The Red Sox urge fans to arrive early and take public transportation to Fenway Park this weekend for the final regular season series against Toronto when the club will celebrate 10-time All-Star and three-time World Series Champion David Ortiz.
On Friday, September 30, and Saturday, October 1, fans are asked to be in their seats by 6:30 p.m. to enjoy the ceremonies before the 7:10 p.m. games.
On Sunday, October 2, fans are asked to arrive at the ballpark by 1 p.m. and be in their seats by 2 p.m.
Fenway Park gates will open two hours prior to game time for all three games.
The club anticipates heavy traffic around Fenway Park during the weekend series and encourages fans to take public transportation.
In addition to taking the popular T to Kenmore Square, the commuter rail trains arrive at Yawkey Station, just 511 feet from the doorstep of Fenway Park. Yawkey Station is part of the commuter rail's Framingham/Worcester line, which runs from Worcester to South Station.
- via Boston Red Sox.
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Friday, September 30, 2016
Baseball Capsules (September 30, 2016)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Yadier Molina hit a disputed double that drove in the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning Thursday night, sending the St. Louis Cardinals over the Cincinnati Reds 4-3.
The Cardinals are one game behind San Francisco for the second NL wild-card spot.
Matt Carpenter drew a one-out walk from Blake Wood (6-5). With two outs, Molina's one-hop hit clearly bounced off a sign above the left-field wall and caromed back into play.
Carpenter kept running and scored from first. Reds manager Bryan Price ran after the umpires, who left when Carpenter touched the plate.
Price said he was told by the umpire that he didn't make his appeal for a replay review fast enough on what should've been a ground-rule double.
Seung Hwan Oh (6-3) wound up with the win.
GIANTS 7, ROCKIES 2
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Johnny Cueto struck out 11 and San Francisco set up a wild race to the finish for the NL wild-card spots.
With three games left, the Giants are one game behind the New York Mets and one game ahead of St. Louis.
San Francisco hosts the Dodgers beginning Friday, the Cardinals play Pittsburgh at home and the Mets close out the regular season in Philadelphia.
Cueto (18-5) overcame a shaky start in his first appearance since being sidelined more than a week with a groin strain.
Colorado starter Jon Gray (10-10) allowed five runs over 5 1-3 innings.
MARINERS 3, ATHLETICS 2
SEATTLE (AP) — Struggling Mike Zunino delivered the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and Seattle stayed on the edge of the AL wild card chase.
The Mariners are two games behind Baltimore and Toronto with three to play.
Zunino, hitting .139 over his last 25 games, opened the seventh with his 12th home run, sending a 2-2 pitch from Liam Hendriks (0-4) deep over the wall in left.
Steve Cishek (4-6) won and rookie Edwin Diaz notched his 18th save.
DODGERS 9, PADRES 4
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joc Pederson doubled twice and drove in three runs, and NL West champion Los Angeles avoided a three-game sweep in San Diego.
The Dodgers remained two games behind Washington with three to play in the race for home-field advantage in their upcoming Division Series matchup.
Rookie left-hander Julio Urias went three scoreless innings in his first start since Sept. 13. Brett Anderson (1-2) pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings for the victory.
Christian Friedrich (5-12) allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.
CUBS 1, PIRATES 1, TIE, 6 INNINGS
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh played to the first tie game in the major leagues since 2005 when rain forced them to stop in the sixth inning.
The Cubs and Pirates aren't scheduled to play again this season, and the game won't be made up because it doesn't affect postseason positioning. So instead of becoming a suspended game, the stats count and it was declared a tie — the first since Houston and Cincinnati on June 30, 2005.
Willson Contreras had two hits and scored for the NL Central champion Cubs, who have already clinched the best record in the majors.
The game was called after a delay of 1 hour, 23 minutes.
ORIOLES 4, BLUE JAYS 0
TORONTO (AP) — Ubaldo Jimenez and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and Baltimore beat Toronto, leaving the teams tied in the AL wild-card race.
Detroit is 1 1/2 games behind the Orioles and Blue Jays.
Jimenez (8-12) allowed one hit in 6 2/3 innings, improving to 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA in five September starts.
Marcus Stroman (9-10) gave up nine hits and four runs in seven-plus innings. He is winless in eight starts.
BRAVES 5, PHILLIES 2
ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman's 30-game hitting streak ended when he struck out in the eighth inning, but Atlanta later scored four runs off Philadelphia closer Jeanmar Gomez.
Mauricio Cabrera (5-1) got one out.
Gomez (3-5) took the loss as the Phillies fell to the Braves for the seventh straight time.
YANKEES 5, RED SOX 1
NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees were eliminated from playoff contention despite finishing off a three-game sweep of AL East champion Boston.
CC Sabathia (9-12) allowed one run and four hits over a season-high 7 1/3 innings for his first win in a month.
Playing his final game at Yankee Stadium, Boston's David Ortiz was honored in a pregame ceremony, then struck out and walked. He was 0 for 10 with four strikeouts in the series.
Henry Owens (0-2) went 4 2/3 innings.
NATIONALS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 3
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wilmer Difo hit his first major league homer, and Pedro Severino his second, helping injury-depleted NL East champion Washington move closer to clinching home-field advantage in the Division Series.
Second baseman Difo and catcher Severino, both rookies, were in the lineup instead of Daniel Murphy (last started 12 days ago) and Wilson Ramos (out for the season), respectively.
Last in the NL West, Arizona has nothing at stake the rest of the way. The Nationals, while already assured of winning their division and of facing the Los Angeles Dodgers to open their postseason, still are trying to lock up a higher seeding for that series.
Reliever Reynaldo Lopez (5-3) pitched 3 2/3 innings. Mark Melancon got two outs for his 45th save.
Arizona starter Robbie Ray (8-15) allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings.
TWINS 7, ROYALS 6
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Byron Buxton tripled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored twice as Minnesota defeated Kansas City.
Salvador Perez's pinch-hit RBI single with two outs in the ninth pulled the Royals within a run, and Terrance Gore ran for him. Paulo Orlando was up next, and already had four hits when Brandon Kintzler picked off Gore at first base.
Gore was initially called safe, but was ruled out on a replay review.
Michael Tonkin (3-2) won and Kintzler got his 16th save. Kelvin Herrera (2-6) took the loss.
RAYS 5, WHITE SOX 3
CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Archer overcame a shaky seventh inning to avoid becoming the majors' first 20-game loser since 2003 and lead Tampa Bay.
Archer (9-19) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings to help the Rays snap a six-game skid. Mike Maroth of Detroit was the last pitcher to lose 20 times in a season.
Alex Colome got his 36th save.
Mikie Mahtook hit a solo homer in the fourth off Jose Quintana (13-12) and doubled and scored in a three-run seventh off Chicago's shaky bullpen.
The Cardinals are one game behind San Francisco for the second NL wild-card spot.
Matt Carpenter drew a one-out walk from Blake Wood (6-5). With two outs, Molina's one-hop hit clearly bounced off a sign above the left-field wall and caromed back into play.
Carpenter kept running and scored from first. Reds manager Bryan Price ran after the umpires, who left when Carpenter touched the plate.
Price said he was told by the umpire that he didn't make his appeal for a replay review fast enough on what should've been a ground-rule double.
Seung Hwan Oh (6-3) wound up with the win.
GIANTS 7, ROCKIES 2
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Johnny Cueto struck out 11 and San Francisco set up a wild race to the finish for the NL wild-card spots.
With three games left, the Giants are one game behind the New York Mets and one game ahead of St. Louis.
San Francisco hosts the Dodgers beginning Friday, the Cardinals play Pittsburgh at home and the Mets close out the regular season in Philadelphia.
Cueto (18-5) overcame a shaky start in his first appearance since being sidelined more than a week with a groin strain.
Colorado starter Jon Gray (10-10) allowed five runs over 5 1-3 innings.
MARINERS 3, ATHLETICS 2
SEATTLE (AP) — Struggling Mike Zunino delivered the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and Seattle stayed on the edge of the AL wild card chase.
The Mariners are two games behind Baltimore and Toronto with three to play.
Zunino, hitting .139 over his last 25 games, opened the seventh with his 12th home run, sending a 2-2 pitch from Liam Hendriks (0-4) deep over the wall in left.
Steve Cishek (4-6) won and rookie Edwin Diaz notched his 18th save.
DODGERS 9, PADRES 4
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joc Pederson doubled twice and drove in three runs, and NL West champion Los Angeles avoided a three-game sweep in San Diego.
The Dodgers remained two games behind Washington with three to play in the race for home-field advantage in their upcoming Division Series matchup.
Rookie left-hander Julio Urias went three scoreless innings in his first start since Sept. 13. Brett Anderson (1-2) pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings for the victory.
Christian Friedrich (5-12) allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.
CUBS 1, PIRATES 1, TIE, 6 INNINGS
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh played to the first tie game in the major leagues since 2005 when rain forced them to stop in the sixth inning.
The Cubs and Pirates aren't scheduled to play again this season, and the game won't be made up because it doesn't affect postseason positioning. So instead of becoming a suspended game, the stats count and it was declared a tie — the first since Houston and Cincinnati on June 30, 2005.
Willson Contreras had two hits and scored for the NL Central champion Cubs, who have already clinched the best record in the majors.
The game was called after a delay of 1 hour, 23 minutes.
ORIOLES 4, BLUE JAYS 0
TORONTO (AP) — Ubaldo Jimenez and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and Baltimore beat Toronto, leaving the teams tied in the AL wild-card race.
Detroit is 1 1/2 games behind the Orioles and Blue Jays.
Jimenez (8-12) allowed one hit in 6 2/3 innings, improving to 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA in five September starts.
Marcus Stroman (9-10) gave up nine hits and four runs in seven-plus innings. He is winless in eight starts.
BRAVES 5, PHILLIES 2
ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman's 30-game hitting streak ended when he struck out in the eighth inning, but Atlanta later scored four runs off Philadelphia closer Jeanmar Gomez.
Mauricio Cabrera (5-1) got one out.
Gomez (3-5) took the loss as the Phillies fell to the Braves for the seventh straight time.
YANKEES 5, RED SOX 1
NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees were eliminated from playoff contention despite finishing off a three-game sweep of AL East champion Boston.
CC Sabathia (9-12) allowed one run and four hits over a season-high 7 1/3 innings for his first win in a month.
Playing his final game at Yankee Stadium, Boston's David Ortiz was honored in a pregame ceremony, then struck out and walked. He was 0 for 10 with four strikeouts in the series.
Henry Owens (0-2) went 4 2/3 innings.
NATIONALS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 3
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wilmer Difo hit his first major league homer, and Pedro Severino his second, helping injury-depleted NL East champion Washington move closer to clinching home-field advantage in the Division Series.
