikeouts in that span. He posted his 27th career game with 10-plus strikeouts, his third this season.

Early on, Greinke dominated by mixing sliders, fastballs and changeups.

He struck out seven without issuing a walk in the first four innings. The only batter who reached base was Omar Narvaez, who singled up the middle in the third.

For three innings, Gonzalez was just about as sharp. He allowed an infield single by Blanco to lead off the first, but that was the only hit until the fourth inning.

That was when Goldschmidt singled and Chris Owings walked, setting up Descalso, who hit the first pitch just over the right-center-field wall and into the pool area for a 3-0 Arizona lead.

"That was a huge walk," Lovullo said of Owings' free pass.

Descalso said, "We've been having great team at-bats. A walk is as good as a hit right there. It extends the inning."

Lamented Gonzalez, "It obviously wasn't a good situation to walk a guy."

The homer was Descalso's fourth of the year.

The White Sox got one run back in the fifth when Leury Garcia lofted a fly ball just over the right field wall for his fifth homer of the season.

Leading 3-1, the D-backs drove Gonzalez from the game when Goldschmidt homered, Jake Lamb tripled and Owings got an infield single, with Lamb holding at third. Then Descalso drew a walk from reliever Dan Jennings to load the bases.

Rey Fuentes grounded to shortstop, but Tim Anderson's throw was low and into the bat left at the plate by Fuentes. Lamb was ruled safe to make it 5-1, a call that stood after a lengthy review.

NOTES: Diamondbacks RHP Randall Delgado will make a spot start Wednesday in place of RHP Taijuan Walker, who is on the disabled list with a blister. The D-backs are unsure whether they will need Delgado for more than one start. ... Arizona 3B Jake Lamb was named National League player of the week. ... The Diamondbacks don't seem to be counting on OF A.J. Pollock (groin) to be available once his 10-day minimum on the DL is finished on Friday. "We want to make sure everybody signs off on it," manager Torey Lovullo said of Pollock, who has had groin problems in the past. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (bursitis) pitched in a simulated game Monday. "He looked good, free and easy," manager Rick Renteria said. ... Chicago RHP Nate Jones (elbow) threw to hitters for the first time since going on the DL. He could be ready to go on a minor league rehab assignment is seven to 10 days, club officials indicated.

Cubs cruise past Brewers

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- After a so-so start to the season, Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant figured he and his teammates would have a big day at the plate sooner or later.

"I think we were kind of due as a team, offensively," Bryant said. "We haven't really been doing much early on here, so I think it was just a matter of time for us."

On Sunday afternoon, Chicago delivered. Bryant hit two home runs and reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances, and the Cubs cruised to a 13-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ben Zobrist and Anthony Rizzo also homered as the Cubs scored in every inning except the second. Chicago (22-20) won for the fourth time in the past five games.

"Up and down, I thought we worked good at-bats," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "It's nice to see that happen. I believe firmly that we're going to hit -- not at a 13-run level, but we're going to hit."

Jonathan Villar went 3-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base to lead the Brewers. The defeat snapped a four-game winning streak for Milwaukee (25-19).

"It got away from us a little today," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "But that happens. They've got a good team, and the wind's blowing out, so it was a tough day."

Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta (5-3) limited the Brewers to one unearned run on five hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out six to earn his first victory in two weeks.

Arrieta allowed zero earned runs for the first time since April 4 at St. Louis.

"I felt good," Arrieta said. "I kept the ball on the ground quite a bit today, which was nice. That's obviously an indicator of a step in the right direction."

Brewers right-hander Chase Anderson (2-1) surrendered six runs on seven hits in four-plus innings. Anderson said he fell behind in too many counts, which led to his shortest outing of the season.

"There's something in my delivery I need to work on as I go through it," Anderson said. "I'll just try to figure out what it really is, if I'm trying too hard and tensing up too much and not relaxing, or if it's something more than that. But I think it's just something minor."

The Cubs opened the scoring with three runs in the first inning. Zobrist smacked Anderson's third pitch into the right field bleachers for his fourth career leadoff home run.

