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Chicago • Kyle Hendricks pitched six scoreless innings, Ben Zobrist drove in four runs and the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series between two of baseball's hottest teams.

Hendricks (2-2) allowed two hits, struck out four and walked two as Chicago began a 10-game homestand with its fourth consecutive win and eighth in nine games.

Zobrist hit a two-run single in the fourth and a two-run homer in the eighth, helping the Cubs improve their major league-best record to 21-6 for their best start since they were 23-4 in 1907.

Jayson Werth hit a long two-run homer in the ninth for Washington, which had won five of six. The Nationals began the day with baseball's second-best record at 19-8.

Joe Ross (3-1) matched Hendricks for much of the chilly night, striking out nine in 6 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed five hits and walked two.

Mariners 6, Astros 3 • In Houston, Robinson Cano had three hits and his tiebreaking three-run double in the ninth inning lifted Seattle to its fourth straight win.

The bases were loaded with one out in the ninth when Cano cleared them with his double off Luke Gregerson (0-1) that sailed just out of reach of center fielder Carlos Gomez.

Cano, who has at least two hits in five straight games, also drove in a run in the third inning to give him four RBIs and an American League-leading 30 this season.

Nick Vincent (2-1) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win and Steve Cishek allowed one hit in the ninth for his ninth save.

Cardinals 4, Phillies 0 • In St. Louis, Jaime Garcia pitched seven sharp innings, Brandon Moss hit a long home run and St. Louis beat Philadelphia.

Stephen Piscotty drove in two runs and also made an outstanding catch in right field to help preserve the shutout.

St. Louis won three of four in the series.

Garcia (2-2) gave up two hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out five.

Moss launched a drive estimated at 462 feet to right field in the first off Jerad Eickhoff (1-4). It was the longest homer by a left-handed hitter in the history of the new Busch Stadium, which opened in 2006.

Orioles 1, Yankees 0, 10 innings • In Baltimore, Pedro Alvarez drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and Baltimore finally broke through, beating New York.

A day after getting shut out by the Yankees, the Orioles managed only five hits in eight innings against Masahiro Tanaka. Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman did even better, limiting New York to three hits through eight.

Hyun Soo Kim began the Baltimore 10th with an infield hit off Johnny Barbato (1-2). Kim took third on a single by Jonathan Schoop. Nolan Reimold pinch ran for Kim and Andrew Miller relieved Barbato.

Alvarez hit a soft fly to center, and Reimold easily beat Jacoby Ellsbury's throw to the plate.

Zach Britton (2-1) gave up a leadoff walk in the 10th and then struck out the next three batters.

Blue Jays 12, Rangers 2 • In Toronto, Edwin Encarnacion homered, doubled twice and drove in six runs, powering Toronto past Texas.

Toronto set season highs for runs and hits (15).

Kevin Pillar doubled twice, singled and had two RBIs for Toronto.

J.A. Happ (4-0) gave up one run in seven innings

Derek Holland (3-2) was tagged for five runs in the first and chased during a six-run third.

Indians 9, Tigers 4 • In Cleveland, Michael Brantley was 4 for 5 with three RBIs, Mike Napoli hit a three-run homer and Cleveland beat Detroit for the sixth straight time this season.

Brantley came into the game batting .167. He had an RBI single in the first and a two-run double in the eighth, raising his average to .276.

Brantley also ended a potential Detroit rally in the sixth with a catch on the warning track after a long run.

Trevor Bauer (2-0) allowed three hits in 5 2/3 innings and overcame Nick Castellanos' three-run homer in the fourth.

Napoli's homer off rookie Michael Fulmer (1-1) capped a four-run first inning in which six straight hitters reached base.

Reds 9, Brewers 5 • In Cincinnati, Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer during his latest big game against Milwaukee, and Cincinnati beat the Brewers even though their bullpen extended its historically bad streak of allowing runs.

Alfredo Simon (1-3) made it easy on the major leagues' worst bullpen, becoming only the second Reds starter to last seven innings. He allowed three runs in 7 2/3 innings, including Alex Presley's two-run homer.

The bullpen couldn't close it out smoothly. J.J. Hoover gave up Chris Carter's 10th homer leading off the ninth inning, extending the bullpen's major league record to 23 consecutive games allowing at least one run.

Bruce homered during a five-run first inning off Chase Anderson (1-4). His 34 career homers against the Brewers are by far his highest total against any team.

Marlins 4, Diamondbacks 0 • In Miami, Adam Conley pitched shutout ball for the second start in a row and Miami completed a three-game sweep of Arizona.

Christian Yelich hit a two-run homer, and Derek Dietrich and Chris Johnson had two-out RBI hits.

Conley (2-1) gave up two hits in 5 1/3 innings and departed after throwing 88 pitches. The left-hander allowed no hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings last Friday against Milwaukee.

A.J. Ramos completed the five-hitter by pitching the ninth, lowering his ERA to 0.73.

Robbie Ray (1-2) allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings for Arizona.