Sports
Cardinals determined to continue hit parade vs. Cubs
Jul 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0) hits a three-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images The St. Louis Cardinals have gotten their offense in gear.
After scoring eight runs over the final three innings of an 11-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, the Cardinals set a season high in runs and hits (17) on Friday in a 17-1 romp over the rival Chicago Cubs.
The Cardinals will look to set off more offensive fireworks and capture a series win in the rematch vs. the Cubs on Saturday night at Wrigley Field.
“Love coming to this park, and to do what we did was awesome,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said after his team ran roughshod on Friday. “… Overall, regardless of score, they were taking really gritty at-bats. They weren’t giving anything away. We find different ways to win. Today, we definitely slugged.”
Masyn Winn joined Nathan Church in hitting a three-run homer, and Bryan Torres also went deep for the Cardinals, who scored only one run in a loss to the Braves on Wednesday. Winn and Alec Burleson each drove in four runs on Friday, and Blaze Jordan matched Ivan Herrera with three hits.
“It was a blast. I heard it was gonna be rowdy and a lot of fun. So, to come out on top like that, it was a lot of fun,” Jordan told STL Sports Central. ” … We’re just trying to keep this thing rolling.”
The Cubs were rolling into the series opener on the strength of a 23-3 shellacking of the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, They belted eight homers in that contest, including three by Dansby Swanson and two by Michael Conforto.
Swanson, however, went 0-for-2 and Conforto was hitless in four at-bats on Friday as Chicago found itself on the wrong end of a lopsided result.
Alex Bregman’s RBI double in the seventh inning accounted for the Cubs’ lone run. He had two of his team’s seven hits.
Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy (6-4, 4.09 ERA) will start on Saturday opposite Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (5-6, 4.30).
Leahy recorded his first win since May 16 after allowing one run on two hits in five innings of a 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday.
Leahy, 29, has a 3.18 ERA in 10 career appearances (two starts) vs. Chicago. He yielded one run on six hits in 4 1/3 innings in his team’s 6-1 loss to the Cubs on May 30.
Imanaga returns to the mound after pocketing a no-decision on Monday, when he permitted two runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings against the San Diego Padres. Chicago won 3-2.
“I thought Shota pitched great,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after that outing. “We desperately needed the length. For him to get into the seventh inning just meant everything, and with the chance to win the game meant everything.”
Imanaga was shelled in his last encounter vs. St. Louis, surrendering three homers and five runs total in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-5 setback on May 29.
Imanaga, 32, is 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA in five career appearances (all starts) against St. Louis.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dylan Cease, Blue Jays shut out Mariners to begin ALCS rematch
Jul 3, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0), left, turns a double play after forcing out Seattle Mariners centerfielder Victor Robles (10) at second base during the third inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Dylan Cease pitched seven sharp innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the host Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Friday in the opener of a three-game series between the teams that met in the 2025 American League Championship Series.
It was the third victory in the past four games for the Blue Jays following a six-game skid.
The Mariners saw their three-game winning streak end, and they fell out of a first-place tie with the idle Texas Rangers in the AL West.
Cease (5-4) allowed only three hits — singles by Cole Young and Victor Robles to open the bottom of the third and a one-out double by J.P. Crawford in the sixth. The right-hander walked one and struck out nine.
Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman fanned two in a hitless eighth. Closer Louis Varland worked around a one-out single by Dominic Canzone in the ninth to log his 18th save in as many chances this season.
The Blue Jays scored both of their runs in the third against Mariners starter Luis Castillo (3-7). Rookie Sean Keys led off by grounding a single to center, and he came home on Andres Gimenez’s double to left-center. Nathan Lukes laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Gimenez to third, and Vladimir Guerrero lined a single to right to make it 2-0.
The Mariners threatened in the bottom of the inning following the two singles, but Cease got rookie Colt Emerson to ground into a double play. After issuing his lone walk to Crawford, putting runners at the corners, Cease induced Randy Arozarena to ground out to second.
Castillo went six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. The right-hander walked one and struck out four.
The Mariners were without standout center fielder Julio Rodriguez, who was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list earlier in the day. Rodriguez was hit in the back of the helmet by an errant throw while running the bases Thursday in Seattle’s 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Angels.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Six-run first propels Marlins to runaway defeat of A's
Jul 3, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Kyle Stowers (28) acknowledges the dugout while running the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Athletics during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Heriberto Hernandez hit a three-run homer and Jakob Marsee added a solo shot during a six-run first inning to help the Miami Marlins post a 12-5 victory over the Athletics on Friday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Kyle Stowers went 4-for-5 with two homers, three RBIs and three runs for the Marlins, who halted a two-game slide. Owen Caissie added a solo shot as Miami matched its season high with five homers.