Second baseman Difo and catcher Severino, both rookies, were in the lineup instead of Daniel Murphy (last started 12 days ago) and Wilson Ramos (out for the season), respectively.
Last in the NL West, Arizona has nothing at stake the rest of the way. The Nationals, while already assured of winning their division and of facing the Los Angeles Dodgers to open their postseason, still are trying to lock up a higher seeding for that series.
Reliever Reynaldo Lopez (5-3) pitched 3 2/3 innings. Mark Melancon got two outs for his 45th save.
Arizona starter Robbie Ray (8-15) allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings.
TWINS 7, ROYALS 6
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Byron Buxton tripled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored twice as Minnesota defeated Kansas City.
Salvador Perez's pinch-hit RBI single with two outs in the ninth pulled the Royals within a run, and Terrance Gore ran for him. Paulo Orlando was up next, and already had four hits when Brandon Kintzler picked off Gore at first base.
Gore was initially called safe, but was ruled out on a replay review.
Michael Tonkin (3-2) won and Kintzler got his 16th save. Kelvin Herrera (2-6) took the loss.
RAYS 5, WHITE SOX 3
CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Archer overcame a shaky seventh inning to avoid becoming the majors' first 20-game loser since 2003 and lead Tampa Bay.
Archer (9-19) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings to help the Rays snap a six-game skid. Mike Maroth of Detroit was the last pitcher to lose 20 times in a season.
Alex Colome got his 36th save.
Mikie Mahtook hit a solo homer in the fourth off Jose Quintana (13-12) and doubled and scored in a three-run seventh off Chicago's shaky bullpen.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Blue Jays Minor Leaguer Montero suspended
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Toronto Blue Jays Minor League first baseman Jesus Montero has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for dimethylbutylamine (DMBA), a stimulant in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
The suspension of Montero, who is currently on the roster of Triple-A Buffalo of the International League, will be effective at the beginning of next season.
The suspension of Montero, who is currently on the roster of Triple-A Buffalo of the International League, will be effective at the beginning of next season.
MLB Transactions from September 28, 2016
Oakland Athletics activated RHP Sonny Gray from the 15-day disabled list.
Cincinnati Reds claimed LF Patrick Kivlehan off waivers from San Diego Padres.
Cincinnati Reds transferred SS Zack Cozart from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Right knee injury.
Los Angeles Dodgers released RHP Bud Norris.
San Diego Padres sent SS Nick Noonan outright to El Paso Chihuahuas.
Cincinnati Reds activated LF Patrick Kivlehan.
Cincinnati Reds claimed LF Patrick Kivlehan off waivers from San Diego Padres.
Cincinnati Reds transferred SS Zack Cozart from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Right knee injury.
Los Angeles Dodgers released RHP Bud Norris.
San Diego Padres sent SS Nick Noonan outright to El Paso Chihuahuas.
Cincinnati Reds activated LF Patrick Kivlehan.
Baseball Capsules (September 29, 2016)
NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Teixeira hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning, and the New York Yankees staved off playoff elimination at the last possible moment with a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
Boston clinched the AL East title nearly 30 minutes before Teixeira connected, thanks to Toronto's 3-2 loss against Baltimore. But a five-run comeback by New York in the ninth prevented its longtime rival from celebrating on the Yankee Stadium field.
The Orioles' victory put the Yankees on the brink of wild-card elimination following a surprising charge late this season. New York had only one infield hit and trailed 3-0 heading into the ninth, faced with the prospect of facing Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel.
Kimbrel, however, gave up a leadoff single to Brett Gardner and three straight walks, the last forcing in a run. Red Sox manager John Farrell lifted Kimbrel (2-5) for Joe Kelly, who struck out Starlin Castro and retired Didi Gregorius on a foul popup. With the Yankees down to their last out, Teixeira, planning to retire after this season, launched a 99 mph fastball on an 0-1 count to right-center.
James Pazos (1-0) was the winner.
ORIOLES 3, BLUE JAYS 2
TORONTO (AP) — Hyun Soo Kim hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Roberto Osuna, and Baltimore beat Toronto to move within one game of the AL wild-card-leading Blue Jays.
With Toronto ahead 2-1, Jonathan Schoop singled with one out, pinch-runner Michael Bourn stole second and Kim homered on a 3-2 pitch into the visiting bullpen in right.
Osuna (3-3) has five blown save chances, including two in his last three appearances.
Baltimore's Mark Trumbo hit his major league-leading 46th home run, a solo drive off Jason Grilli in the eighth. Brian Duensing (1-0) got one out, and Zach Britton finished for his 47th save.
TIGERS 6, INDIANS 3, 5 INNINGS
DETROIT (AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fifth inning, moments before the game was halted for good, and Detroit came away with a rain-shortened victory over Cleveland to keep pace with Baltimore in the AL wild-card race.
Detroit trails the Orioles by one game for the AL's second wild card, and the Tigers certainly caught a break in this one. The rain was a factor throughout the evening — there was also a delay during the third inning — and it was certainly coming down when Detroit began its rally in the fifth.
With two on and one out, Cabrera hit a line drive over the wall in right off Joseph Colon (1-3) for his 36th homer. Blaine Hardy (1-0) won in relief of Michael Fulmer.
ROCKIES 2, GIANTS 0
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jeff Samardzija gave San Francisco a chance to grab momentum after a big offensive outburst a night earlier, but the playoff-hopeful Giants wasted it with a costly dud.
Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood (12-9) struck out nine in eight innings and outdueled Samardzija (12-11), shutting down San Francisco a day after the Giants pounded 19 hits in a 12-3 win.
San Francisco dropped to 1 1/2 games behind the Mets for the top wild card and remained a game up on St. Louis for the second spot after the Cardinals lost to Cincinnati.
Adam Ottavino got his sixth save.
PIRATES 8, CUBS 4
PITTSBURGH (AP) — John Jaso hit for the cycle and drove in five runs in Pittsburgh's victory over Chicago.
Jaso tripled off reliever Pedro Strop in the seventh inning for the first cycle in the history of PNC Park and the first for the Pirates since 2004. Jaso's final hit was a fly ball to center field. He hesitated rounding second base, but went on and the throw from Albert Almora Jr. was up the baseline.
Jaso accomplished the feat in just four at-bats. The last Pirate to hit for the cycle was Daryle Ward on May 26, 2004, in St. Louis. The last Pirates' home cycle was by Jason Kendall on May 19, 2000, against the Cardinals at Three Rivers Stadium.
Against Chicago starter Jake Arrieta (18-8), Jaso singled in the second inning, hit a three-run home run in the fourth and doubled in the fifth. Arrieta went five innings and allowed 10 hits and seven runs, both season highs.
Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (5-4) allowed one hit and struck out four in six innings.
Chicago's Anthony Rizzo hit a solo homer, his 32nd of the season.
RANGERS 8, BREWERS 5
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Carlos Gomez hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and AL-leading Texas beat Milwaukee for its major league-best 49th come-from-behind victory.
Texas (94-65) moved closer to home-field advantage with a 1 1/2-game lead over Boston for the best record in the American League.
Jonathan Lucroy, the catcher traded from Milwaukee to Texas on Aug. 1, reached to start the eighth on a two-base error when the ball ricocheted off the glove of center fielder Hernan Perez. Delino DeShields came on as a pinch-runner, and after Mitch Moreland walked, he scored the tying run when Elvis Andrus greeted reliever Tyler Thornburg with a single to center.
Gomez then hit a 418-foot homer to left, his 13th this season. It was the eighth in 31 games for the Brewers' former two-time All-Star since joining the Rangers last month after being released by Houston. He had a three-run homer on Tuesday night, that one traveling 444 feet.
Rougned Odor hit a two-run homer in the first for the Rangers, his 32nd.
Jeremy Jeffress (1-0) worked the final two innings, winning for AL West champion Texas five days after being reinstated by Major League Baseball from the restricted list following a drunken driving arrest last month and then a three-week stint in an inpatient rehab clinic.
Corey Knebel (1-4) was the loser.
ROYALS 5, TWINS 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon keyed an eighth-inning rally and Kansas City beat Minnesota, but the Royals were still knocked out of playoff contention.
The defending World Series champs were eliminated when Baltimore beat Toronto.
Morales' ground-rule double to right scored Jarrod Dyson, who had doubled and stole third. Gordon's single scored Whit Merrifield and pinch-runner Billy Burns.
Taylor Rogers (3-1), the fourth of five Twins pitchers, took the loss after allowing three runs, three hits and two walks while retiring only one of the six batters he faced.
Joakim Soria (5-8) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the victory. Wade Davis got his 27th save.
METS 5, MARLINS 2
MIAMI (AP) — The Marlins walked half a block alongside a hearse carrying their ace away from Marlins Park at the start of a funeral motorcade, then peeled away with watery eyes to go back inside and play.
Drained by four days of grieving Jose Fernandez's death in a boating accident, Miami didn't have much left for the New York Mets. Jay Bruce hit his 32nd home run, James Loney also homered and New York helped their NL wild-card chances by beating Miami.
The Marlins' loss in their home finale eliminated them from playoff contention. Despite high hopes this year, they still haven't been to the postseason since 2003.
Set Lugo (5-2) went 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs.
Jose Urena (4-9) allowed five runs in five innings.
MARINERS 12, ASTROS 4
HOUSTON (AP) — Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and Seattle beat Houston to keep pressure on the other AL wild-card contenders.
Cano's career-best 36th home run, a drive off Doug Fister (12-13), landed in the first row of the Crawford Boxes in left field. Cano has nine homers and 25 RBIs in 19 games against Houston this season.
Kyle Seager added another three-run drive in the eighth, his 30th home run this season.
James Paxton (6-7) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings, striking out eight.
Fister gave up five runs and five hits over 1 1/3 innings in the shortest start of his big league career. George Springer and Evan Gattis homered for Houston.
PADRES 6, DODGERS 5
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit the first home run in Petco Park history to land on the roof of the brick warehouse in the left-field corner and drove in four runs to lead San Diego.
With one out in the third, Renfroe drove a two-run homer off Jose De Leon onto the top of the Western Metal Supply Co. building, a remnant from the skid row neighborhood that made way for Petco Park, which opened in 2004. It went an estimated 435 feet.
The Dodgers lost despite hitting three home runs off rookie Luis Perdomo (9-10). Ross Stripling (5-9) allowed a run in three innings.
REDS 2, CARDINALS 1
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Duvall's two-run single was all Cincinnati needed to beat St. Louis.
The Reds' third win in their last four games dealt a blow to the Cardinals' playoff hopes. St. Louis lost ground in the race for the two NL wild cards.
Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani (9-5) allowed one runner in each of the first four innings, but only once during that span did the Cardinals have anyone in scoring position. He stranded five runners, including two in the sixth, his last inning. He allowed six hits and one run.
