9/13 Morning Marquee: Cubs drop seventh-straight contest

With Friday’s 7-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Chicago Cubs dropped their seventh-straight contest, falling to a dismal 4-13 against Clint Hurdle‘s club this season – by far the team’s worst mark against any single opponent.

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Javier Baez hit his first home run since Aug. 18, joining teammate Arismendy Alcantara with long-balls in the loss, but Tsuyoshi Wada struggled and the Pirates pounded out 14 hits against Chicago pitching. With the win, the Pirates are 2 1/2 games being the division-leading Cardinals with just roughly three weeks left in the regular season.

J.D. Martinez and left-hander David Price led the Detroit Tigers into first-place with a win over the Cleveland Indians, as the race between the Kansas City Royals and Brad Ausmus‘ club continues to be a back-and-forth battle as the teams vie for the top spot in the American League Central. The Baltimore Orioles, fresh off the news of Chris Davis‘ 25-game suspension for amphetamine usage, swept a day-night twin bill at Yankee Stadium, putting the club’s magic number at just five.

Giancarlo Stanton said on Twitter that he was much improved from Thursday, when the young Miami Marlins slugger was hit in the face by a pitch. At this point in time, it is widely believed that Stanton will not need major surgery to recover from the injury, although his 2014 season appears to be at an end.

Here’s the latest from around the league:

“Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara homer in Cubs’ 7-3 loss” – Cubbies Crib

“Jimmy Paredes walks-off O’s against New York” – Birds Watcher

“Tigers win first game of key series with Cleveland Indians” – Motor City Bengals

“Baltimore Orioles’ Chris Davis suspended for 25 games” – Call to the Pen

“Improving Stanton heads home; major surgery unlikely” – MLB.com

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