Cardinals, Cubs lose Sunday; Pirates pick up a victory

The Pittsburgh Pirates gained ground in the National League Central Sunday, as both the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals were saddled with losses.

A pair of Kolten Wong errors cost the St. Louis Cardinals a shot at a series sweep at home, as the Miami Marlins pushed four runs across in the fifth inning to salvage the finale of the three-game set at Busch Stadium.

Carlos Martinez was saddled with five runs – just one of which was earned. Jason Heyward did his part, hitting a pair of home runs, but it proved to be too little to get the Cardinals the sweep on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, meanwhile, gained a game in the standings, moving within five of the Cardinals for first in the National League Central. The Chicago Cubs, meanwhile, lost a game to the Bucs – and enter their off-day Monday 2 1/2 games back of the Pirates for second in the division.

Out west, Madison Bumgarner homered and turned in a dominant start, allowing the San Francisco Giants to gain ground on Chicago in the Wild Card standings. The club will now head to Busch to take on the Cardinals in a series ripe with postseason implications.

On the other side of the country, the Toronto Blue Jays salvaged the finale of their set against the New York Yankees, pulling back within a half-game of first in the American League East thanks to a three-run third inning.

Here’s more from around baseball:

“Cubs shut down by White Sox, Sale in finale” – Cubbies Crib

“Heyward homers twice as Cardinals fall” – Redbird Rants

“Blue Jays win finale, top Yankees 3-1” – Yanks Go Yard

“Time to support Astros in the stretch run” – Climbing Tal’s Hill

“Greinke does it all as Dodgers roll” – Lasorda’s Lair

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