By Greg Halbleib

The Cardinals beat the Reds 3-2 behind eight-plus innings from Jaime Garcia and home runs from Matt Carpenter and Jhonny Peralta.

The Cubs beat the Angels 3-1 for their season-high ninth straight win. The Cubs host the Cardinals tonight to start a four-game series with Carlos Martinez facing Jon Lester on the mound.

The White Sox lost at Kansas City 3-2 in 14 innings. The series concludes tonight in KC, Miguel Gonzalez against Danny Duffy.

The CornBelters fell 11-1 at Southern Illinois for their third straight loss. The Belters nine-game road trip ends tonight in Marion before hosting River City for three starting Friday.

The Chiefs were off and host Quad Cities tonight.

Prince Fielder is stepping away after a 12-year Major League Baseball career due to several fused vertebrae in his neck.

St. Bede Academy graduate J.A. Happ is the first to 16 wins in the majors after the Blue Jays beat the Rays 7-0.

In the Rio Olympics, USA gold went to the women’s swimming 4 x 200 freestyle, USA men’s basketball improved to 3-0 in pool play with a 98-88 win over Australia.

Former Illinois State and Olympics basketball great Charlotte Lewis will be inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in March.