It was the fifth quality start out of six in DeSclafani's career against the Cardinals. He improved to 4-1 with a 2.13 ERA against St. Louis.
Duvall drove in his 101st and 102nd RBIs with his third-inning single. He has seven RBI in the series.
Raisel Iglesias earned his fifth save in six opportunities with two innings of relief.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, NATIONALS 0, 5 INNINGS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Shelby Miller threw five shutout innings, Jean Segura had three hits to reach 200 for the season and Arizona beat Washington Nationals a rain-shortened game.
The start of the game was delayed 33 minutes by rain and was called with one out in the top of the sixth inning after waiting out a second delay of 70 minutes.
The NL East-champion Nationals have lost two of three to the last-place Diamondbacks and seven of their last 11 games overall.
Miller (3-12) capped an otherwise forgetful season with one of his best outings of the year, allowing five hits with one walk and striking out five to earn his first win since June 20.
Gio Gonzalez (11-11), Washington's projected No. 3 starter in the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, struggled in his final tune up before the postseason.
WHITE SOX 1, RAYS 0
CHICAGO (AP) — Todd Frazier hit his 40th home run, Miguel Gonzalez waited out a rain delay to throw 8 1/3 dominant innings and Chicago beat Tampa Bay.
Frazier set a career high and became the seventh White Sox player to reach the homer milestone when he connected off knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa (0-2) with two out in the seventh. Frazier is hitting .391 (18 for 46) during a 12-game hitting streak.
Gonzalez (5-7) returned after a 1 hour, 16-minute delay in the third inning and retired 18 of 19 before being lifted after Logan Forsythe's one-out single to left in the ninth. David Robertson got the final two outs for his 37th save in 44 tries.
The game also was delayed 21 minutes before the start. It was 57 degrees at first pitch and rain came and went amid blustery conditions as a tiny crowd watched Chicago win its fifth straight. The game itself lasted only 2 hours, 10 minutes.
BRAVES 12, PHILLIES 2
ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer, Daniel Castro had three RBIs and Dansby Swanson also drove in two runs, leading Atlanta past Philadelphia.
Mike Foltynewicz (9-5) pitched two-hit ball over five innings in his first start since Sept. 12, when he left a game against Miami with a left calf contusion.
The Braves won for the ninth time in their last 10 games. They have 21 victories in 34 games since Aug. 21, bouncing back from a dismal start.
Adam Morgan (2-11) lasted five innings, giving up 10 hits and nine runs.
ANGELS 8, ATHLETICS 6
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Kole Calhoun homered, Alex Meyer earned his second major league win and Los Angeles held off a late rally from Oakland to sweep the three-game series.
Meyer (2-3) limited the A's to two runs and five hits over four innings. J.C. Ramirez pitched a perfect ninth to convert his second save.
Mike Trout was hit by a John Axford fastball in the back of his left shoulder in the eighth inning and was removed from the game.
Ross Detwiler (3-3) took the loss.
Boston clinched the AL East title nearly 30 minutes before Teixeira connected, thanks to Toronto's 3-2 loss against Baltimore. But a five-run comeback by New York in the ninth prevented its longtime rival from celebrating on the Yankee Stadium field.
The Orioles' victory put the Yankees on the brink of wild-card elimination following a surprising charge late this season. New York had only one infield hit and trailed 3-0 heading into the ninth, faced with the prospect of facing Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel.
Kimbrel, however, gave up a leadoff single to Brett Gardner and three straight walks, the last forcing in a run. Red Sox manager John Farrell lifted Kimbrel (2-5) for Joe Kelly, who struck out Starlin Castro and retired Didi Gregorius on a foul popup. With the Yankees down to their last out, Teixeira, planning to retire after this season, launched a 99 mph fastball on an 0-1 count to right-center.
James Pazos (1-0) was the winner.
ORIOLES 3, BLUE JAYS 2
TORONTO (AP) — Hyun Soo Kim hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Roberto Osuna, and Baltimore beat Toronto to move within one game of the AL wild-card-leading Blue Jays.
With Toronto ahead 2-1, Jonathan Schoop singled with one out, pinch-runner Michael Bourn stole second and Kim homered on a 3-2 pitch into the visiting bullpen in right.
Osuna (3-3) has five blown save chances, including two in his last three appearances.
Baltimore's Mark Trumbo hit his major league-leading 46th home run, a solo drive off Jason Grilli in the eighth. Brian Duensing (1-0) got one out, and Zach Britton finished for his 47th save.
TIGERS 6, INDIANS 3, 5 INNINGS
DETROIT (AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fifth inning, moments before the game was halted for good, and Detroit came away with a rain-shortened victory over Cleveland to keep pace with Baltimore in the AL wild-card race.
Detroit trails the Orioles by one game for the AL's second wild card, and the Tigers certainly caught a break in this one. The rain was a factor throughout the evening — there was also a delay during the third inning — and it was certainly coming down when Detroit began its rally in the fifth.
With two on and one out, Cabrera hit a line drive over the wall in right off Joseph Colon (1-3) for his 36th homer. Blaine Hardy (1-0) won in relief of Michael Fulmer.
ROCKIES 2, GIANTS 0
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jeff Samardzija gave San Francisco a chance to grab momentum after a big offensive outburst a night earlier, but the playoff-hopeful Giants wasted it with a costly dud.
Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood (12-9) struck out nine in eight innings and outdueled Samardzija (12-11), shutting down San Francisco a day after the Giants pounded 19 hits in a 12-3 win.
San Francisco dropped to 1 1/2 games behind the Mets for the top wild card and remained a game up on St. Louis for the second spot after the Cardinals lost to Cincinnati.
Adam Ottavino got his sixth save.
PIRATES 8, CUBS 4
PITTSBURGH (AP) — John Jaso hit for the cycle and drove in five runs in Pittsburgh's victory over Chicago.
Jaso tripled off reliever Pedro Strop in the seventh inning for the first cycle in the history of PNC Park and the first for the Pirates since 2004. Jaso's final hit was a fly ball to center field. He hesitated rounding second base, but went on and the throw from Albert Almora Jr. was up the baseline.
Jaso accomplished the feat in just four at-bats. The last Pirate to hit for the cycle was Daryle Ward on May 26, 2004, in St. Louis. The last Pirates' home cycle was by Jason Kendall on May 19, 2000, against the Cardinals at Three Rivers Stadium.
Against Chicago starter Jake Arrieta (18-8), Jaso singled in the second inning, hit a three-run home run in the fourth and doubled in the fifth. Arrieta went five innings and allowed 10 hits and seven runs, both season highs.
Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (5-4) allowed one hit and struck out four in six innings.
Chicago's Anthony Rizzo hit a solo homer, his 32nd of the season.
RANGERS 8, BREWERS 5
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Carlos Gomez hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and AL-leading Texas beat Milwaukee for its major league-best 49th come-from-behind victory.
Texas (94-65) moved closer to home-field advantage with a 1 1/2-game lead over Boston for the best record in the American League.
Jonathan Lucroy, the catcher traded from Milwaukee to Texas on Aug. 1, reached to start the eighth on a two-base error when the ball ricocheted off the glove of center fielder Hernan Perez. Delino DeShields came on as a pinch-runner, and after Mitch Moreland walked, he scored the tying run when Elvis Andrus greeted reliever Tyler Thornburg with a single to center.
Gomez then hit a 418-foot homer to left, his 13th this season. It was the eighth in 31 games for the Brewers' former two-time All-Star since joining the Rangers last month after being released by Houston. He had a three-run homer on Tuesday night, that one traveling 444 feet.
Rougned Odor hit a two-run homer in the first for the Rangers, his 32nd.
Jeremy Jeffress (1-0) worked the final two innings, winning for AL West champion Texas five days after being reinstated by Major League Baseball from the restricted list following a drunken driving arrest last month and then a three-week stint in an inpatient rehab clinic.
Corey Knebel (1-4) was the loser.
ROYALS 5, TWINS 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon keyed an eighth-inning rally and Kansas City beat Minnesota, but the Royals were still knocked out of playoff contention.
The defending World Series champs were eliminated when Baltimore beat Toronto.
Morales' ground-rule double to right scored Jarrod Dyson, who had doubled and stole third. Gordon's single scored Whit Merrifield and pinch-runner Billy Burns.
Taylor Rogers (3-1), the fourth of five Twins pitchers, took the loss after allowing three runs, three hits and two walks while retiring only one of the six batters he faced.
Joakim Soria (5-8) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the victory. Wade Davis got his 27th save.
METS 5, MARLINS 2
MIAMI (AP) — The Marlins walked half a block alongside a hearse carrying their ace away from Marlins Park at the start of a funeral motorcade, then peeled away with watery eyes to go back inside and play.
Drained by four days of grieving Jose Fernandez's death in a boating accident, Miami didn't have much left for the New York Mets. Jay Bruce hit his 32nd home run, James Loney also homered and New York helped their NL wild-card chances by beating Miami.
The Marlins' loss in their home finale eliminated them from playoff contention. Despite high hopes this year, they still haven't been to the postseason since 2003.
Set Lugo (5-2) went 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs.
Jose Urena (4-9) allowed five runs in five innings.
MARINERS 12, ASTROS 4
HOUSTON (AP) — Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and Seattle beat Houston to keep pressure on the other AL wild-card contenders.
Cano's career-best 36th home run, a drive off Doug Fister (12-13), landed in the first row of the Crawford Boxes in left field. Cano has nine homers and 25 RBIs in 19 games against Houston this season.
Kyle Seager added another three-run drive in the eighth, his 30th home run this season.
James Paxton (6-7) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings, striking out eight.
Fister gave up five runs and five hits over 1 1/3 innings in the shortest start of his big league career. George Springer and Evan Gattis homered for Houston.
PADRES 6, DODGERS 5
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit the first home run in Petco Park history to land on the roof of the brick warehouse in the left-field corner and drove in four runs to lead San Diego.
With one out in the third, Renfroe drove a two-run homer off Jose De Leon onto the top of the Western Metal Supply Co. building, a remnant from the skid row neighborhood that made way for Petco Park, which opened in 2004. It went an estimated 435 feet.
The Dodgers lost despite hitting three home runs off rookie Luis Perdomo (9-10). Ross Stripling (5-9) allowed a run in three innings.
REDS 2, CARDINALS 1
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Duvall's two-run single was all Cincinnati needed to beat St. Louis.
The Reds' third win in their last four games dealt a blow to the Cardinals' playoff hopes. St. Louis lost ground in the race for the two NL wild cards.
Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani (9-5) allowed one runner in each of the first four innings, but only once during that span did the Cardinals have anyone in scoring position. He stranded five runners, including two in the sixth, his last inning. He allowed six hits and one run.
It was the fifth quality start out of six in DeSclafani's career against the Cardinals. He improved to 4-1 with a 2.13 ERA against St. Louis.