Major league batting leader Otto Lopez had two hits to raise his average to .337 and Liam Hicks scored three times for the Marlins.
Nick Kurtz hit a two-run homer and Jeff McNeil had a three-run double for the Athletics, who lost for the ninth time in 12 games.
The Athletics’ Jack Perkins (2-4) was torched for seven runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He matched his career high of eight strikeouts and walked four.
Lake Bachar (1-0) retired six straight batters over the seventh and eighth innings and was credited with the victory for the Marlins. He was one of five relievers who combined to allow just two hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Miami starter Tyler Phillips gave up five runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Hicks, Stowers and Lopez opened the game with singles off Perkins and Xavier Edwards walked to force in the first run. Stowers then scored on a passed ball by A’s catcher Shea Langeliers to make it 2-0.
Hernandez then swatted a three-run blast to center to make it 5-0. Perkins retired the next two batters before Marsee drilled a homer to right to cap the six-run explosion.
Miami tacked on another run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Edwards.
The Athletics displayed life in the bottom of the third as Alika Williams doubled and Kurtz slugged a mammoth 457-foot, two-run homer to center, his 20th of the season.
The A’s loaded the bases in the fourth on singles by Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Carlos Cortes and a walk to Henry Bolte. McNeil followed with a bases-clearing two-bagger into the gap in left-center to pull the Athletics within 7-5.
Stowers led off the sixth with his first homer, a shot to right off Justin Sterner. In the eighth, Hicks drew a one-out walk before Stowers hit a two-run blast to right-center off Mason Barnett to give the Marlins a 10-5 lead.
Hernandez singled to lead off the ninth against Barnett. One out later, Caissie hit a two-run homer to left-center to make it a seven-run margin.
–Field Media Level
Sports
Four-run, 11th-inning rally sends Brewers past Diamondbacks
Jul 3, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell (right) celebrates with teammate Cooper Pratt after hitting a two run home run in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Brice Turang hit a two-run single in a four-run 11th inning to help the Milwaukee Brewers earn a 7-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series on Friday in Phoenix.
Turang had three hits and also a run, Jake Bauers collected three hits, an RBI and a run, and Garrett Mitchell hit a two-run homer for the Brewers, who have won four of five.
Milwaukee starter Kyle Harrison has won seven straight decisions, but he got a third straight no-decision after letting a 3-0 lead slip away. The left-hander was tagged for three runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking one on 72 pitches.
Grant Anderson (2-3) pitched the final two innings for the Brewers, yielding just an unearned run.
Ildemaro Vargas had three hits and an RBI, Gabriel Moreno produced two hits, an RBI and a run, and Nolan Arenado contributed a two-run double for Arizona, which has lost two in a row.
Diamondbacks rookie Jose Cabrera went 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out three and walking three.
After neither team scored in the 10th, Ryan Thompson (3-2) hit Cooper Pratt with a pitch to start the 11th.
A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up before Christian Yelich was walked intentionally to load the bases. Jackson Chourio hit a swinging bunt that was fielded by Thompson, but his throw home was wide. Two runs scored on the play for a 5-3 lead.
Turang followed with an opposite-field two-run single to left.
Vargas hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th to make it 7-4.
After Bauers led off the second with a single, Mitchell lifted the first pitch he saw from Cabrera to deep center and off a fan above the home run barrier. The play was briefly reviewed for fan interference, but the home run was confirmed, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead.
Turang, William Contreras and Bauers strung together three consecutive one-out singles in the third to extend the lead to 3-0.
Mitchell followed with a long fly ball to left that appeared destined for the seats, but Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leaped and snared the ball high above the wall to rob him of a three-run homer.
Corbin Carroll lined a single to right with two outs in the bottom of the third to put runners on the corners for Moreno, who grounded an opposite-field single through the right side to cut the deficit to 3-1.
After a walk loaded the bases, Arenado pulled a 2-2 pitch off the base of the wall down the left field line for a two-run double, tying the score 3-3. That ended the night for Harrison, who threw 38 pitches in the inning.
–Field Level Media
Dylan Cease, Blue Jays shut out Mariners to begin ALCS rematch
Six-run first propels Marlins to runaway defeat of A's
