Cueto helps Reds beat Cubs 4-3  —  CHICAGO—Johnny Cueto threw 6 1-3 strong innings to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.  —  Cueto (2-0) allowed one earned run, scattering five hits.  He struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 1.78 for the season.

Astros avoid sweep with 12-0 win over Dodgers  —  HOUSTON—Jordan Schafer hit his first career grand slam on a shot that bounced off the glove of Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier, Wandy Rodriguez pitched three-hit ball through seven innings Sunday and the Houston Astros romped past Los Angeles 12-0.

Cuddyer Leads Rockies to 4-1 Win Over Brewers  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Michael Cuddyer lined a two-run double in the eighth and Jeremy Guthrie pitched seven strong innings Sunday, leading the Colorado Rockies to a 4-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.  —  The win put a damper on the celebration …

Parra's Grand Slam Helps Arizona End 5-Game Skid  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Gerardo Parra hit his first career grand slam to cap a five-run second inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 6-4 Sunday, snapping a five-game losing streak.  —  Atlanta had won five in a row.

Showalter ejected for first time this season  —  ANAHEIM — Orioles manager Buck Showalter was ejected two outs into the sixth inning of Sunday's game against the Angels for arguing balls and strikes.  Showalter was tossed immediately by home-plate umpire Angel Campos after coming onto …

Rays keep Twins, Liriano in deep early funk … Associated Press  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Desmond Jennings had one of the Rays' team record four sacrifice flys and drove in three runs as Tampa Bay beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 on Sunday.  —  Jennings had a sacrifice fly during a two-run third …

Lohse stifles Pirates as Cardinals remain hot … PITTSBURGH — Kyle Lohse scattered six hits while pitching into the eighth inning to lead the St. Louis Cardinals past the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Sunday.  —  David Freese had a two-run single for the Cardinals and Rafael Furcal had three hits …

Royals suffer ninth straight loss  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Saturday night's 9-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays continued the Royals' dreadful spiral.  Eight games into the home stand without a victory and nine straight losses overall keeps the young season under a gloomy cloud.

Sunday morning Rangers notes: MRI for Adrian Beltre  —  Third baseman Adrian Beltre will have an MRI on Monday after the Rangers return from their nine-game road to determine the severity of his strained left hamstring.  Beltre continues to believe that the injury is not serious and should keep him out only a matter of days.

Tampa Bay Rays may be on the hunt for catching  —  The Rays believe the improvements to their offense eventually will show their significance.  And they are confident the early season issues with their pitchers — a lack of aggressiveness from the starters and consistency from the relievers — will be worked out.

Yankees post back-to-back 7-run innings, win 15-9  —  BOSTON (AP) New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi found little to get excited about after Mark Teixeira's solo homer in the sixth inning.  —  After all, the Yankees still trailed by eight runs.  —  “You're down 9-0 and Tex hits what looks like an innocent home run.

Pudge will always be a Rangers crown jewel  —  Since he was 19 years old, Pudge Rodriguez has always had an answer for that classic old Bo Diddley question of “Who Do You Love?”  —  Us.  —  That's been Pudge's answer for 20 years.  —  I've never seen a local player, baseball or any other sport …