Duvall drove in his 101st and 102nd RBIs with his third-inning single. He has seven RBI in the series.
Raisel Iglesias earned his fifth save in six opportunities with two innings of relief.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, NATIONALS 0, 5 INNINGS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Shelby Miller threw five shutout innings, Jean Segura had three hits to reach 200 for the season and Arizona beat Washington Nationals a rain-shortened game.
The start of the game was delayed 33 minutes by rain and was called with one out in the top of the sixth inning after waiting out a second delay of 70 minutes.
The NL East-champion Nationals have lost two of three to the last-place Diamondbacks and seven of their last 11 games overall.
Miller (3-12) capped an otherwise forgetful season with one of his best outings of the year, allowing five hits with one walk and striking out five to earn his first win since June 20.
Gio Gonzalez (11-11), Washington's projected No. 3 starter in the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, struggled in his final tune up before the postseason.
WHITE SOX 1, RAYS 0
CHICAGO (AP) — Todd Frazier hit his 40th home run, Miguel Gonzalez waited out a rain delay to throw 8 1/3 dominant innings and Chicago beat Tampa Bay.
Frazier set a career high and became the seventh White Sox player to reach the homer milestone when he connected off knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa (0-2) with two out in the seventh. Frazier is hitting .391 (18 for 46) during a 12-game hitting streak.
Gonzalez (5-7) returned after a 1 hour, 16-minute delay in the third inning and retired 18 of 19 before being lifted after Logan Forsythe's one-out single to left in the ninth. David Robertson got the final two outs for his 37th save in 44 tries.
The game also was delayed 21 minutes before the start. It was 57 degrees at first pitch and rain came and went amid blustery conditions as a tiny crowd watched Chicago win its fifth straight. The game itself lasted only 2 hours, 10 minutes.
BRAVES 12, PHILLIES 2
ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer, Daniel Castro had three RBIs and Dansby Swanson also drove in two runs, leading Atlanta past Philadelphia.
Mike Foltynewicz (9-5) pitched two-hit ball over five innings in his first start since Sept. 12, when he left a game against Miami with a left calf contusion.
The Braves won for the ninth time in their last 10 games. They have 21 victories in 34 games since Aug. 21, bouncing back from a dismal start.
Adam Morgan (2-11) lasted five innings, giving up 10 hits and nine runs.
ANGELS 8, ATHLETICS 6
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Kole Calhoun homered, Alex Meyer earned his second major league win and Los Angeles held off a late rally from Oakland to sweep the three-game series.
Meyer (2-3) limited the A's to two runs and five hits over four innings. J.C. Ramirez pitched a perfect ninth to convert his second save.
Mike Trout was hit by a John Axford fastball in the back of his left shoulder in the eighth inning and was removed from the game.
Ross Detwiler (3-3) took the loss.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
A's reinstate RHP Sonny Gray from the disabled list
The Oakland A's reinstated right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray from the 15-day disabled list, the club announced today.
Gray is 5-11 with a 5.74 ERA in 21 starts in a season shortened by two stints on the disabled list. He was 3-5 with a 6.19 ERA in nine starts when he was placed on the DL the first time May 22 retroactive to May 21 with a strained right trapezius. The 26-year-old right-hander was reinstated June 5 and went 2-6 with a 5.43 ERA in 12 starts before going on the DL a second time Aug. 7 with a strained right forearm.
Gray has the third lowest winning percentage in the American League (.313) and his ERA is fourth highest among pitchers with 100 or more innings pitched.
Gray is 5-11 with a 5.74 ERA in 21 starts in a season shortened by two stints on the disabled list. He was 3-5 with a 6.19 ERA in nine starts when he was placed on the DL the first time May 22 retroactive to May 21 with a strained right trapezius. The 26-year-old right-hander was reinstated June 5 and went 2-6 with a 5.43 ERA in 12 starts before going on the DL a second time Aug. 7 with a strained right forearm.
Gray has the third lowest winning percentage in the American League (.313) and his ERA is fourth highest among pitchers with 100 or more innings pitched.
MLB Transactions from September 27, 2016
Washington Nationals recalled C Spencer Kieboom from Harrisburg Senators.
Toronto Blue Jays recalled Andy Burns from Buffalo Bisons.
Toronto Blue Jays selected the contract of RHP Chris Smith from Buffalo Bisons.
Detroit Tigers activated 3B Nick Castellanos from the 15-day disabled list.
Baltimore Orioles placed LHP Wade Miley on the paternity list.
Cleveland Indians sent TJ House outright to Columbus Clippers.
Toronto Blue Jays designated RHP Brady Dragmire for assignment.
San Francisco Giants placed RF Mac Williamson on the 60-day disabled list.
Atlanta Braves traded 2B Gordon Beckham to San Francisco Giants for SS Richard Rodriguez.
San Francisco Giants selected the contract of C Tony Sanchez from Sacramento River Cats.
San Francisco Giants designated LHP Matt Reynolds for assignment.
Toronto Blue Jays recalled Andy Burns from Buffalo Bisons.
Toronto Blue Jays selected the contract of RHP Chris Smith from Buffalo Bisons.
Detroit Tigers activated 3B Nick Castellanos from the 15-day disabled list.
Baltimore Orioles placed LHP Wade Miley on the paternity list.
Cleveland Indians sent TJ House outright to Columbus Clippers.
Toronto Blue Jays designated RHP Brady Dragmire for assignment.
San Francisco Giants placed RF Mac Williamson on the 60-day disabled list.
Atlanta Braves traded 2B Gordon Beckham to San Francisco Giants for SS Richard Rodriguez.
San Francisco Giants selected the contract of C Tony Sanchez from Sacramento River Cats.
San Francisco Giants designated LHP Matt Reynolds for assignment.
Baseball Capsules (September 28, 2016)
TORONTO (AP) Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer, Aaron Sanchez struck out 10 and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 on Tuesday night in the opener of their AL wild-card showdown.
Ezequiel Carrera also homered as the Blue Jays won for the sixth time in eight games. They lead the wild-card standings by two games over the Orioles with five to play.
Baltimore leads Detroit by one game for the league's final playoff spot.
Orioles slugger Chris Davis was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Will Little after striking out against Joe Biagini in the seventh, the third time in three at-bats Davis was caught looking. Baltimore manager Buck Showalter also was tossed after he came out to argue.
Sanchez (14-2) struck out the first four hitters he faced and five of the first six.
Kevin Gausman (8-12) allowed five runs, four earned, and seven hits in six innings.
YANKEES 6, RED SOX 4
NEW YORK (AP) - Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius and Tyler Austin homered off David Price, and New York ended Boston's 11-game winning streak and delayed its AL East title celebration.
David Ortiz, starting his final series in the Bronx, went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts and stranded seven runners. He ended the game by fanning with two on against Tyler Clippard.
Having clinched at least a wild-card berth last weekend, Boston is five games ahead of second-place Toronto with five games left, needing just one victory or a Blue Jays loss to ensure the division championship.
Price (17-9) allowed six runs and 12 hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Blake Parker (1-0) got two outs for his first victory since July 10, 2014 while with the Cubs. Clippard got his second save.
METS 12, MARLINS 1
MIAMI (AP) - Noah Syndergaard struck out eight and allowed one run in six innings, and New York totaled 19 hits to beat grieving Miami.
Jay Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes each hit his 31st homer for the Mets, who maintained a half-game lead on the Giants for the first NL wild card, with St. Louis 1 1/2 games behind New York.
The game was the Marlins' second since the death of ace Jose Fernandez in a boating accident.
Syndergaard (14-9) threw 93 pitches after missing a scheduled start Saturday with strep throat and lowered his ERA to 2.60, third-best in the majors. He'll return to pitch the regular-season finale Sunday at Philadelphia if needed.
Tom Koehler (9-13) allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings.
GIANTS 12, ROCKIES 3
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Buster Posey homered for his 1,000th hit, Hunter Pence also went deep one batter later and San Francisco beat Colorado.
Brandon Crawford tripled twice for San Francisco, which remained a half-game behind the Mets for the top NL wild card and one game up on the Cardinals for the second spot.
Matt Moore (12-12) matched his career high with 11 strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings, rebounding from his worst start this season.
German Marquez (1-1) allowed six runs and 12 hits over 4 1/3 innings.
ASTROS 8, MARINERS 4
HOUSTON (AP) - George Springer had three hits, including a two-run double during a six-run sixth inning, and Houston beat Seattle.
The victory leaves Seattle two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card and cuts Houston's deficit in the race to 2 1/2 games.
The Astros got five hits off Felix Hernandez (11-7) in the sixth, but only two of the six runs scored in the inning were earned because of two errors.
Rookie Jandel Gustave (1-0) yielded no hits and no runs with one walk in 1 1/3 innings for his first career win.
TIGERS 12, INDIANS 0
DETROIT (AP) - Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in five runs in the first two innings, and Justin Verlander struck out 12 to lift Detroit over a Cleveland lineup full of backups.
The Indians clinched the AL Central title Monday night in Detroit, and their starting lineup Tuesday was without Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Mike Napoli and Jose Ramirez. Detroit took full advantage, beating Cleveland for only the third time all year and pulling within a game of Baltimore for the AL's second wild card.
Verlander (16-8) went 7 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and a walk.
Mike Clevinger (2-3) lasted only two innings, allowing Cabrera's two-run double in the first and his three-run homer in the second.
CUBS 6, PIRATES 4
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Chris Coghlan hit a three-run triple and John Lackey worked in and out of trouble over five innings, helping Chicago beat reeling Pittsburgh.
Coghlan's second-inning drive off the wall in right-center against Ryan Vogelsong (3-7) gave the NL Central champions all the offense they would need to win for the seventh time in their last eight games. Chicago improved to 101-56, the club's highest victory total since it won 104 games in 1910.
Lackey (11-8) worked around five hits and three walks to win his last regular season start.
Felix Pena recorded the final two outs for his first career save.
The Pirates were eliminated from postseason contention, ending a run of three straight playoff appearances.
NATIONALS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2
WASHINGTON (AP) - Max Scherzer struck out 10 and allowed two runs in six innings and Anthony Rendon hit a go-ahead three-run homer as Washington beat Arizona to inch closer to home-field advantage in the NL Division Series.
Scherzer (19-7) was not at his Cy Young Award candidate best, uncharacteristically missing spots and allowing six hits, including a leadoff home run by Jean Segura.
After the Nationals didn't get a hit through five innings against Arizona starter Matt Koch, Rendon hit a three-run shot off Randall Delgado (4-2) with two outs in the sixth, his 19th of the season.
CARDINALS 12, REDS 5
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Playing with a heavy heart, Aledmys Diaz hit his first career grand slam and St. Louis finished with five home runs.
St. Louis is a game behind the Giants for the second NL wild card.
