CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks went eight innings, and the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs beat the second-place St. Louis Cardinals 5-1. The Cubs got just the sort of start they needed from Hendricks and closed out the five-game series on a winning note after losing three straight. They lead their longtime rivals by 2 1/2 games. Hendricks gave up a run and seven hits in his second straight win. Willson Contreras made it 5-0 with a two-run single against Johan Oviedo in the fifth. St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina left the game because of a bruised left elbow. It was not immediately clear when he was hurt. The nine-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner was replaced by Matt Wieters in the sixth. Molina was batting .276 after going 0 for 2.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Zach Plesac came up with big pitches over seven innings, Tyler Naquin had two RBIs and the Cleveland Indians beat Kansas City 5-2 to hand the Royals their season-high seventh straight loss. Plesac gave up a hit in each of the first seven innings, including Adalberto Mondesi’s 458-foot homer in the seventh. It was Plesac’s second win in two starts since returning to Cleveland’s rotation after being demoted for breaking team COVID-19 protocols. Naquin drove in both his runs off Royals starter Brad Keller, who hung around until the seventh.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The Boston Celtics own a 3-2 lead in the NBA’s Eastern Conference semifinals after Jaylen Brown scored 27 points in a 111-89 blowout over the Toronto Raptors. Kemba Walker scored 21 for the Celtics, whose starters outscored Toronto’s top five by a whopping 93-45. The defending champs shot 2-for-15 during their first 15 possessions to fall behind 18-5.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Paul George scored 32 points, Kawhi Leonard added 23 as they led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 113-107 comeback win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of their NBA Western Conference semifinal series. Leonard also grabbed 14 rebounds, dished out six assists and had two blocks, including one late on a shot by Jamal Murray at the rim. The Nuggets led 97-90 with 8:29 left before the Clippers embarked on a 14-4 run.

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams has advanced to the U.S. Open quarterfinals, but fellow American and second seed Sofia Kenin is done. Williams was able to grind out a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 triumph over Maria Sakkari before No. 16 Elise Mertens knocked off Kenin, 6-3, 6-3. Monday’s other winners were Victoria Azarenka and Tsvetana Pironkova in the women’s bracket, and Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Alex de Minaur in the men’s.

ATLANTA (AP) — Dustin Johnson has won the Tour Championship and the $15 million first prize for capturing the FedEx Cup. Johnson closed with a 2-under 68 for a three-stroke win over Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele. Johnson is the first No. 1 seed at the Tour Championship to win the FedEx Cup since Tiger Woods in 2009.