The Yankees were held to four hits

CHICAGO -- For the Cincinnati Reds, there was no better place to open a 10-game trip than Wrigley Field. Memphis Grizzlies Shirts . Alfredo Simon lowered his ERA to 0.86, and the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 Friday for their 16th win in their last 17 games at the Friendly Confines. Making his third start, Simon (2-1) allowed an unearned run in six-plus innings and sent the Cubs to their fifth straight loss. Simon, in the rotation while Mat Latos recovers from elbow and knee injuries, had made 99 relief appearances for the Reds before getting a chance to start this year. "Hes wanted more opportunity. Weve given that to him," manager Bryan Price said. "I think it was a good idea that we brought him into camp to start in case we had an injury or didnt have the depth. And our good fortune is that he came in ready to go and had a great spring and is off to a good start." Simon struck out three and walked two. "I feel great," he said. "I just tried to keep the ball down today and just try to (get ground balls)." Jonathan Broxton pitched a hitless ninth for his second save in two tries, completing a six-hitter for the Reds, who stretched their winning streak to a season-best three and have won four of five. Cincinnati, which won last years season series 14-5, went ahead on Billy Hamiltons RBI double in the fifth. The Reds made it 3-0 in the sixth when Zack Cozart hit a bases-loaded grounder to third, and second baseman Emilio Bonifacios relay for a double-play attempt went wide of first for an error that allowed Ryan Ludwick to score from second. Ludwick had reached on catchers interference by Welington Castillo. "Believe me, we dont take it for granted that were coming in here to win all the games," Price said. "I mean, we want to but we dont take it for granted at all." Jeff Samardzija (0-2) gave up three runs -- one earned -- and six hits in seven innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. He is 0-4 despite a 3.86 ERA in 10 starts since winning at San Diego on Aug. 24. "Its a tough day to hit with that wind," he said. "Its just the way it goes sometimes. You cant let it get to you." Luis Valbuena hit an RBI single in the seventh, ending a 24-inning scoreless streak for the Cubs dating to Sundays loss to St. Louis. Cincinnati scored another run in the eighth on a wild pitch by Justin Grimm. "I think we were a little sloppy in general, and Jeff really kept us in the ballgame throughout," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "I think well do better." NOTES: Reds 2B Brandon Phillips left in the middle of the third, two innings after he felt back spasms after he swung and missed a Samardzija pitch. Price said Phillips was removed as a precaution and said he was hopeful Phillips could play Saturday. ... Price said LHP Aroldis Chapman has been cleared to throw batting practice for the first time since he was hit in the face by a line drive during an exhibition game on March 19. ... Reds LHP Sean Marshall (sore left shoulder) has rejoined the Reds and could be activated this weekend. ... The Reds stole five bases. ... Jon Tinker, a grandson of former Cubs Hall of Fame shortstop Joe Tinker of Tinker to Evers to Chance fame, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... Cincinnatis scheduled starter Saturday is LHP Tony Cingrani (1-1), while RHP Edwin Jackson (0-1) is to start for the Cubs. John Konchar Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Andre Iguodala Jersey . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. https://www.cheapgrizzlies.com/ .Y. -- Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire will have less time to remain eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot under changes made Saturday.CLEVELAND -- Michael Brantley did just about everything for the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night. The first-time All-Star homered and had three RBIs and Nick Swisher hit a go-ahead two-run shot in the sixth, leading Cleveland to a 5-3 victory over Masahiro Tanaka and the New York Yankees. The Indians stopped Tanakas bid to become the major leagues first 13-game winner. The rookie All-Star right-hander (12-4) allowed season worsts of five runs and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings. But the night belonged to Brantley, who hit a leadoff homer in the seventh and had RBI doubles in the first and fifth, raising his average to .328. He also ran down Derek Jeters fly ball to deep centre on the warning track in the first when New York scored twice. "Hes a pretty good player, and hes getting better," Indians manager Terry Francona said with a smile. Brantley has 14 homers and 60 RBIs, both team highs. He also is tied for the AL lead with 10 outfield assists. "Hes a young player thats really developed into one of the better outfielders in the game all-around," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "And he showed why tonight. Its why hes an All-Star." Brantley chose to focus on the win more than his personal performance. "We did a great job as a team having quality at-bats all night," he said. "I was trying to get mistake pitches. I was lucky enough to get a couple of balls out over the plate and get good swings on them." Tanaka, who lost for the third time in four starts, took a 3-2 lead into the sixth before Swisher, a former Yankee, put Cleveland on top. "It was the first time weve ever seen him," Swisher said. "The first couple of at-bats youre kind of feeling him out. In that situation from the scouting reports and video weve seen, he loves that split-slider. When I got in that two-strike count, hed been burying that split all day long. For me, I was just lucky enough for him to hang that one." Lonnie Chisenhall started the sixth with a single. Swisher then homered on a 1-2 pitch. Trevor Bauer (3-4) allowed three runs in seven innings and retired 13 of the last 14 hitters he faced. New Yorks only baserunner in that stretch came on Swishers fifth-inning error. Bauer struck out six and walked two in winning for the first time since June 16. Michael Dickerson Jersey. Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 10th save. The Yankees were held to four hits, none after Brian McCanns one-out single in the third. The Indians committed three errors, giving them a major league-high 75 for the season. Swisher heard boos from the crowd earlier in the game after going 0 for 2 and having a routine groundball go through his legs. Tanaka allowed a run in a 25-pitch first inning and gave up two hits in the second. He retired seven straight before allowing a run in the fifth when Brantley had a two-out double after Chris Dickerson led off with a single. Tanaka struck out five and walked one. "He did get on a roll in innings three, four and five and then the mistakes kind of caught up to him," Girardi said. "It happens, we know hes not going to be perfect, we understand that. We know how good hes been but we know hes not going to be perfect." New York scored twice in the first on Mark Teixerias RBI single and a throwing error by catcher Yan Gomes. Brett Gardner added a run-scoring groundout in the second. Jason Kipnis started the first with a single, stole second and scored when Brantley doubled to right. Gardner walked to start the game and moved to second on Jacoby Ellsburys single. Dickerson attempted a diving catch of Teixerias bloop hit, but the ball deflected off his glove and rolled toward centre, allowing Gardner to score. New York pulled a double steal when McCann struck out swinging. Gomes throw to second went into centre field and Ellsbury scored. Teixerias stolen base was his first of the season. NOTES: RHP Brandon McCarthy (3-10) will make his Yankees debut Wednesday night. He was acquired from Arizona on Sunday. "Its the Yankees," he said. "Its a team thats in contention. Its a team thats known for winning, theres really no other answer than its just the Yankees." ... The Indians recalled C Roberto Perez and LHP Nick Hagadone from Triple-A Columbus. ... Yankees OF Carlos Beltran (soreness behind right knee) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. ... Girardi said RHP Shane Greene, who recorded his first major league win Monday, will start Saturday against Baltimore. ... RHP Josh Tomlin (5-6) starts for the Indians on Wednesday. ' ' '