ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Carpenter tripled and scored two runs and Stephen Piscotty doubled in the winning run Wednesday, leading St. Louis past the Chicago Cubs 4-3 to end the Cardinals’ three-game losing streak. The NL Central leaders scored three times in the eighth inning to avoid their first sweep at home this season and their first against the Cubs since September 2010.

Cubs left-hander Jon Lester left after seven dominant innings. He didn’t allow a hit after the third batter and retired 20 of his final 21 hitters. Carpenter scored after a triple in the first, and his single in the eighth ignited the rally. Piscotty’s double off the center-field wall scored Peter Bourjos and Carpenter. Jonathan Broxton (2-4) got the win and Trevore Rosenthal picked up his 43rd save. Clayton Richard (3-1) took the loss.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have place offensive lineman Paul Fanaika on injured reserve and re-signed veteran linebacker Dezman Moses ahead of Sunday’s season opener in Houston. The team did not disclose the nature of Fanaika’s injury. He had spent time working with the first-string offensive line while other players were hurt, swapping between guard and tackle, after signing a three-year deal worth $8.1 million guaranteed in the offseason.

Moses spent last season on IR with an elbow injury. He was cut by the Chiefs on Sunday to make room for tight end Brian Parker, whom they claimed off waivers from San Diego. Moses has started six of the 29 games he’s played in during his career.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says former standout safety Tyler Sash was a “special young man” whose death at age 27 is tragic. Ferentz recalled Sash on Wednesday as “a high energy player who did a lot of great things” on the field. Sash won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in his rookie season after leaving Iowa to enter the NFL draft.

Sash was found dead Tuesday in his home in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he was a star athlete before joining Iowa in 2007. Foul play isn’t suspected. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office said an autopsy Wednesday revealed “no acute trauma” but the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Ferentz says the Hawkeyes will pay tribute to Sash during Saturday’s rivalry game at Iowa State.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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(3-1) Adair-Casey 18-25-25-25, Charter Oak-Ute 25-23-19-17
(3-2) Bedford 25-25-13-18-15, Nodaway Valley 15-22-25-25-13
(3-0) Carroll 25-25-25, Boone 22-18-15
(3-1) Coon Rapids-Bayard 24-25-25-25, CAM, Anita 26-10-18-19
(3-2) Earlham 25-27-25-20-15, Madrid 12-29-22-25-12
(3-0) East Union 25-25-25, Lenox 14-20-11
(3-0) Essex 25-25-25, Clarinda Academy 14-4-11
(3-2) Guthrie Center 25-16-14-25-15, Ogden 23-25-25-20-13
(3-0) Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 25-25-25, Denison-Schleswig 13-9-15
(3-0) Lewis Central 25-25-25, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 20-23-11
(3-0) Logan-Magnolia 25-25-25, West Harrison 15-14-20
(3-0) Maple Valley-Anthon Oto 25-25-28, River Valley 16-23-26
(3-0) Mount Ayr 25-25-25, Southwest Valley 13-10-11
(3-2) Red Oak 15-25-25-16-15, Glenwood 25-21-18-25-11
(3-0) Sidney 25-25-25, South Page 8-8-6
(3-0) Stanton 25-25-25, Heartland Christian 5-10-8

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo homered and combined for seven RBIs and the Chicago Cubs earned their fifth straight win, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-5 in the middle game of a three-game series on Tuesday night. The Cardinals have the best record in the majors at 87-51, but have dropped five of six. Their lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central slipped to 4 1/2 games. The Cubs are 6 1/2 back and are second on the NL wild card race behind the Pirates.

St. Louis was down 8-0 before pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk sparked a five-run seventh with a two-run homer estimated at 451 feet in the seventh. Jason Hammel (8-6) allowed three runs in six-plus innings for Chicago, which has won five in a row. Michael Wacha (15-5) gave up six runs in four innings, his shortest outing of the season and on 10 days’ rest.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa state medical examiner says Tyler Sash, a safety who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants after starring at the University of Iowa, has died at the age of 27. John Kraemer, the director of forensic operations for the medical examiner, tells The Associated Press that his office is investigating Sash’s death along with police in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Sash’s hometown. No cause of death has been determined, but an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Sash started 37 games for the Hawkeyes from 2007-10, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior. He was fourth all-time in interception return yardage in the Big Ten when he graduated, and his 13 picks were fifth-best in school history.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs could have Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dontari Poe and offensive tackle Eric Fisher back for their season opener Sunday in Houston.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey said Monday that both were progressing nicely from injuries. Poe had back surgery that kept him out all of training camp, and Fisher had a sprained ankle that kept him from playing the final three preseason games.

Reid also said that Fisher, the former No. 1 overall draft pick, would move from left tackle to right tackle. Donald Stephenson has been handling the quarterback’s blindside while Fisher has been out, and Reid has been pleased with the way he has performed.