Jhonny Peralta had a three-run homer and drove in four runs for the Cardinals, who had lost four of five. Matt Carpenter, Randal Grichuk and Matt Adams also homered.
Cincinnati starter Robert Stephenson (2-3) ended up allowing five runs in four innings.
Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright (13-9) gave up five runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.
RANGERS 6, BREWERS 4
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Jonathan Lucroy hit a go-ahead two-run double against his former team in the sixth inning to help Texas beat Milwaukee.
The Rangers have a half-game lead over Boston for the best record in the American League.
Lucroy's hit made a winner of reliever Tony Barnette (7-3).
Lucroy, who played six-plus seasons for the Brewers before being traded to the Rangers on Aug. 1, pulled a pitch from Jimmy Nelson (8-16) down the left-field line into the corner.
Sam Dyson earned his 37th save.
PADRES 7, DODGERS 1
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit his first career grand slam and also had a three-run shot to drive in all the runs in San Diego's victory over the NL West champs.
Renfroe hit a high, arcing three-run homer to left field off Kenta Maeda (16-10) with two outs in the first inning. His grand slam to straightaway center came on a full-count pitch from Louis Coleman with two outs in the eighth.
His seven RBIs were one shy of the team record.
Paul Clemens (4-5) held the Dodgers to one run and three hits in five innings, struck out two and walked one.
ROYALS 4, TWINS 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Billy Burns' sacrifice fly scored Raul Mondesi in the 11th inning as Kansas City beat Minnesota, staving off postseason elimination.
The defending World Series champions are five games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card with five to play.
Rookie Brooks Pounders (2-1) picked up the victory. Left-hander Tommy Milone (3-5) was charged with the loss.
WHITE SOX 13, RAYS 6
CHICAGO (AP) - Melky Cabrera and Leury Garcia homered to back Chris Sale, and Chicago routed sloppy Tampa Bay.
Sale (17-9) allowed three runs and eight hits with seven strikeouts over seven innings.
Rays starter Alex Cobb (1-2) lasted three innings, allowing eight runs and eight hits in the Rays' fifth straight loss.
BRAVES 7, PHILLIES 6
ATLANTA (AP) - Freddie Freeman hit his career-high 33rd homer and stretched his career-best hitting streak to 29 games, helping Atlanta begin its final homestand at Turner Field with a victory.
David Hernandez (3-4) ended a scoreless streak of 10 2/3 innings and took the loss. Mauricio Cabrera (4-1) got the win for the Braves, and Jim Johnson got his 18th save.
ANGELS 8, ATHLETICS 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Rookie Jefry Marte hit his first career grand slam in a seven-run fourth inning and Los Angeles beat Oakland.
Right-hander Ricky Nolasco (8-14) held the A's to one unearned run in eight innings. Right-hander Daniel Mengden (2-9) was charged with eight runs in three-plus innings.
Ezequiel Carrera also homered as the Blue Jays won for the sixth time in eight games. They lead the wild-card standings by two games over the Orioles with five to play.
Baltimore leads Detroit by one game for the league's final playoff spot.
Orioles slugger Chris Davis was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Will Little after striking out against Joe Biagini in the seventh, the third time in three at-bats Davis was caught looking. Baltimore manager Buck Showalter also was tossed after he came out to argue.
Sanchez (14-2) struck out the first four hitters he faced and five of the first six.
Kevin Gausman (8-12) allowed five runs, four earned, and seven hits in six innings.
YANKEES 6, RED SOX 4
NEW YORK (AP) - Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius and Tyler Austin homered off David Price, and New York ended Boston's 11-game winning streak and delayed its AL East title celebration.
David Ortiz, starting his final series in the Bronx, went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts and stranded seven runners. He ended the game by fanning with two on against Tyler Clippard.
Having clinched at least a wild-card berth last weekend, Boston is five games ahead of second-place Toronto with five games left, needing just one victory or a Blue Jays loss to ensure the division championship.
Price (17-9) allowed six runs and 12 hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Blake Parker (1-0) got two outs for his first victory since July 10, 2014 while with the Cubs. Clippard got his second save.
METS 12, MARLINS 1
MIAMI (AP) - Noah Syndergaard struck out eight and allowed one run in six innings, and New York totaled 19 hits to beat grieving Miami.
Jay Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes each hit his 31st homer for the Mets, who maintained a half-game lead on the Giants for the first NL wild card, with St. Louis 1 1/2 games behind New York.
The game was the Marlins' second since the death of ace Jose Fernandez in a boating accident.
Syndergaard (14-9) threw 93 pitches after missing a scheduled start Saturday with strep throat and lowered his ERA to 2.60, third-best in the majors. He'll return to pitch the regular-season finale Sunday at Philadelphia if needed.
Tom Koehler (9-13) allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings.
GIANTS 12, ROCKIES 3
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Buster Posey homered for his 1,000th hit, Hunter Pence also went deep one batter later and San Francisco beat Colorado.
Brandon Crawford tripled twice for San Francisco, which remained a half-game behind the Mets for the top NL wild card and one game up on the Cardinals for the second spot.
Matt Moore (12-12) matched his career high with 11 strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings, rebounding from his worst start this season.
German Marquez (1-1) allowed six runs and 12 hits over 4 1/3 innings.
ASTROS 8, MARINERS 4
HOUSTON (AP) - George Springer had three hits, including a two-run double during a six-run sixth inning, and Houston beat Seattle.
The victory leaves Seattle two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card and cuts Houston's deficit in the race to 2 1/2 games.
The Astros got five hits off Felix Hernandez (11-7) in the sixth, but only two of the six runs scored in the inning were earned because of two errors.
Rookie Jandel Gustave (1-0) yielded no hits and no runs with one walk in 1 1/3 innings for his first career win.
TIGERS 12, INDIANS 0
DETROIT (AP) - Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in five runs in the first two innings, and Justin Verlander struck out 12 to lift Detroit over a Cleveland lineup full of backups.
The Indians clinched the AL Central title Monday night in Detroit, and their starting lineup Tuesday was without Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Mike Napoli and Jose Ramirez. Detroit took full advantage, beating Cleveland for only the third time all year and pulling within a game of Baltimore for the AL's second wild card.
Verlander (16-8) went 7 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and a walk.
Mike Clevinger (2-3) lasted only two innings, allowing Cabrera's two-run double in the first and his three-run homer in the second.
CUBS 6, PIRATES 4
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Chris Coghlan hit a three-run triple and John Lackey worked in and out of trouble over five innings, helping Chicago beat reeling Pittsburgh.
Coghlan's second-inning drive off the wall in right-center against Ryan Vogelsong (3-7) gave the NL Central champions all the offense they would need to win for the seventh time in their last eight games. Chicago improved to 101-56, the club's highest victory total since it won 104 games in 1910.
Lackey (11-8) worked around five hits and three walks to win his last regular season start.
Felix Pena recorded the final two outs for his first career save.
The Pirates were eliminated from postseason contention, ending a run of three straight playoff appearances.
NATIONALS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2
WASHINGTON (AP) - Max Scherzer struck out 10 and allowed two runs in six innings and Anthony Rendon hit a go-ahead three-run homer as Washington beat Arizona to inch closer to home-field advantage in the NL Division Series.
Scherzer (19-7) was not at his Cy Young Award candidate best, uncharacteristically missing spots and allowing six hits, including a leadoff home run by Jean Segura.
After the Nationals didn't get a hit through five innings against Arizona starter Matt Koch, Rendon hit a three-run shot off Randall Delgado (4-2) with two outs in the sixth, his 19th of the season.
CARDINALS 12, REDS 5
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Playing with a heavy heart, Aledmys Diaz hit his first career grand slam and St. Louis finished with five home runs.
St. Louis is a game behind the Giants for the second NL wild card.
Jhonny Peralta had a three-run homer and drove in four runs for the Cardinals, who had lost four of five. Matt Carpenter, Randal Grichuk and Matt Adams also homered.
Cincinnati starter Robert Stephenson (2-3) ended up allowing five runs in four innings.
Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright (13-9) gave up five runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.
RANGERS 6, BREWERS 4
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Jonathan Lucroy hit a go-ahead two-run double against his former team in the sixth inning to help Texas beat Milwaukee.
The Rangers have a half-game lead over Boston for the best record in the American League.
Lucroy's hit made a winner of reliever Tony Barnette (7-3).
Lucroy, who played six-plus seasons for the Brewers before being traded to the Rangers on Aug. 1, pulled a pitch from Jimmy Nelson (8-16) down the left-field line into the corner.
Sam Dyson earned his 37th save.
PADRES 7, DODGERS 1
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit his first career grand slam and also had a three-run shot to drive in all the runs in San Diego's victory over the NL West champs.
Renfroe hit a high, arcing three-run homer to left field off Kenta Maeda (16-10) with two outs in the first inning. His grand slam to straightaway center came on a full-count pitch from Louis Coleman with two outs in the eighth.
His seven RBIs were one shy of the team record.
Paul Clemens (4-5) held the Dodgers to one run and three hits in five innings, struck out two and walked one.
ROYALS 4, TWINS 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Billy Burns' sacrifice fly scored Raul Mondesi in the 11th inning as Kansas City beat Minnesota, staving off postseason elimination.
The defending World Series champions are five games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card with five to play.
Rookie Brooks Pounders (2-1) picked up the victory. Left-hander Tommy Milone (3-5) was charged with the loss.
WHITE SOX 13, RAYS 6
CHICAGO (AP) - Melky Cabrera and Leury Garcia homered to back Chris Sale, and Chicago routed sloppy Tampa Bay.
Sale (17-9) allowed three runs and eight hits with seven strikeouts over seven innings.
Rays starter Alex Cobb (1-2) lasted three innings, allowing eight runs and eight hits in the Rays' fifth straight loss.
BRAVES 7, PHILLIES 6
ATLANTA (AP) - Freddie Freeman hit his career-high 33rd homer and stretched his career-best hitting streak to 29 games, helping Atlanta begin its final homestand at Turner Field with a victory.
David Hernandez (3-4) ended a scoreless streak of 10 2/3 innings and took the loss. Mauricio Cabrera (4-1) got the win for the Braves, and Jim Johnson got his 18th save.
ANGELS 8, ATHLETICS 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Rookie Jefry Marte hit his first career grand slam in a seven-run fourth inning and Los Angeles beat Oakland.
Right-hander Ricky Nolasco (8-14) held the A's to one unearned run in eight innings. Right-hander Daniel Mengden (2-9) was charged with eight runs in three-plus innings.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Braves' Freddie Freeman named National League Player of the Week
Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman has been named the National League Player of the Week for the period ending September 25th. The announcement was made yesterday on MLB Network.
