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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Baseball capsules: Joe Panik powers San Francisco Giants to win over Chicago Cubs

San Francisco Giants’ Joe Panik rounds first after hitting a double off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brian Duensing, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 22, 2017, in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)

Joe Panik hit his first career leadoff homer and doubled twice, helping the San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Monday night in Chicago.

Brandon Belt also connected and Ty Blach (2-2) pitched into the eighth inning in the first meeting between the teams since San Francisco was eliminated by Chicago in the N.L. Division Series last year. Panik, Belt and Justin Ruggiano each had two RBIs as the streaking Giants won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Ruggiano’s leadoff drive in the eighth made it 6-0 and gave San Francisco 18 straight solo homers, just three from matching its major league record of 21 set in 2011.

The Cubs responded with four in the bottom half on two-run homers by Javier Baez and Ben Zobrist. But the rally stalled from there.

With one out and runners on first and second, Hunter Strickland got Willson Contreras to bounce into an inning-ending double play. Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his ninth save in 11 chances.

John Lackey (4-4) pitched five shaky innings in his first loss in a month.

Diamondbacks 5, White Sox 1: Zack Greinke struck out a season-high 12 and came within one out of a complete game as Arizona defeated Chicago in Phoenix.

The ace right-hander gave up four hits and improved to 5-0 in his last six starts.

The crowd booed loudly when manager Torey Lovullo walked to the mound to pull Greinke (6-2) after Jose Abreu’s two-out double in the ninth.

Daniel Descalso hit a three-run homer and Paul Goldschmidt added a solo shot for the Diamondbacks during their sixth victory in seven games.

After totaling 24 runs in their last two games at Seattle over the weekend, the White Sox managed only Leury Garcia’s solo homer against Greinke, who walked one in his third double-digit strikeout game this season.

Yankees 4, Royals 2: Didi Gregorius, Brett Gardner and Chris Carter homered, and New York beat Jason Vargas again in defeating Kansas City in New York.

A reversed call in the seventh inning kept the Yankees ahead and enabled Michael Pineda (5-2) to top Vargas for the second time in a week. The Royals, with the worst record in the AL, have lost five of seven.

Vargas (5-3) began the day with a 2.03 ERA, tied for second-best in the majors. But the lefty fell to 0-7 lifetime against the Yankees when he was tagged by Gardner and Gregorius, the only left-handed hitters in New York’s lineup.

Dellin Betances pitched the ninth for his third save.

Astros 1, Tigers 0: Brad Peacock and three relievers combined on a one-hitter, and Jose Altuve provided the offense with an RBI double as Houston nipped Detroit in Houston.

Peacock was solid moving out of the bullpen to make a spot start for injured ace Dallas Keuchel. In his first start since September, Peacock allowed the lone hit and struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings. He was lifted after walking Tyler Collins in the fifth.

Chris Devenski (3-2) took over and pitched 2 2/3 innings before Will Harris worked the eighth. Ken Giles struck out two in the ninth for his 12th save, allowing the Astros to bounce back after being swept by Cleveland last weekend.

Houston struck early against Michael Fulmer (5-2) when George Springer drew a leadoff walk and scored on Altuve’s one-out double in the first.

Twins 14, Orioles 7: Max Kepler homered and drove in four runs, Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco each had a career-high four hits and Minnesota roared back to win at Baltimore.

The Twins trailed 5-0 in the second inning and 6-2 entering the fifth before cranking up the offense against Ubaldo Jimenez and an ineffective Orioles bullpen. Tyler Wilson (2-2) gave up six runs in 1 1/3 innings.

A two-run double by Kepler helped the Twins knot the score in the fifth. Minnesota sent 11 batters to the plate in a six-run sixth, and Sano added a two-run homer in the ninth.

Joe Mauer had three hits, two RBIs and scored twice for the Twins, who reached season highs in runs and hits (21).

Adam Jones hit a three-run drive in the second off winner Kyle Gibson (1-4).

Rockies 8, Phillies 1: Jeff Hoffman struck out seven and tossed three-hit ball over seven innings to lead Colorado over the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Hoffman (2-0) also had his first big league hit and the National League-leading Rockies continued to cruise away from home. They are best in the majors with a 16-7 road record and are 5-2 on this 10-game trip, their longest of the season.

Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer in a four-run ninth after the Rockies scored four times off Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff (0-5). Charlie Blackmon had a two-run double.

Reds 5, Indians 1: Scott Feldman struck out a season-high nine while ending Cincinnati’s long stretch of ineffective starts, and Scott Schebler homered for the third straight game in leading Cincinnati past visiting Cleveland.

The Reds took the opener of the annual intrastate series. The teams play two games in Cincinnati followed by two in Cleveland. The Indians had won their last four at Great American Ball Park and six straight overall in the Ohio series.

Feldman (3-4) got the first victory by a Reds starter since May 9. He gave up four hits, including Jason Kipnis’ homer, while becoming the first Cincinnati starter in the last 10 games to make it through six innings. The Reds’ rotation is last in the NL in ERA and innings pitched.

Three relievers closed out a seven-hitter for Cincinnati’s second victory in 10 games.

Schebler connected against Josh Tomlin (2-6) for his third homer in a span of seven at-bats. It’s the first time he’s homered in three consecutive games. Zack Cozart’s two-run single in the seventh off Dan Otero put Cincinnati in control.

Braves 5, Pirates 2: Matt Adams hit a two-run homer in his second start since being traded to Atlanta, and Ender Inciarte had a career-high five hits as the Braves beat Gerrit Cole and the visiting Pirates.

Brandon Phillips also homered for the Braves, who have won eight of 11.

Adams was acquired from St. Louis on Saturday as a fill-in for injured first baseman Freddie Freeman, expected to miss about 10 weeks with a broken left wrist. Adams had two hits, including his fifth-inning homer high into the right-field seats for a 5-1 lead.

David Freese and Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle were ejected by plate umpire Phil Cuzzi in the fourth.

Mike Foltynewicz (3-4) allowed two runs, one earned, in five-plus innings to win his third straight start. Jim Johnson got his ninth save.

Cole (2-5) gave up five runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He had lasted at least six innings in eight straight starts and allowed no more than two earned runs in six consecutive starts.

Angels 3, Rays 2: Jefry Marte scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the seventh inning to help Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Angels, who have won six of eight, pushed across the decisive run without a hit against relievers Jumbo Diaz (0-3) and Ryne Stanek. After walking Mike Trout intentionally to load the bases with two outs, Stanek threw a ball in the dirt while facing Albert Pujols, allowing Marte to score easily.

Corey Dickerson and Logan Morrison homered off Angels starter J.C. Ramirez (4-3).

Dickerson’s 12th home run, and sixth in six games, came on his 28th birthday. Morrison’s 12th of the season was his seventh this month.

Bud Norris got four outs for his ninth save.