Samardzija sends Cubs past Pirates; Sox to

Jeff Samardzija gave up one hit over eight innings and Alfonso Soriano hit two run-scoring doubles as teh Cubs cooled off the Pirates with a 2-0 win Monday night in Pittsburgh.

Samardzija allowed only a fourth-inning infield single to Andrew McCutchen, the leading hitter in the majors with a .373 average. The ball ricocheted off Samardzija.

Soriano provided two big hits, scoring Starlin Castro both times, as Chicago ended its 28-inning scoreless streak that stretched to the second inning of last Friday’s game at St. Louis.

Samardzija (7-8) struck out five and walked one in ending Pittsburgh’s five-game winning streak. Carlos Marmol earned his 12th save.

Erik Bedard (5-11) allowed one earned run and two hits in seven innings while striking out 11.

The Pirates lost for just the fifth time in their last 26 home games.

White Sox 7, Twins 4: Adam Dunn hit his majors-leading 29th homer, Gavin Floyd went six innings after coming off the disabled list and the White Sox ended a five-game losing streak with a win over Minnesota in Chicago.

Paul Konerko and Alex Rios also homered off Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano to help the White Sox win in their first home game following a 3-7 road trip after the All-Star break that knocked them out of first place in the AL Central.

Floyd (8-8) wasn’t sharp but benefited from four double plays.

He walked six, gave up six hits and three runs – two earned.

Liriano (3-10) allowed seven hits – including the three homers – and a season-high seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Dodgers 5, Cardinals 3: Chad Billingsley returned from the 15-day disabled list with a strong outing that ended a five-start losing streak and Luis Cruz hit a three-run homer as Los Angeles beat the Cardinals in St. Louis for their fifth straight victory.

Cruz, recalled July 2 to replaced injured shortstop Dee Gordon, has two career homers and 12 RBIs. Eight of his 14 hits are for extra bases.

His three-run shot in the second barely cleared the left-field wall – the ball conked left fielder Matt Holliday on the rebound – to give the Dodgers the early jump in their eighth straight win over St. Louis dating to April 17, 2011.

Kenley Jansen struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 24 chances.

The Dodgers also won eight in a row against St. Louis from 1975-76, their best streak in the series since moving to Los Angeles.