8/27 Morning Marquee: Alex Gordon HR lifts Royals to win

With a win over the Cincinnati Reds last night, Travis Wood and the Chicago Cubs ran their winning streak to four games. The southpaw was backed by a pair of home runs off the bats of Arismendy Alcantara and Anthony Rizzo, who became the second National League player to reach the 30-homer plateau this season. The young slugger has already set a career-high in long-balls, and is approaching his personal-best in runs batted in of 80.

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In other Cubs news, outfield prospect Jorge Soler will make his big league debut this evening at Cincinnati. He joins Alcantara and Javier Baez as some notable position player prospects who have already joined the big league club this season.

Alex Gordon accounted for all of the Kansas City Royals’ offense last night in a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins – hitting a walk-off, two-run home run to give the first-place KC club yet another win. The Royals are 73-58 entering play Wednesday, leading Detroit in the American League Central by 1 1/2 games and the Indians by 5 1/2 games.

San Francisco starter and two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum was demoted by Bruce Bochy, as will, for the time being, fill a bullpen role for the Giants. Following a sweep at the hands of the Cubs, Baltimore has bounced back to win two straight from the Rays and outgoing MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was honored by the Padres on Tuesday.

Here’s more from around the league:

Gordon’s walk-off blast rescues first-place Royals” – MLB.com

“Anthony Rizzo, Arismendy Alcantara homer in Cubs win” – Cubbies Crib

“Giants demote Tim Lincecum to the bullpen” – Call to the Pen

“An Orioles’ victory – at a snail’s pace” – Birds Watcher

“Padres, City of San Diego honor Selig” – MLB.com

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