Jul 11, 2014 3 min read

Justin Ruggiano hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning Friday that sent the Chicago Cubs over the Atlanta Braves, 5-4.

Arismendy Alcantara singled with two outs off Jordan Walden (0-1) and stole second. Ruggiano then got a hit that slipped past shortstop Andrelton Simmons to win it.

The Braves, who scored the tying run in the top of the ninth on Christian Bethancourt’s two-out single, have lost five of six following a nine-game winning streak.

Jordan Schafer stole three bases for Atlanta and was caught stealing once.

Cubs starter Jake Arrieta gave up three runs and four hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three.

Arrieta left with a 4-3 lead but wound up with a no-decision when Cubs closer Hector Rondon (2-3) couldn’t hold the lead in the ninth.

Rondon allowed a leadoff double to Jason Heyward in the ninth. After retiring the next two batters, Rondon gave up Bethancourt’s single. It was Rondon’s third blown save of the season.

Philadelphia 6, Washington 2: Jimmy Rollins homered twice and A.J. Burnett pitched 7 2/3 strong innings to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to their fifth straight victory, 6-2, over the Washington Nationals Friday night.

Domonic Brown doubled and drove in two runs for Philadelphia, which matched its longest winning streak of the season. It has been a surprising run for the Phillies, who had lost 13 of 16 before a four-game sweep of the NL Central-leading Brewers in Milwaukee.

Burnett (6-8) allowed two runs and five hits while striking out six and walking four.

Bryce Harper homered for the Nationals, who have lost three of four. Washington right-hander Jordan Zimmerman (6-5) abruptly left his start in the fourth inning with an apparent injury.

N.Y. Mets 7, Miami 1: David Wright went 4-for-4 with a mammoth homer, Lucas Duda also hit a long two-run shot and the New York Mets rocked recent nemesis Henderson Alvarez in a 7-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.

Zack Wheeler shut down Miami again and Juan Lagares had three hits as the Mets improved to 6-2 on a 10-game homestand that takes them into the All-Star break.

Wheeler (5-8) pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and helped himself with an RBI double. He moved to 2-0 with a 1.05 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins.

Alvarez (6-4) had been on quite a roll, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last nine games. He was 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA during that stretch, and the Marlins had won his last 10 outings – a club record for one of their pitchers.

Cardinals add catcher: The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed veteran George Kottaras off waivers from the Cleveland Indians, bolstering their catching position following the injury to Yadier Molina.

The team said Kottaras likely will be added to the 25-man roster Saturday in Milwaukee. St. Louis begins a three-game series Friday against the Brewers. Kottaras was batting .286 with three homers and four RBI in 10 games for Cleveland.

The Cardinals also activated starter Joe Kelly following a stint on the 60-day disabled list because of an injured left hamstring. He is to start Friday in Milwaukee, where he was hurt April 16.

Left-hander Tyler Lyons was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Kelly. Left-hander Jaime Garcia, who has a shoulder injury, was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.