ST. LOUIS >> Lance Lynn reached double figures in wins before the All-Star break for the third straight year and the St. Louis Cardinals are charging hard in the NL Central.

Still, after they made it three straight over the Pittsburgh Pirates there was reason for some concern.

All-Star catcher Yadier Molina sprained his right thumb on a slide and was taken out for a pinch hitter in the third inning as the Cardinals beat the Pirates 5-2 Wednesday night. 

Molina underwent an MRI, but the results were not available after the game and manager Mike Matheny said the team would re-evaluate the injury on Thursday.

Rookie Kolten Wong homered for the second straight game — his third in four days — and Matt Adams had three hits and two RBIs. The Cardinals will go for a four-game sweep over the NL Central rival on Thursday.

"We’re getting great starting pitching, great pitching out of the bullpen and our offense is swinging it like we know how to," Adams said.

The defending National League champions are two games behind the Central-leading Brewers.

"I would say September is when you really start paying attention to what’s going on," Lynn said. "But it’s always good to be right there, no matter what time it is."

REDS 4, CUBS 1

CINCINNATI >> Alfredo Simon became the NL’s first 12-game winner and Billy Hamilton added to his sensational series (7-for-15, three triples, three walks, seven RBIs) with a tie-breaking triple, leading Cincinnati to its fifth win in a row.

METS 4, BRAVES 1

NEW YORK >> Dillon Gee pitched into the eighth inning after two months on the disabled list, Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run homer and New York beat Atlanta for its first four-game winning streak in a year.

DIAMONDBACKS 4, 

MARLINS 3, 10 INNINGS

PHOENIX >> Paul Goldschmidt doubled in the last two of Arizona’s three runs in the 10th inning, giving the Diamondbacks a comeback victory against Miami.

ROCKIES 6, PADRES 3

DENVER >> Troy Tulowitzki hit two of Colorado’s five home runs in a win over San Diego.

PHILLIES 4, BREWERS 1

MILWAUKEE >> Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley homered to support Roberto Hernandez’s solid start, and Philadelphia beat Milwaukee for its third straight win over the NL Central leaders.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RED SOX 5, WHITE SOX 4

BOSTON >> Daniel Nava doubled home the tying run in the ninth inning and scored on Brock Holt’s single as Boston rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Chicago and snap a four-game losing streak.

Chris Sale pitched 72/3 innings of four-hit ball and left with a 4-0 lead in his bid to earn the final spot on the AL All-Star team. The winner of the online voting will be announced Thursday. Sale, an All-Star the past two seasons, walked none and struck out six before his bullpen cost him a chance to improve to 9-1. Koji Uehara (5-2), added to the All-Star team earlier in the day, earned the win.

YANKEES 5, INDIANS 4, 14 INNINGS

CLEVELAND >> Jacoby Ellsbury’s two-out homer in the 14th inning sent New York to a victory over Cleveland.

ANGELS 8, BLUE JAYS 7

ANAHEIM, Calif. >> Albert Pujols hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning and Kole Calhoun also connected to lead Los Angeles over Toronto.

ROYALS 5, RAYS 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. >> Starting All-Star catcher Salvador Perez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the ninth inning to lift Kansas City over Tampa Bay.

TWINS 8, MARINERS 1

SEATTLE >> Kendrys Morales knocked in three runs and Kyle Gibson pitched six shutout innings to lift Minnesota by Seattle.

ASTROS 8, RANGERS 4

ARLINGTON, Texas >> Robbie Grossman snapped an 0-for-28 slide with a career-high four hits and Houston completed a three-game sweep of Texas, which has lost 10 of 11 and 18 of 21. 

INTERLEAGUE 

GIANTS 5, ATHLETICS 2

SAN FRANCISCO >> Hunter Pence homered and drove in two runs, Matt Cain (2-7) tossed six strong innings for his first win since May 15 and San Francisco spoiled Jason Hammel’s debut for Oakland.

NATIONALS 6, ORIOLES 2

BALTIMORE >> Doug Fister allowed two runs over seven innings to improve to 8-1 in his past 11 starts in a victory over Baltimore.