Bryant homered to lead off the third inning and homered again to lead off the fifth inning. The performance marked Bryant's second multiple-homer game of the season and the ninth of his career.

Milwaukee loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth but scored only once to trim the deficit to 5-1. Eric Thames drove in Orlando Arcia on a groundout.

"We got traffic and just didn't get the hit to put a lot of stress on (Arrieta)," Counsell said.

Thames exited the game because of leg cramping after his at-bat in the fifth. Counsell described the move as precautionary and said he expected Thames to be in the lineup Tuesday night.

In the sixth, sloppy defense by the Brewers allowed the Cubs to score twice. Willson Contreras scored from third base on a wild pitch, and Jon Jay scored moments later when Villar threw wide of first base, with Kyle Schwarber credited with an RBI single on the latter play.

Contreras hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh and singled home a run in the eighth. He finished 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.

Rizzo added a two-run blast in the eighth inning for his eighth home run.

The Brewers picked up five runs in the ninth on an RBI double by Jesus Aguilar, a run-scoring groundout by Ryan Braun, a two-run homer by Travis Shaw, and an RBI opposite-field double from Keon Broxton.

NOTES: Brewers OF Ryan Braun was activated from the 10-day disabled list after recovering from injuries to his left calf and right elbow. Milwaukee optioned RHP Tyler Cravy to Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... Cubs OF Jason Heyward (sprained right finger) was activated from the 10-day disabled list. The team optioned INF Tommy La Stella to Triple-A Iowa... Brewers RHP Junior Guerra (strained right calf) threw 91 pitches during a minor league rehabilitation assignment Saturday, and he could be activated by week's end. ... The Cubs recalled RHP Dylan Floro from Iowa and optioned RHP Pierce Johnson. ... Brewers manager Craig Counsell did not hide his sarcasm when asked about Saturday's rainout. After the Cubs postponed the game, rain exited the area and the rest of the day was sunny. "It's the first time for us that we've had players treated for sunburn after a rainout," Counsell said.

White Sox blast Mariners again

(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- The Chicago White Sox picked up right where they left off.

The White Sox scored five first-inning runs Sunday afternoon and went on to defeat the Seattle Mariners 8-1 at Safeco Field.

That came after Chicago routed Seattle 16-1 on Saturday night.

"We've been swinging the heck out of the bats," said White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, who had a run-scoring single in the first inning and added a solo home run in the third to back left-hander Derek Holland's eight strong innings.

Holland (4-3) allowed one run on six hits and two walks. He struck out six, including the side in his eighth and final inning, and threw 105 pitches, 70 of which were strikes.

"We were able to take advantage of a few things early, and Holland did a nice job of continuing to pitch and minimize anything that could go wrong," Chicago manager Rick Renteria said. "He was throwing a lot of strikes, working the ball in and running it back over the plate. He got the ground balls when he needed it."

The White Sox turned four double plays for the second consecutive game.

"When your offense starts out as hot as we did in the first inning," said Holland, "my job was to make sure to keep the momentum on our side."

He did that be letting his defense do its job.

"I always say it takes seven guys -- I don't count the pitcher and catcher -- to win a game," Holland said. "When you keep (the defense) on their toes, these guys can make the plays."

Holland's shutout bid ended when Nelson Cruz hit a solo home run to left field leading off the seventh inning. It was Cruz's team-leading 11th homer.

Gregory Infante pitched a scoreless ninth for the White Sox.

Seattle right-hander Chris Heston, who was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to make the start, fared no better than he did in his previous outing this season.

Heston (0-1) allowed seven runs on seven hits in three-plus innings, walking four and striking out two. In his only other major league appearance this year, on April 25 in Detroit, Heston gave up five runs (two earned) on seven hits in two innings of relief.

He struggled from the start Sunday, walking the bases loaded in the first inning. All three of those runners ended up scoring, all with two outs. Yolmer Sanchez lined a two-run single into right field and Anderson reached on a check-swing, run-scoring infield single.

"I didn't mean to swing and I got an RBI single out of it," Anderson said.

Matt Davidson singled to right to make it 4-0, and the final run of the inning came home on catcher Kevan Smith's infield single.

