PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Javier Baez is learning, and Saturday was another good day for the touted prospect. Baez and fellow rookie Matt Szczur homered, and the Chicago Cubs snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Baez connected for a two-run shot in Chicagos three-run third, and Szczur hit a leadoff drive in the eighth for his first career homer. It was Baezs second homer in two nights and No. 9 on the season. Baez is 4 for 15 with two homers and three RBIs in his last four games after going 6 for 62 with 28 strikeouts during a prolonged slump for the 21-year-old infielder. "Im just trying to go up to the plate with a good approach," Baez said. "Ive been working with (hitting coach Bill Mueller) and trying to have better at-bats. Ive felt more comfortable the last few days." Felix Doubront (2-1) pitched six scoreless innings for the Cubs in his third start since he was acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox. Russell Martin hit a three-run double in the eighth for Pittsburgh, which had won seven of eight. The Pirates lead for the second NL wild card stayed at 1 1/2 games over Milwaukee, which lost 5-1 to Cincinnati. Travis Snider hit a leadoff homer in the ninth against Cubs closer Hector Rondon, who then retired three in a row for his 24th save in 28 chances. Arismendy Alcantara, another rookie prospect for Chicago, had two hits and two RBIs as the Cubs ended their worst losing streak of the season. Chicago also had lost seven straight games against Pittsburgh. "It was a good team win," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "A lot of people contributed." Pittsburghs Jeff Locke (7-5) allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings, throwing just 62 of 106 pitches for strikes. He lost for just the second time in his last seven decisions. "I just didnt make pitches when I needed to in that (third) inning," Locke said. "It was the difference in the game because we came back and scored late." TRAINERS ROOM Cubs: 1B Anthony Rizzo missed his 17th straight game with a lower back strain but remains on course to return to the lineup Monday night when Chicago hosts Cincinnati. Pirates: LF Starling Marte sat out for the second game in a row with a bruised left arm and likely wont return to action until at least Tuesday for the opener of a three-game home series against Boston. UP NEXT RHP Jacob Turner (5-9, 5.84 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Cubs on Sunday against RHP Edinson Volquez (11-7, 3.36 ERA) in the finale of the three-game series. Turner is 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA in three starts since being acquired Aug. 8 in a trade with Miami. Volquez is 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA in his last nine starts and has not lost since July 21 to the Dodgers. HE GOT THE BALL, EVENTUALLY It seemed as if Szczur was in luck when a fan in the left-field bleachers threw his first home run ball back onto the field. Snider retrieved the ball and tossed it to the ball girl along the left-field line, but she gave it to a boy sitting in the stands. At the end of the inning, third base umpire Paul Schrieber gave the young fan another ball in exchange for the Szczur ball. Raul Mondesi Blue Jays Jersey . Louis Blues, having added Ryan Miller and Steve Ott from Buffalo, remain the No. Tom Henke Jersey . Both moves were announced Tuesday. The Titans had waived Matthews on Saturday when they promoted wide receiver Michael Preston from the practice squad. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/2086h-davi...-blue-jays.html. A 19-game winner with the New York Yankees in both 2006 and 2007, Wang spent most of this year at Triple-A for the Yankees and Blue Jays. The 33-year-old right-hander was 1-2 with a 7. Duane Ward Jersey . Some teams got significantly better, some teams divested themselves of talent and some teams had quiet afternoons, keeping the status quo. Blue Jays Jerseys China . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side.England Womens captain Steph Houghton is targeting six points from the forthcoming Euro 2017 qualification double-header against Serbia. The Lionesses are unbeaten in qualifying Group 7 for next years tournament in The Netherlands, but left it late to clinch a 1-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, four days after a 1-1 draw at home to Belgium.They face Serbia at Wycombes Adams Park on Saturday before making the long trip to Stara Pazova for the reverse fixture against the same side on Tuesday. And Houghton is keen for England to seal their place in Holland as soon as possible to allow boss Mark Sampson to blood some youngsters ahead of next years tournament. Ray Parlour, Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze and Adam Richman take on Manuel Neuer in the Soccer AM car park The England and Manchester City Woomens skipper told Sky Sports: We look back at the last two qualifiers against Belgium and Bosnia and we were very disappointed by the Belgium result [in particular] but we still got that point.ddddddddddddRealistically the group is in our hands and the two games against Serbia home and away are massive and ones we want to win without a doubt.In terms of qualification, we want to do that as quickly as possible to give people experience, give youngsters the chance to come in and play for their country, and also to try and work out how we want to play at Euro 2017.I think its important we do that and realise what we are good at and look at what strengths we can bring to that tournament. Houghton skippered England to historic bronze medal finish at 2015 Womens World Cup Despite Serbia lying 45th in the FIFA World rankings - 41 places below the Lionesses - head coach Sampson will guard against complacency, particularly after Englands below-par performances in their last two games.As always our main focus during qualification is on our own team, he said.Were confident if we can perform to our levels we can get the results that we want but we dont take any team lightly [after what] we saw against Bosnia and Belgium.Serbia will make it very difficult for us and they will defend for their lives. Its a big game for them coming to the team that were bronze medallists at the World Cup. Also See: SportsWomen Latest Show News Latest News SportsWomen Video ' ' '