In six games last week, Freeman hit .500 (11-for-22), tying for the top mark in the Majors. The 27-year-old also ranked among NL leaders with 11 hits (1st), a .593 on-base percentage (1st), 20 stolen bases (T-1st), a .909 slugging percentage (2nd) and seven RBIs (T-3rd). Freeman also had five runs scored last week, swiped a pair of bases, and clubbed three doubles and two home runs, helping the Braves go 5-1 during the week. Freeman homered and drove in three in Atlanta's 7-3 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field on Monday. He had a pair of hits in Wednesday's series finale between the two clubs as the Braves completed a three-game sweep with a 6-3 victory. On Friday, the California native doubled and walked twice in a 3-2 victory at Miami. With the two-bagger, Freeman became just the second Atlanta Braves player (since 1966) to tally 80 extra-base hits in a single season, joining Chipper Jones, who had 87 in his NL MVP-winning 1999 season. The left-handed-hitting slugger had two hits, including his 32nd homer of the season, in a losing effort on Saturday. With the pair of hits, Freeman extended his hitting streak to 28 consecutive games, which is the longest hitting streak by an NL batter this season, and the longest by a Braves player since his former teammate Dan Uggla hit safely in 33 straight games in 2011. Freeman has now reached base safely in a career-best 44 consecutive contests dating back to August 6th. He has a .384 batting average and a .502 on-base percentage in that span, along with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs. This is his fifth career NL Player of the Week honor and third this season, also winning this year for the weeks of June 13th-19th and August 29th-September 4th.
Other noteworthy performances last week included Asdrubal Cabrera (.370, 5 R, 10 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .741 SLG, .452 OBP) of the Mets; Philadelphia's Maikel Franco (.360, 5 R, 9 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .720 SLG, .448 OBP); Jon Lester (2-0, 0.66 ERA, 12 SO, 13.2 IP) of the Chicago Cubs; and Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 13 SO, 13.0 IP) of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Freddie Freeman will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.
In six games last week, Freeman hit .500 (11-for-22), tying for the top mark in the Majors. The 27-year-old also ranked among NL leaders with 11 hits (1st), a .593 on-base percentage (1st), 20 stolen bases (T-1st), a .909 slugging percentage (2nd) and seven RBIs (T-3rd). Freeman also had five runs scored last week, swiped a pair of bases, and clubbed three doubles and two home runs, helping the Braves go 5-1 during the week. Freeman homered and drove in three in Atlanta's 7-3 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field on Monday. He had a pair of hits in Wednesday's series finale between the two clubs as the Braves completed a three-game sweep with a 6-3 victory. On Friday, the California native doubled and walked twice in a 3-2 victory at Miami. With the two-bagger, Freeman became just the second Atlanta Braves player (since 1966) to tally 80 extra-base hits in a single season, joining Chipper Jones, who had 87 in his NL MVP-winning 1999 season. The left-handed-hitting slugger had two hits, including his 32nd homer of the season, in a losing effort on Saturday. With the pair of hits, Freeman extended his hitting streak to 28 consecutive games, which is the longest hitting streak by an NL batter this season, and the longest by a Braves player since his former teammate Dan Uggla hit safely in 33 straight games in 2011. Freeman has now reached base safely in a career-best 44 consecutive contests dating back to August 6th. He has a .384 batting average and a .502 on-base percentage in that span, along with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs. This is his fifth career NL Player of the Week honor and third this season, also winning this year for the weeks of June 13th-19th and August 29th-September 4th.
Other noteworthy performances last week included Asdrubal Cabrera (.370, 5 R, 10 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .741 SLG, .452 OBP) of the Mets; Philadelphia's Maikel Franco (.360, 5 R, 9 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .720 SLG, .448 OBP); Jon Lester (2-0, 0.66 ERA, 12 SO, 13.2 IP) of the Chicago Cubs; and Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 13 SO, 13.0 IP) of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Freddie Freeman will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.
Indians' Santana, Tigers' Upton named AL Co-Players of the Week
Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana and Detroit Tigers outfielder Justin Upton have been named the American League Co-Players of the Week for the period ending September 25th. The announcement was made yesterday on MLB Network.
Santana batted .458 (11-for-24) with five runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and six RBI over six games to earn his second career AL Player of the Week Award, last winning on July 27, 2014. Among AL leaders, Carlos finished the period tied for third in doubles and total bases (20), tied for fourth in hits, fifth in batting average, tied for sixth in on-base percentage (.500) and tied for eighth in slugging percentage (.833). On Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field, the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native went 4- for-5, logging four-or-more hits for the fifth time in his career. In the following contest against the Royals, the seven-year veteran collected two more hits, including a double and the go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning. The switch-hitting slugger followed up his Thursday night showing with a three-hit effort in the first game of a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox. Over the three games, Santana batted 9-for-12 with four runs scored, three doubles, a home run and five RBI, with the Tribe winning each contest. Entering play today, Santana has recorded a career-high 34 home runs this season as the Indians currently sit atop the AL Central by 7.0 games.
Upton batted .400 (10-for-25) with six runs scored, three doubles, three home runs and six RBI over six games to claim his fourth career Player of the Week Award and his first in the AL, last winning in the NL with the Atlanta Braves on April 13, 2014. Among his AL counterparts, Justin finished the week first in total bases (22); tied for third in home runs and doubles; tied for fifth in runs scored; sixth in slugging percentage (.880); tied for sixth in hits; and tied for eighth in batting average. In the Tigers' first game of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, the Norfolk, Virginia native belted a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning of Detroit's eventual 9-2 win. Entering play today, Detroit's offseason acquisition is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, dating back to September 18th. Over a stretch that saw the Tigers go 5-2, the 29-year-old veteran hit .379 (11-for-29) with seven runs scored, three doubles, four homers and eight RBI. Since the calendar flipped to September, Upton is tied with Brian Dozier of the Twins and Hanley Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox for first in the Majors in home runs (10). Fighting for a Postseason berth, Detroit sits just 1.5 games back of Baltimore for the second AL Wild Card spot.
Other noteworthy performances last week included Carlos' teammate Jose Ramirez (.429, 5 R, 6 2B, 5 RBI); Justin's teammates Victor Martinez (.500, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 1.143 SLG) and Cameron Maybin (.500, 10 R, 12 H, 5 RBI); Mookie Betts (.500, 7 R, 12 H, 8 BB) and Rick Porcello (2-0, 2.93 ERA, 1 CG, 16 SO) of the Red Sox; and Marco Estrada (1-0, 0.64 ERA, 14.0 IP, 15 SO) of the Toronto Blue Jays.
In recognition of their American League Co-Players of the Week Awards, both Carlos Santana and Justin Upton will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.
- Major League Baseball
Santana batted .458 (11-for-24) with five runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and six RBI over six games to earn his second career AL Player of the Week Award, last winning on July 27, 2014. Among AL leaders, Carlos finished the period tied for third in doubles and total bases (20), tied for fourth in hits, fifth in batting average, tied for sixth in on-base percentage (.500) and tied for eighth in slugging percentage (.833). On Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field, the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native went 4- for-5, logging four-or-more hits for the fifth time in his career. In the following contest against the Royals, the seven-year veteran collected two more hits, including a double and the go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning. The switch-hitting slugger followed up his Thursday night showing with a three-hit effort in the first game of a three-game set against the Chicago White Sox. Over the three games, Santana batted 9-for-12 with four runs scored, three doubles, a home run and five RBI, with the Tribe winning each contest. Entering play today, Santana has recorded a career-high 34 home runs this season as the Indians currently sit atop the AL Central by 7.0 games.
Upton batted .400 (10-for-25) with six runs scored, three doubles, three home runs and six RBI over six games to claim his fourth career Player of the Week Award and his first in the AL, last winning in the NL with the Atlanta Braves on April 13, 2014. Among his AL counterparts, Justin finished the week first in total bases (22); tied for third in home runs and doubles; tied for fifth in runs scored; sixth in slugging percentage (.880); tied for sixth in hits; and tied for eighth in batting average. In the Tigers' first game of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, the Norfolk, Virginia native belted a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning of Detroit's eventual 9-2 win. Entering play today, Detroit's offseason acquisition is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, dating back to September 18th. Over a stretch that saw the Tigers go 5-2, the 29-year-old veteran hit .379 (11-for-29) with seven runs scored, three doubles, four homers and eight RBI. Since the calendar flipped to September, Upton is tied with Brian Dozier of the Twins and Hanley Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox for first in the Majors in home runs (10). Fighting for a Postseason berth, Detroit sits just 1.5 games back of Baltimore for the second AL Wild Card spot.
Other noteworthy performances last week included Carlos' teammate Jose Ramirez (.429, 5 R, 6 2B, 5 RBI); Justin's teammates Victor Martinez (.500, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 1.143 SLG) and Cameron Maybin (.500, 10 R, 12 H, 5 RBI); Mookie Betts (.500, 7 R, 12 H, 8 BB) and Rick Porcello (2-0, 2.93 ERA, 1 CG, 16 SO) of the Red Sox; and Marco Estrada (1-0, 0.64 ERA, 14.0 IP, 15 SO) of the Toronto Blue Jays.
In recognition of their American League Co-Players of the Week Awards, both Carlos Santana and Justin Upton will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.
- Major League Baseball
MLB Transactions from September 26, 2016
Miami Marlins activated LHP Adam Conley from the 15-day disabled list.
Washington Nationals activated LHP Sammy Solis from the 15-day disabled list.
Cincinnati Reds placed SS Zack Cozart on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to September 16, 2016. Right knee injury.
Washington Nationals traded 2B Chris Bostick to Pittsburgh Pirates for C Taylor Gushue and cash.
Pittsburgh Pirates placed 2B Josh Harrison on the 60-day disabled list. Right groin strain.
New York Yankees sent J.R. Graham outright to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Washington Nationals activated LHP Sammy Solis from the 15-day disabled list.
Cincinnati Reds placed SS Zack Cozart on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to September 16, 2016. Right knee injury.
Washington Nationals traded 2B Chris Bostick to Pittsburgh Pirates for C Taylor Gushue and cash.
Pittsburgh Pirates placed 2B Josh Harrison on the 60-day disabled list. Right groin strain.
New York Yankees sent J.R. Graham outright to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Baseball Capsules (September 27, 2016)
MIAMI (AP) — Dee Gordon and the Miami Marlins wore their emotions on the sleeves of their No. 16 jerseys.
Jose Fernandez would have loved it.
Gordon homered leading off the first inning for the Marlins, who totaled 14 hits and mixed cheers with the tears of the past two days by beating the New York Mets 7-3 on Monday night in their first game since Fernandez died in a boating accident.
Adam Conley pitched three scoreless innings subbing for Fernandez, who had been scheduled to make his final start of the year. Justin Bour went 3 for 3 and Gordon had four hits, including one that will go down in Marlins lore.
Paying tribute to their charismatic ace, the left-handed-hitting Gordon stepped to the plate as a righty leading off the first. After one pitch, Gordon switched to his customary left side — and pulled a 2-0 delivery into the upper deck for his first homer of the season.
