Chicago: Madison Bumgarner outpitched Jake Arrieta with 10 strikeouts over six innings, and the San Francisco Giants pounced on rare miscues by the Chicago Cubs in a 3-2 victory on Saturday.
Bumgarner (14-8) allowed two runs and five hits in his fourth victory in his last five starts. San Francisco, trying to catch Los Angeles in the NL West, rebounded from a pair of one-run losses in the first two games of the four-game set against the major league leaders.
Arrieta (16-6) was charged with three runs — two earned — and four hits in six innings in his first loss since July 30. The Cubs had won five in a row overall.
In Arlington, Texas, Adrian Beltre and Nomar Mazara each homered, Derek Holland pitched his third straight quality start since coming off the disabled list and Texas got their seventh straight victory 12-4.
After trailing 1-0, the Rangers got their major league-high 42nd come-from-behind win. They’ve won eight of nine and scored at least 10 runs in each of their past three games. AL West-leading Texas is 13-2 against the Astros this season and 37-19 against the division.
In New York, Curtis Granderson and James Loney came through with big hits to back Robert Gsellman, and New York got another gritty start with 3-1 win from an unheralded rookie in its banged-up rotation.
Gsellman (2-1) pitched out of trouble for six innings, and inexperienced center fielder Michael Conforto made a diving catch that thwarted a potential Nationals rally in the seventh. New York rebounded from consecutive losses and won for the 10th time in 14 games, moving within one game of St. Louis for the final NL playoff berth. The Cardinals lost 9-1 in Cincinnati.
Washington’s Tanner Roark (14-8) allowed two runs and four hits over five innings. Jeurys Familia got his major league-leading 45th save in 48 tries.
