Morning Marquee: Chicago Cubs sweep Reds in short series

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After splitting the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, the Chicago Cubs were able to bounce back after dropping the final two games of that four-game set to sweep the Cincinnati Reds on the road.

Chicago rallied against Mike Leake on Friday with Jon Lester on the mound, who received run support from both Anthony Rizzo and Chris Coghlan before the Cubs plated four runs in the 11th inning. Yesterday they gained a bit of ground behind the first place St. Louis Cardinals as Jake Arrieta picked up his third win of the young season in what proved to be his most challenging outing this season.

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On the South Side of the Windy City, the Chicago White Sox and the A.L. Champions’ Kansas City Royals found themselves finishing Friday’s game that was suspended in the ninth inning. These two teams brawled it out, resulting in a handful of suspensions which include former Cub Jeff Samardzija and Chris Sale.

The Sox would take both games by the scores of 3-2 and 5-3 as they were able to put together a hit parade after trailing the Royals 3-0. Catcher Tyler Flowers, Avisail Garcia, Conor Gillaspie, and Adam LaRoche tagged both Edinson Volquez and Jason Frasor to give themselves a two-run lead before Kansas City stopped the bleeding.

On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Dodgers and this new-look San Diego Padres team put an end to their weekend series with the Padres emerging as the winners by the score of 3-1. This will surely become a race for the division between these two behind the bats of Matt Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez.

Another former Cub in Scott Baker took the mound for the Dodgers yesterday in a spot-start and struck out outfielder Justin Upton three times to complete the hat-trick. Kemp had himself a double in last night’s contest as Derek Norris launched his first home run to left field before Dodgers’ infielder Alex Guerrero hammered his fifth home run of the season.

Now here’s more from across the league:

Half-Bakered: Padres defeat Dodgers despite Guerreromania‘ – Lasorda’sLair

KC Royals play 10 innings; lose twice‘ – KingofKauffman

Rangers expect to announce deal, plan for Hamilton on Monday‘ – MLB.com

Is Joe Maddon overworking the bullpen?‘ – CubbiesCrib

Adam Wainwright expected to miss rest of season‘ – ESPN.com

Next: Maddon Overworking The Bullpen?