HOUSTON - Kole Calhoun hit two home runs to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks over former teammate Zack Greinke and the Houston Astros 6-3 on Friday night.
Calhoun connected on Greinke's fastball in the fourth inning for an upper-deck shot to right. The three-run homer put Arizona ahead 3-2.
His second drive narrowly sneaked by the glove of leaping right fielder Josh Reddick. The solo shot off Blake Taylor in the eight made it 6-3. Calhoun has 14 homers following his second multihomer effort of the season.
Greinke matched his season high with nine strikeouts and pitched three-run ball over five innings. It was his first start against Arizona after being traded to Houston at the deadline last season.
Arizona took a 4-3 lead in the seventh on an RBI triple by Pavin Smith off Luis Garcia (0-1). Smith then scored on a wild pitch.
Reds 7, White Sox 1
CINCINNATI - Slumping Jesse Winker hit a three-run homer - one of four off White Sox starter Jonathan Stiever - and the Cincinnati Reds extended their surge into playoff contention with a win for their season-high sixth victory in a row.
The Reds moved to .500 (26-26) for the first time since Aug. 3. Their winning streak has them in playoff position, in second place in the NL Central behind the Cubs.
The AL Central-leading White Sox clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 with a win over the Twins on Thursday night.
Their momentum hit a snag as Stiever (0-1) got hit hard in his first major league road appearance. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed Winker's shot and solo homers by Joey Votto, Nick Castellanos and Tucker Barnhart.
Tyler Mahle (2-2) got his first win since Aug. 28, allowing four hits and fanning eight in 5 2/3 innings.
Cardinals 6, Pirates 5, 1st game
PITTSBURGH - Kolten Wong hit the second leadoff home run of his career, Tyler O'Neill added a two-run shot and St. Louis held off Pittsburgh in Game 1 of a doubleheader.
Ryan Helsley recorded the final two outs for his first career save.
The Cardinals managed eight hits in seven innings against Trevor Williams (1-8) and three relievers to overcome some sloppy defense.
Al Reyes (2-1) picked up the victory.
St. Louis committed four errors.
Phillies 7, Blue Jays 0, 1st game
PHILADELPHIA - Zach Eflin struck out nine in a four-hitter, Bryce Harper hit another homer and Philadelphia beat Toronto in the first game of a doubleheader.
Eflin (3-2) threw 92 pitches for his third career shutout and fifth complete game, though this one was seven innings. All of his strikeouts were swinging, including three in the first on curveballs.
Harper connected for his third homer in two games to ignite a five-run fifth against Robbie Ray (2-5).
Toronto has lost four in a row but entered with a 4 1/2-game lead over Seattle for the final wild card in the AL.
Nationals 5, Marlins 0, 1st game
MIAMI - Erick Fedde allowed one hit in six innings, and Washington beat rookie Sixto Sanchez and Miami in the first game of a doubleheader.
Andrew Stevenson had a two-run single for his first hit this year. Yan Gomes and Luis Garcia each had two hits and scored twice.
Fedde (2-3) walked two, hit a batter and matched a career high in innings, lowering his ERA from 5.06 to 4.36. Will Harris pitched the seventh to complete the two-hitter.
Sanchez (3-2), who had given up a total of six runs in his first five career starts, allowed eight hits and five runs in four innings. His ERA rose from 1.69 to 2.75.
Washington was the first opponent to face Sanchez for a second time.
Five consecutive Nationals reached in the fourth. Stevenson hit a two-run single, and Victor Robles' RBI single made it 5-0.