New York's Bartolo Colon (14-8) allowed a season-high seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Mike Dunn (5-1) pitched a perfect fourth for the win.
New York still leads the NL wild-card race with five games to go.
INDIANS 7, TIGERS 4
DETROIT (AP) — Cleveland clinched the AL Central title, overcoming an injury to ace right-hander Corey Kluber in a victory over Detroit.
Kluber left after four innings with right groin tightness, joining Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar in a group of talented Cleveland pitchers dealing with injuries. But even those concerns were secondary when the Indians poured onto the field to celebrate their first division title since 2007.
Buck Farmer (0-1) allowed four runs in five innings for the Tigers, who fell two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.
Andrew Miller (10-1) won in relief, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 33 chances.
MARINERS 4, ASTROS 3, 11 INNINGS
HOUSTON (AP) — Robinson Cano hit his second homer of the game with two outs in the 11th inning, lifting Seattle over Houston.
Houston scored two runs in the ninth, but then Cano sent a slider from Luke Gregerson (4-3) into the second deck in right field to win.
The victory moves Seattle two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card and drops Houston, which has lost four of five, to 3 1/2 games back in the race
Drew Storen (4-3) pitched a perfect 10th for the win. Nick Vincent allowed consecutive singles to Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa before retiring the next two batters for his third save.
CUBS 12, PIRATES 2
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Javier Baez hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs while major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks pitched six scoreless innings, and Chicago won its 100th game of the season.
Baez helped the NL Central-champion Cubs reach triple digits in victories for the first time since 1935.
Hendricks (16-8) dropped his ERA to 1.99 by scattering seven hits, striking out five and walking none. He has not allowed more than three runs in 22 consecutive starts.
The Pirates entered the day 4 ½ games out of the second NL wild card with seven games to play.
Rookie Chad Kuhl (5-4) was rocked for five runs and eight hits in three innings.
DIAMONDBACKS 14, NATIONALS 4
WASHINGTON (AP) — All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos left Washington's loss to Arizona with a right knee injury that could be a major blow to the NL East champions.
Ramos landed awkwardly on his right leg after jumping to catch a relay throw in the sixth inning. He immediately called for medical attention and clutched at the same knee he injured badly during the 2012 season, when he tore his ACL and medial collateral ligament.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Ramos would have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of the damage.
Washington was already without reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper due to a thumb injury, slugging second baseman Daniel Murphy (strained glute) and 15-game winner Stephen Strasburg (elbow).
This loss left the Nationals one game ahead of the Dodgers for home-field advantage in the series.
Tanner Roark (15-10) allowed five runs in four innings.
Zack Godley (5-4) got the win behind three scoreless innings in relief.
YANKEES 7, BLUE JAYS 5
TORONTO (AP) — Mark Teixeira hit a tying homer in the ninth inning and Aaron Hicks added a winning blast as New York avoided a four-game sweep.
Leading 3-2 heading to the ninth, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons called on Jason Grilli (7-6) to close it out because Roberto Osuna was unavailable after pitching the previous two days.
Teixeira tied it 3-all with a one-out drive into the second deck drive in right. Didi Gregorius singled and Hicks followed with a two-run homer.
Tommy Layne wrapped up his first save by getting Troy Tulowitzki to foul out. Adam Warren (4-2) got the win behind two perfect innings.
BREWERS 8, RANGERS 3
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jonathan Villar had two home runs and a career-high five RBIs, and Matt Garza beat his former team.
The loss dropped AL West-champion Texas a half-game behind Boston in the race for the league's best record. The Cleveland Indians pulled within a half-game of the Rangers.
Garza (6-8) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. Rangers starter Martin Perez (10-11) was looking to set a career high for wins in a season.
REDS 15, CARDINALS 2
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Joey Votto and Adam Duvall hit two of Cincinnati's four homers in a rout of St. Louis.
Reds starter Tim Adleman (3-4) retired the first 10 Cardinals he faced and went a career-long seven innings. It was his first win since Aug. 19.
Jaime Garcia (10-13) lasted just one inning in the shortest outing of his career.
WHITE SOX 7, RAYS 1
CHICAGO (AP) — James Shields pitched six effective innings for his first win in two months, Justin Morneau and Carlos Sanchez each hit a two-run homer and Chicago beat Tampa Bay.
Shields (6-18) allowed one run and seven hits, using six strikeouts to help wriggle out of several jams and help Chicago win its third straight.
Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly (7-12) allowed three runs and seven hits over five innings in losing for the first time since July 18 at Colorado.
ANGELS 2, ATHLETICS 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Yunel Escobar scored when Ryan Dull (5-5) bobbled Albert Pujols' weak grounder back to the mound in the eighth inning, and Los Angeles beat Oakland for its fifth victory in six games.
Mike Trout hit his 29th homer for the Angels. JC Ramirez (2-1) got the win in relief and Andrew Bailey got his sixth save.
Jose Fernandez would have loved it.
Gordon homered leading off the first inning for the Marlins, who totaled 14 hits and mixed cheers with the tears of the past two days by beating the New York Mets 7-3 on Monday night in their first game since Fernandez died in a boating accident.
Adam Conley pitched three scoreless innings subbing for Fernandez, who had been scheduled to make his final start of the year. Justin Bour went 3 for 3 and Gordon had four hits, including one that will go down in Marlins lore.
Paying tribute to their charismatic ace, the left-handed-hitting Gordon stepped to the plate as a righty leading off the first. After one pitch, Gordon switched to his customary left side — and pulled a 2-0 delivery into the upper deck for his first homer of the season.
New York's Bartolo Colon (14-8) allowed a season-high seven runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Mike Dunn (5-1) pitched a perfect fourth for the win.
New York still leads the NL wild-card race with five games to go.
INDIANS 7, TIGERS 4
DETROIT (AP) — Cleveland clinched the AL Central title, overcoming an injury to ace right-hander Corey Kluber in a victory over Detroit.
Kluber left after four innings with right groin tightness, joining Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar in a group of talented Cleveland pitchers dealing with injuries. But even those concerns were secondary when the Indians poured onto the field to celebrate their first division title since 2007.
Buck Farmer (0-1) allowed four runs in five innings for the Tigers, who fell two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.
Andrew Miller (10-1) won in relief, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 33 chances.
MARINERS 4, ASTROS 3, 11 INNINGS
HOUSTON (AP) — Robinson Cano hit his second homer of the game with two outs in the 11th inning, lifting Seattle over Houston.
Houston scored two runs in the ninth, but then Cano sent a slider from Luke Gregerson (4-3) into the second deck in right field to win.
The victory moves Seattle two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card and drops Houston, which has lost four of five, to 3 1/2 games back in the race
Drew Storen (4-3) pitched a perfect 10th for the win. Nick Vincent allowed consecutive singles to Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa before retiring the next two batters for his third save.
CUBS 12, PIRATES 2
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Javier Baez hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs while major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks pitched six scoreless innings, and Chicago won its 100th game of the season.
Baez helped the NL Central-champion Cubs reach triple digits in victories for the first time since 1935.
Hendricks (16-8) dropped his ERA to 1.99 by scattering seven hits, striking out five and walking none. He has not allowed more than three runs in 22 consecutive starts.
The Pirates entered the day 4 ½ games out of the second NL wild card with seven games to play.
Rookie Chad Kuhl (5-4) was rocked for five runs and eight hits in three innings.
DIAMONDBACKS 14, NATIONALS 4
WASHINGTON (AP) — All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos left Washington's loss to Arizona with a right knee injury that could be a major blow to the NL East champions.
Ramos landed awkwardly on his right leg after jumping to catch a relay throw in the sixth inning. He immediately called for medical attention and clutched at the same knee he injured badly during the 2012 season, when he tore his ACL and medial collateral ligament.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Ramos would have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of the damage.
Washington was already without reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper due to a thumb injury, slugging second baseman Daniel Murphy (strained glute) and 15-game winner Stephen Strasburg (elbow).
This loss left the Nationals one game ahead of the Dodgers for home-field advantage in the series.
Tanner Roark (15-10) allowed five runs in four innings.
Zack Godley (5-4) got the win behind three scoreless innings in relief.
YANKEES 7, BLUE JAYS 5
TORONTO (AP) — Mark Teixeira hit a tying homer in the ninth inning and Aaron Hicks added a winning blast as New York avoided a four-game sweep.
Leading 3-2 heading to the ninth, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons called on Jason Grilli (7-6) to close it out because Roberto Osuna was unavailable after pitching the previous two days.
Teixeira tied it 3-all with a one-out drive into the second deck drive in right. Didi Gregorius singled and Hicks followed with a two-run homer.
Tommy Layne wrapped up his first save by getting Troy Tulowitzki to foul out. Adam Warren (4-2) got the win behind two perfect innings.
BREWERS 8, RANGERS 3
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jonathan Villar had two home runs and a career-high five RBIs, and Matt Garza beat his former team.
The loss dropped AL West-champion Texas a half-game behind Boston in the race for the league's best record. The Cleveland Indians pulled within a half-game of the Rangers.
Garza (6-8) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. Rangers starter Martin Perez (10-11) was looking to set a career high for wins in a season.
REDS 15, CARDINALS 2
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Joey Votto and Adam Duvall hit two of Cincinnati's four homers in a rout of St. Louis.
Reds starter Tim Adleman (3-4) retired the first 10 Cardinals he faced and went a career-long seven innings. It was his first win since Aug. 19.
Jaime Garcia (10-13) lasted just one inning in the shortest outing of his career.
WHITE SOX 7, RAYS 1
CHICAGO (AP) — James Shields pitched six effective innings for his first win in two months, Justin Morneau and Carlos Sanchez each hit a two-run homer and Chicago beat Tampa Bay.
Shields (6-18) allowed one run and seven hits, using six strikeouts to help wriggle out of several jams and help Chicago win its third straight.
Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly (7-12) allowed three runs and seven hits over five innings in losing for the first time since July 18 at Colorado.
ANGELS 2, ATHLETICS 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Yunel Escobar scored when Ryan Dull (5-5) bobbled Albert Pujols' weak grounder back to the mound in the eighth inning, and Los Angeles beat Oakland for its fifth victory in six games.
Mike Trout hit his 29th homer for the Angels. JC Ramirez (2-1) got the win in relief and Andrew Bailey got his sixth save.
Monday, September 26, 2016
MLB Transactions from September 25, 2016
Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Brandon McCarthy from the 15-day disabled list.
Baseball Capsules (September 26, 2016)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fourth straight NL West title, winning the crown in Vin Scully's final home game when Charlie Culberson homered with two outs in the 10th inning to beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 Sunday.
