Baseball-Highlights of Monday's Major League Baseball games

(Updates with later games) Sept 16 (Sports Xchange) - Highlights of Monday's Major League Baseball games:- - - - Padres 2, Pirates 0 Andrew Cashner's bid for a no-hitter ended in the seventh inning but the Padres blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates as the right-hander settled for a one-hitter. Cashner (10-8) retired the first 18 batters before Jose Tabata grounded a single into right field to lead off the seventh. He was supported offensively by Kyle Blanks, Ronny Cedeno and Rene Rivera who all had two hits for San Diego. The Pirates lost for just the second time in eight games and remained tied with St. Louis for first place in the National League Central. - - - Rockies 6, Cardinals 2 The Colorado Rockies beat the Cardinals, erupting for four runs in the eighth after the Cardinals had tied the game in the top of the inning. The loss left the Cardinals tied for first in the National League Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wilin Rosario had a run-scoring single; Charlie Blackmon, who had three hits and two RBIs, doubled home a run and pinch-hitter Ryan Wheeler delivered a two-run single in the critical eighth. - - - Reds 6, Astros 1 The Cincinnati Reds welcomed ace Johnny Cueto back into their rotation with a trio of two-run innings and kept pace in the National League Central pennant race with a victory over the Houston Astros. Cueto (5-2) logged five shutout innings in his first appearance since making his third trip to the injury list with a back strain on June 29. Cincinnati is 2 ½ games behind St. Louis and Pittsburgh for the division lead. - - - Rays 6, Rangers 2 The Tampa Bay Rays beat the reeling Texas Rangers to take over first place in the American League wild-card standings. Alex Cobb pitched eight innings and struck out 10 for Tampa Bay, which has won four of five since dropping 13 of 17, while the Rays chased former Ray Matt Garza in a four-run fifth inning. Rookie outfielder Wil Myers led the way offensively for the Rays, going 2-for-4 with a solo homer, a double and three RBIs as Tampa Bay vaulted mere percentage points in front of Texas. - - - Royals 7, Indians 1 James Shields struck out a season-high 10 as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Cleveland Indians to open a crucial six-game homestand. The victory moved the Royals within 2 1/2 games of the slumping Texas Rangers, who have lost seven straight and 10 of 11, for the second American League wild-card playoff spot. The Indians remain a half-game behind Texas, which plays a weekend series at Kauffman Stadium. Salvador Perez went 3-for-4, walked, scored two runs and drove in a run to lead the Royals' 14-hit attack. - - - Tigers 4, Mariners 2 Rick Porcello struck out 10 in six innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to victory over the struggling Seattle Mariners. Porcello (13-8) won for the ninth time in his last 11 decisions. Victor Martinez drove in the go-ahead run for the Tigers, who lead Cleveland by six games in the American League Central. - - - Phillies 12, Marlins 2 Cliff Lee struck out a season-high 14 and had career highs of three hits and four RBIs as the Philadelphia Phillies battered the Miami Marlins. Lee (14-6) worked eight innings and allowed two runs on eight hits. He did not walk a batter en route to winning his fourth consecutive decision. Chase Utley hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs for Philadelphia, and Darin Ruf added a two-run homer. - - - White Sox 12, Twins 1 The Chicago White Sox used a seven-run first inning to quickly take command, and they cruised from there for a victory over the Minnesota Twins to snap a six-game losing streak. The White Sox sent 12 batters to the plate in the first while Jordan Danks hit a two-run home run in the sixth, and Alexei Ramirez capped a 4-for-4 night with a seventh-inning solo homer. - - - Brewers 6, Cubs 1 Caleb Gindl went 3-for-3 with three RBIs as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs. With a triple and a home run, Gindl finished just a double shy of the cycle while also drawing a walk and scoring three times. - - - Nationals-Braves (postponed) A Monday morning shooting at the Washington Navy Yard in the southeast quadrant of the nation's capital caused the Atlanta Braves-Washington Nationals game to be postponed. Major League Baseball announced that the game will be made up Tuesday as part of a split doubleheader. Multiple reports indicated there were serious injuries and fatalities at the Navy Yard. Nationals Park is approximately one mile southwest. - - - Diamondbacks 2, Dodgers 1 Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer to move into a tie for the National League lead and Trevor Cahill remained undefeated in 10 career starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Goldschmidt gave the D-backs a 2-0 lead in the first inning with his 33rd homer of the season, tying Pedro Alvarez of Pittsburgh, and Cahill and three relievers limited the reeling Dodgers to four hits. The Dodgers (86-64) have lost nine of their last 12 games, and their magic number to clinch the NL West title remained at four. - - - Angels 12, Athletics 1 C.J. Wilson tossed seven strong innings and the Los Angeles Angels pounded the first-place Oakland A's. Wilson struck out six and allowed one run to improve to 17-6, while the Angels feasted at the plate where Mike Trout, Mike Trumbo and Kole Calhoun all finished with three RBIs each. Oakland still leads the American League West by 6 ½ games. (Editing by Jahmal Corner/Amlan Chakraborty)