Anderson made it 6-0 in the third inning with his fifth homer.

Heston was pulled with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth. Reliever Dan Altavilla got Jose Abreu to ground into a double play to limit the damage in the inning to one run.

The White Sox scored again in the fifth to make it 8-0. Todd Frazier led off with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch, and two outs later, scored on Davidson's single.

"We need starting pitching to keep us in the game, and it didn't happen the past two nights," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "The guys are frustrated and disappointed from just not being in the game.

"You're going to have your ups and downs throughout the season, but the last couple of nights have been disheartening."

NOTES: White Sox 2B Yolmer Sanchez hit a two-run single in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his career high. ... The Mariners made some roster moves before the game, calling up RHP Chris Heston and 1B Dan Vogelbach from Triple-A Tacoma and sending LHP Dillon Overton and INF Mike Freeman to the same affiliate. ... Mariners 1B Danny Valencia didn't play for the second straight day because of an ailing right wrist. Manager Scott Servais said Valencia underwent an MRI exam on Sunday after sustaining the injury Friday night while sliding into a base. ... The White Sox continue their 10-game trip Monday in Arizona. RHP Miguel Gonzalez (3-4, 4.29 ERA) is scheduled to face Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (5-2, 3.09). ... The Mariners have Monday off before starting a three-game series at Washington.

Brewers-Cubs game postponed by rain

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Saturday's game between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field has been rained out. The game will be made up on July 6.

Both teams are expected to start Saturday's scheduled starters on Sunday, with right-hander Jake Arrieta (4-3, 5.44 ERA) going for the Cubs and right-hander Chase Anderson (2-0, 3.43) pitching for the Brewers.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell said left fielder Ryan Braun (left calf strain) could return as soon as Sunday or as late as Thursday from the 10-day disabled list. He went on the disabled list on May 12, retroactive to May 11.

"He will just test himself inside on the treadmill today as far as a running perspective," Counsell said. "Then we'll make a judgment probably tomorrow morning as to what we're going to do."

Without Braun, the Brewers posted a 7-2 record and have won 10 of their last 12 games.

"The offense is not one player," Counsell said. "There are nine players. ... You're never going to have nine guys hot at once. We've had a pretty good chunk of our lineup swinging the bat well at the same time for most of the year."

The Cubs didn't make a roster move Saturday, but are expected to option infielder Tommy La Stella to Triple-A Iowa to make room for outfielder Jason Heyward (sprained right finger) coming off the 10-day disabled list on Sunday.

In addition, right-handed reliever Dylan Floro (0-0, 2.08 ERA) is expected to be called up from Iowa to replace right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson (0-0, 0.00).

Rookie center fielder Ian Happ will remain in the majors for now. He's batting .333 with two home runs and four RBIs.

"(Happ has) done a really good job at the plate, on defense, running the bases," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Big part of it is the fact, like a lot of our guys, he's not overwhelmed. That's probably the most impressive part of it."

Before Saturday's game was rained out, the Cubs moved left fielder Kyle Schwarber out of the leadoff spot. Second baseman Ben Zobrist was instead going to hit leadoff. Schwarber was slated to bat second for the first time this season, followed by third baseman Kris Bryant, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and Happ.

Schwarber, who also catches, could again bat leadoff, Maddon said. He is batting .182 with six home runs and 17 RBIs this season.

"Zo's been really good lately," Maddon said. "We gave him a couple days off and he's come out of it real nicely, and Happ's the new Zobrist -- he can protect Rizzo. The other component, we talked a lot about Kyle hitting a lot of balls into the shift.

"If Zo can get on a little more often, it might move that second baseman out of that spot. You look at Schwarber's batting average, even Anthony's, a lot of that's impacted by the shift. Happ being here pretty much permits me to think that way and the fact he's done so well."

The Brewers had infielder Eric Sogard in the leadoff spot over infielder Jonathan Villar, who is 1-for-16 on the trip.

"I anticipate eventually Jonny is going to be back in the leadoff spot because that is where we need him," Counsell said. "Hopefully, he will get it going and make it back there. That's where we're at our best, with him hitting out of that spot."