Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Fernando Romero throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, May 7, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Fernando Romero throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, May 7, 2018, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Credit: Jeff Roberson

St. Louis — Fernando Romero didn’t allow a run for the second straight start to begin his major league career, throwing six sharp innings to lead the Minnesota Twins over the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-0, on Monday night.

The victory was a season-high fourth straight for the Twins, who have won 13 of their last 16 games against National League opponents dating to last year.

St. Louis had its season-best five-game winning streak snapped, one night after finishing a weekend sweep of the rival Chicago Cubs at nearly 1 a.m.

Romero (2-0) permitted just three hits and struck out nine while throwing 97 pitches. The 23-year-old right-hander tossed 5⅔ scoreless innings in his debut last week, a win over Toronto.

Eddie Rosario helped keep Romero’s shutout streak intact in the first inning. The left fielder crashed into the wall and reached over it to catch what likely would have been a two-run homer for St. Louis’ Dexter Fowler.

Robbie Grossman went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, and Bobby Wilson knocked in two runs for Minnesota.

Cubs 14, Marlins 2

Chicago — Ian Happ homered from both sides of the plate, and Chicago stopped a five-game slide by routing Miami.

The Cubs collected 15 hits after scoring three or fewer runs in 10 of the previous 11 games. Kris Bryant and Javier Baez connected, and Happ finished with five RBIs.

Dartmouth College graduate Kyle Hendricks also provided a lift for Chicago by pitching eight innings of two-run ball. The Cubs dropped their previous two on game-ending hits in St. Louis, taxing their bullpen.

Phillies 11, Giants 0

Philadelphia — Odubel Herrera homered twice and drove in five runs, helping Zach Eflin and Philadelphia rout San Francisco.

Carlos Santana and Cesar Hernandez also connected for Philadelphia, which had dropped six of eight. Santana drove in four runs, and Hernandez had two RBIs.

Eflin (1-0) struck out a career-high nine in 6⅔ innings. He allowed four hits and walked three.

Herrera hit a three-run drive off Jeff Samardzija (1-2) in the first and a two-run shot off D.J. Snelten in the sixth. He also walked and scored on Santana’s three-run homer in the fifth.

Mets 7, Reds 6

Cincinnati — Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer in the ballpark where he had his best moments, rounding the bases to a familiar “BRUUUCE” chant, and Adrian Gonzalez connected twice, powering New York to a slump-ending win over Cincinnati.

The Mets hit the road after getting swept during a six-game homestand that included three shutout losses and 11 runs total by New York’s offense. Michael Conforto got it going with a leadoff homer against Homer Bailey (0-5), and Bruce had a two-run shot off his former teammate in the third for a 4-0 lead.

Cubs Send Darvish to DL

Chicago — The Chicago Cubs have placed struggling right-hander Yu Darvish on the 10-day disabled list with the flu.

The 31-year-old Darvish is 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA in his first season with Chicago after finalizing a $126 million, six-year contract in February. He was scheduled to start tonight against Miami, but the Cubs provided no word on a replacement.

The Cubs also recalled right-hander Cory Mazzoni from Triple-A Iowa on Monday and optioned reliever Luke Farrell to their top farm club. Farrell yielded Dexter Fowler’s game-winning homer in the 14th inning of Chicago’s 4-3 loss at St. Louis on Sunday night.

The DL stint for Darvish was made retroactive to Friday.

The team said it will announce a corresponding move on Tuesday.

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Nationals reinstate Kelley from DL, option Bautista

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SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Washington Nationals have reinstated right-hander Shawn Kelley from the 10-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Rafael Bautista to Triple-A Syracuse.

Kelley returns to the Nationals after missing 12 games with right elbow irritation. The veteran reliever appeared in one rehab game with Single-A Potomac, throwing a scoreless inning with one strikeout.

Prior to his injury, Kelley had no record and a 4.50 ERA in eight appearances.

Bautista appeared in nine games, going 0 for 6.

The Nationals announced the moves on Monday.