Culberson hit his first homer of the season and just sixth of his career off Boone Logan (2-5) and the ball landed in the lower left-field seats, touching off wild cheers and a raucous celebration at home plate. The Dodgers charged out of their dugout and surrounded Culberson, jumping up and down. They donned championship T-shirts and hats from carts wheeled on the field.
The Dodgers took off their caps, turned toward Scully's broadcasting booth and held them in a salute to the 88-year-old Hall of Famer, who has just three games at San Francisco next weekend before ending his 67-year career.
The Dodgers became the first NL West team to win four straight division titles.
Joe Blanton (7-2) pitched the 10th to get the victory.
PADRES 4, GIANTS 3
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Manuel Margot tripled in the seventh inning and scored the go-ahead run on Wil Myers' single as San Diego dropped San Francisco a game behind the New York Mets in the NL wild-card race.
A few minutes before this game ended, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Colorado in 10 innings to win the NL West title. The Dodgers came into Sunday seven games ahead of the Giants.
Margot, called up Wednesday from Pacific Coast League champion El Paso, tripled to right center off Cory Gearrin (3-2) with one out in the seventh and scored on Myers' single to right.
Margot doubled in the first and hit an RBI single in the second, both off rookie Ty Blach, who was making his first big league start, in place of the injured Johnny Cueto.
Brandon Morrow (1-0) got two outs for the victory. Brad Hand got the last five outs for his first save.
CUBS 3, CARDINALS 1
CHICAGO (AP) — David Ross homered and teamed with Jon Lester for another scoreless performance, and Chicago hurt St. Louis' wild-card chances.
Ben Zobrist had three hits and scored two runs as Chicago finished with a major league-best 57-24 home record. It's the most home wins for the Cubs since they went 58-19 at the West Side Grounds in 1910.
The Cardinals lost for the third time in four games, wasting a chance to improve their playoff positioning. They remain a half-game back of San Francisco for the second NL wild card.
Lester (19-4), one of the top candidates for the NL Cy Young Award, struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander allowed three hits and walked one while improving to 10-0 with 1.34 ERA in his last 13 starts.
Carlos Martinez (15-9) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.
WHITE SOX 3, INDIANS 0
CLEVELAND (AP) — Carlos Rodon struck out a career-high 11 over eight dominant innings and the Chicago White Sox denied Cleveland any chance of winning the AL Central title by beating the Indians 3-0 on Sunday.
Rodon (8-10) blanked the Indians on just two singles and easily handled the division leaders who still haven't wrapped up a playoff spot and have gone flat at the worst time possible. Cleveland needed to win its regular-season finale at home and Detroit to lose to Kansas City for the Indians to clinch their first division championship since 2007.
Now, they will have to try and do it on the road against the Tigers, whom they've beaten 13 times in 15 games this season. The clubs open a four-game series Monday at Comerica Park.
It was a disappointing finish for the Indians at Progressive Field, where they went 50-27 and had 11 walk-off wins in a season of comebacks. Cleveland had three errors for the second straight game.
Carlos Sanchez had two RBIs off Josh Tomlin (12-9).
BLUE JAYS 4, YANKEES 3
TORONTO (AP) — Ezequiel Carrera drove in the tying run with a squeeze bunt in the ninth inning, Edwin Encarnacion hit a winning single and Toront hled its AL wild-card lead.
Toronto leads Baltimore by 1 1/2 games for the top AL wild-card spot. The Blue Jays have won a team-record eight straight at home against the Yankees.
New York ended its 33-inning scoreless streak, but lost for the 11th time in 14 games.
After the Yankees scored twice in the ninth off closer Roberto Osuna (3-2) for a 3-2 lead, the Blue Jays bounced back.
Dellin Betances walked Melvin Upton Jr. to begin the bottom of the ninth and took third when Kevin Pillar singled off Tyler Clippard (3-6). Carrera followed with a squeeze bunt, and both runners advanced as Clippard's attempted scoop sent the ball rolling past catcher Gary Sanchez toward the backstop.
Clippard struck out Devon Travis before Josh Donaldson was intentionally walked to load the bases. Encarnacion's slow roller between first and second scored the winning run.
ORIOLES 2, DIAMONDBACKS 1
BALTIMORE (AP) — Hyun Soo Kim hit his fifth home run, a two-run shot in the second inning, and Baltimore completed a three-game sweep of Arizona.
The Orioles entered the day a half-game ahead of Detroit for the second AL wild card and trailed Toronto by 1 1/2 games for the top spot. The Orioles begin a crucial three-game series at the Blue Jays on Tuesday.
Baltimore finished the regular season 50-31 at Camden Yards. Arizona has been swept 13 times this season, including six on the road.
Orioles rookie Dylan Bundy (10-6) allowed the one run on three hits with five strikeouts over five innings. Baltimore's Zach Britton picked up his American League-leading 46th save in 46 chances. Manny Machado went 2 for 4 for his team-high 54th multi-hit game.
ROYALS 12, TIGERS 9
DETROIT (AP) — Salvador Perez homered to cap a cycle by Kansas City's first four batters of the game, and the Royals went deep three more times to beat Detroit and drop the Tigers in the AL wild-card race.
The defending World Series champions avoided elimination from this year's postseason race by chasing Detroit starter Matt Boyd (6-5) before he retired a hitter. Kansas City started the game with a single, a triple and a double before Perez's two-run homer made it 4-0.
The Tigers fell 1 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the second wild-card spot. The loss cut Cleveland's magic number to clinch the AL Central to one — the Indians start a four-game series in Detroit on Monday night.
RED SOX 3, RAYS 2, 10 INNINGS
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Dustin Pedroia used nifty baserunning to score from first base on David Ortiz's double in the 10th inning and AL East-leading Boston won its 11th straight.
Pedroia singled off Eddie Gamboa (0-1) to start the inning. The relay throw on Ortiz's hit to right center beat Pedroia to plate but he avoided Luke Maile's first tag. Pedroia's momentum carried him past the plate and when he went back to touch it Maile was charged with an error when the ball dropped out his glove on another tag try.
Joe Kelly (4-0) went 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the win.
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez struck out a career-high 13 in 5 1/3 innings.
METS 17, PHILLIES 0
NEW YORK (AP) — Asdrubal Cabrera hit a grand slam, Jose Reyes drove in four runs and the Mets got the largest shutout victory in team history to maintain the NL wild-card lead.
On an afternoon when batters circled the bases like the cartoon Gashouse Gorillas, the Mets romped in their final regular-season game at Citi Field.
Reyes batted four straight times with the bases loaded and Cabrera hit his 23rd home run this season. Curtis Granderson reached 30 home runs for the first time since 2012 and rookie Robert Gsellman (3-2) allowed three hits over seven innings.
New York's previous high for runs in a shutout was 14, against the Chicago Cubs in 1965 and Cincinnati in 1998.
Wearing 1986 commemorative uniforms, New York began the day tied with San Francisco for the NL's two wild cards, a half-game ahead of St. Louis.
Jake Thompson (3-6) allowed three runs and five hits in four innings.
REDS 4, BREWERS 2
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brandon Finnegan pitched five scoreless innings in his final start of the season, lifting the Cincinnati past Milwaukee.
Finnegan (10-11) scattered three hits and struck out four, needing only 54 pitches to get through five innings. Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth for his fourth save in five chances.
Finnegan, obtained in the July 2015 trade that sent Johnny Cueto to Kansas City, went 4-3 with a 2.23 ERA in his final 11 starts. The left-hander pitched 172 innings this year, up from 105 1/3 innings splitting time between the major and minor leagues in 2015.
Milwaukee starter Wily Peralta (7-11) pitched six innings, allowing three runs — two earned — on five hits and three walks while striking out five.
ASTROS 4, ANGELS 1
HOUSTON (AP) — Joe Musgrove pitched seven strong innings, Evan Gattis, Tony Kemp and Tyler White homered, and Houston snapped a three-game slide to preserve its playoff hopes.
Houston began the day three games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot.
Musgrove (4-4, 4.06 ERA) allowed one run on seven hits while striking out four.
Closer Ken Giles rebounded from a blown save in Friday's 10-6 loss to Los Angeles. He walked one and struck out two in the ninth for his 14th save.
Daniel Wright (0-5, 6.95) lasted six innings for the Angels. He gave up three runs on seven hits, including two homers, while striking out four and walking two.
MARINERS 4, TWINS 3
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nelson Cruz homered twice before leaving with left wrist soreness, Jesus Sucre homered for the first time in 14 months and Seattle beat Minnesota.
Taijuan Walker (7-11) danced around danger for most of his 5 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and three earned runs. Nick Vincent, Steve Cishek and Edwin Diaz then combined for 3 2/3 innings of no-hit relief, including Diaz's 17th save in 19 chances.
Trying to make the postseason for the first time since 2001, Seattle is 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore for the second American League wild-card spot with a week to play.
Max Kepler homered and Robbie Grossman had three hits for Minnesota in its 100th loss. This is the second time in team history the Twins have had triple-digit losses: The 1982 squad finished 60-102.
Hector Santiago (12-10) allowed four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings for Minnesota.
ATHLETICS 7, RANGERS 1
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Jharel Cotton pitched seven crisp innings and Oakland avoided a series sweep.
Ryon Healy had three hits, including a two-run homer, and Stephen Vogt drove in three runs to help the A's win after being shut out in back-to-back games.
Adrian Beltre hit his 32nd home run for Texas.
The Rangers, who clinched the AL West on Friday, fell into a tie with the Boston Red Sox for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Texas (92-64) holds a slight tiebreaking advantage based on division record.
Oakland will be sitting out the postseason and had lost the first five games on this homestand but ended it on an encouraging note behind Cotton (2-0). The rookie right-hander allowed one run, struck out five and faced two over the minimum while quieting the Rangers' potent offense.
Coming off consecutive shutout losses in the first two games of the series, the A's did all of their scoring in the second to chase starter Colby Lewis (6-4).
NATIONALS 10, PIRATES 7
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nationals star Bryce Harper injured his left thumb making an awkward slide to avoid a pretend tag by Pittsburgh third baseman Jung Ho Kang, and the teams later cleared the benches in Washington's win.
Harper's thumb was sore and the reigning NL MVP will have X-rays Monday.
Harper led off the third inning with a triple for the NL East champions. As Harper neared third, Kang acted as if a throw was coming and faked a tag. Harper went down, was checked by a trainer and stayed in. He scored on Anthony Rendon's double and was replaced in the field in the bottom half.
The next time Kang came up, Nationals starter A.J. Cole threw a fastball behind him and was immediately ejected by plate umpire Jordan Baker.
The benches cleared, with Washington's Jayson Werth in the middle of the skirmish. Pirates outfielder Sean Rodriguez was ejected.
Washington rallied for five runs in the eighth off former teammate Felipe Rivero (1-5).
Shawn Kelley (3-2) got the win. Former Pirates closer Mark Melancon got his 43rd save.
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