CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo homered, doubled twice and drove in three runs to lead the Chicago Cubs over the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 Tuesday night, spoiling Gregory Polanco's much-anticipated debut.
Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Francisco Liriano, who left in the fourth with discomfort on his side. Rizzo also doubled and scored in the fourth and hit an RBI double in the seventh, a drive to deep right-center that struck Polanco's left wrist as the touted rookie tried to make the catch.
Polanco went 1 for 5 after getting called up from Triple-A Indianapolis, where the right fielder was leading the International League with a .347 batting average and 49 RBIs in 62 games.
Pinch-hitter Luis Valbuena's two-run double off Casey Sadler (0-1) broke a 3-all tie and put Chicago ahead for good.
Travis Wood (6-5) allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings (see full recap).
Rays blanked for third straight time
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Adam Wainwright became the NL's first nine-game winner, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Tampa Bay 1-0 on Tuesday night, the Rays' third straight shutout loss.
The Cardinals have three consecutive shutouts for the first time since April 2013. St. Louis, with 13 shutouts this season, was coming off 5-0 victories over Toronto on Saturday and Sunday.
MLB
Tampa Bay has been shut out an AL-leading 10 times this season. The Rays, who have lost 14 of 15, have not scored a run in 28 innings.
Wainwright (9-3) scattered seven hits over seven innings. Trevor Rosenthal got the final four outs, including a base-loaded pop fly by Matt Joyce in the eighth, for his 17th save.
Matt Holliday put the Cardinals up 1-0 with his fourth homer this season, a long drive to left center with two outs in the sixth off tough-luck loser Jake Odorizzi (2-7) (see full recap).
Braves slug way past Rockies
DENVER -- Andrelton Simmons hit his first career grand slam as part of a seven-run first inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 13-10 on Tuesday night.
Evan Gattis had a home run among his three hits and Freddie Freeman also homered for the Braves, who had season-highs of 16 hits and 13 runs.
The teams combined for 29 hits and neither starter made it out of the fifth inning. Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio lasted just 3 2-3 innings and Atlanta's Mike Minor left after giving up two hits to start the fifth.
David Hale (2-0) pitched 2 1-3 innings of relief for the win.
Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save in 21 chances (see full recap).