OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Bruce Maxwell became the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem, and Khris Davis hit his 40th home run to lift the Oakland Athletics over the Texas Rangers 1-0 on Saturday night.
Maxwell dropped to a knee and pressed his cap against his chest just outside Oakland's dugout during the anthem, adopting a protest started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in response to police treatment of blacks.
Davis homered against Miguel Gonzalez (8-12) leading off the second as the A's won their season-high sixth straight. Raul Alcantara (1-1) allowed two hits in five innings, Blake Treinen finished for his 11th save..
YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 1
TORONTO (AP) — New York returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence, clinching no worse than a wild card as Greg Bird hit a three-run homer and Sonny Gray (10-11) allowed one run and four hits in six innings.
Unless New York overcomes Boston's four-game lead the AL East, the Yankees would play in the AL wild-card game on Oct. 3, most likely at home against Minnesota.
Toronto was eliminated with the defeat after consecutive losses in the AL Championship Series.
Bird, who spent much of the year sidelined and hampered by a right ankle injury, connected in the fifth off Joe Biagini (3-12) for his sixth home run of the season and third in seven games.
RED SOX 5, REDS 0
CINCINNATI (AP) — Mitch Moreland ended an 0-for-19 slump with a three-run homer off Robert Stephenson (5-6) in the sixth, and Eduardo Rodriguez (6-6) pitched three-hit ball into the eighth. Boston has won 13 of 16 and is trying to win consecutive AL East titles for the first time.
Cincinnati reliever Luke Farrell, the son of Red Sox manager John Farrell, pitched the ninth and tipped his cap toward the Boston dugout as he left the mound following a scoreless inning.
BREWERS 4, CUBS 3
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Travis Shaw hit a two-run homer with one out in the 10th iff All-Star closer Wade Davis (4-2), who had been successful in all 32 of his save chances this season until Orlando Arcia led off the ninth with a tying home run.
Milwaukee moved within 4½ games of NL Central-leading Chicago and closed within one game of Colorado for the NL's second wild-card spot.
Chicago went ahead 3-2 in the 10th on Jon Jay's single off Jeremy Jeffress (4-0).
PADRES 5, ROCKIES 0
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jhoulys Chacin (13-10) kept the Rockies hitless until DJ LeMahieu hit a sinking liner that diving center fielder Manuel Margot trapped with two outs in the sixth. Chacin and four relievers combined on a five-hitter.
Colorado was shut out for the third time in four games and has lost five of six.
Rockies starter Chad Bettis (1-4) was chased after allowing Yangervis Solarte's RBI single with two outs in the fifth.
PIRATES 11, CARDINALS 6
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Lance Lynn (11-8) allowed eight runs and six hits while getting two outs for St. Louis (81-73), which remained 1½ games behind Colorado. The Cardinals stayed five games behind the Cubs in the NL Central.
Tommy Pham gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead against Gerrit Cole (12-11) two batters in with a two-run homer. Pham was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.
MARLINS 12, DIAMONDBACKS 6
PHOENIX (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton extended his club record with his 57th home run and set a team mark with his 125th RBI, preventing Arizona from clinching an NL wild card.
Miami scored five runs in the third, taking advantage of a pair of errors by Taijuan Walker (9-9), who allowed seven runs, six hits, three walks and a hit batter in 3 2/3 innings. Brian Ellington (1-1) won in relief.
TWINS 10, TIGERS 4
DETROIT (AP) — Zack Granite hit his first major league home run, a three-run drive that capped an eight-run eighth. Minnesota, which overcame a 3-1 seventh-inning deficit, won its third straight and leads Kansas City, the Los Angeles Angels and Texas by 4½ games for the second AL wild card.
Ervin Santana (16-8) allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings.
Detroit pitcher Alex Wilson broke a leg in the eighth inning when hit by Joe Mauer's line drive. Daniel Stumpf (0-1) followed and allowed three runs and three hits without retiring a batter in his first big league decision.
Detroit, which announced Friday that manager Brad Ausmus will not return next season, has lost six straight and at 62-93 will finish with its worst record since going 43-119 in 2003.
ASTROS 6, ANGELS 2
HOUSTON (AP) — Evan Gattis hit a three-run homer to back Charlie Morton (13-7), who yielded one run and four hits in seven innings for his second straight win.
Justin Upton hit two home runs for the Angels, who matched a season worst with their sixth straight loss.
Carlos Correa had three hits and three RBIs a day after his 23rd birthday as the AL West champion Astros won for the seventh time in eight games. Bud Norris (2-6) allowed three hits and one run over 3 1/3 innings.
ROYALS 8, WHITE SOX 2
CHICAGO (AP) — Alex Gordon homered, Whit Merrifield drove in three runs and Danny Duffy (9-9) allowed two runs and eight hits in six-plus innings for his first win since Aug. 22.
Jose Abreu went 1 for 4 and drove in two runs to reach the 100-RBI mark for the fourth straight season. The Chicago slugger is just the third major leaguer to begin his career with four straight seasons of at least 25 homers and 100 RBIs after Joe DiMaggio and Albert Pujols.
Dylan Covey (0-7) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings.
INDIANS 11, MARINERS 4
SEATTLE (AP) — Francisco Lindor led off the game with his 33rd home run, the most by a Cleveland middle infielder, and the Indians won for the 28th time in 30 games.
Carlos Carrasco (17-6) matched teammate Cory Kluber and Boston's Chris Sale for the most wins in the AL, allowing one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Yan Gomes homered twice and had four RBIs, and Jose Ramirez homered and drove in four runs.
Cleveland, which set the AL record with a 22-game winning streak this month, matched the 1884 Providence Grays for the best big league record over a 30-game span at 28-2. The Indians (97-58) lead Houston (95-59) for AL home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Seattle lost for the seventh time in eight games and fell six games behind Minnesota.
RAYS 9, ORIOLES 6
BALTIMORE (AP) — Lucas Duda hit a go-ahead, three-run homer, helping eliminate the Orioles from postseason contention. Baltimore (74-82), which closed with five runs in the ninth inning, is assured of finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2011.
Duda's third-inning homer, his 30th overall and 13th since the Rays acquired him from the New York Mets, helped Tampa Bay take a 9-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
Tampa Bay (76-79) remained five games behind Minnesota with seven games remaining.
Jake Odorizzi (10-8) allowed an unearned run and three hits in six innings. Alex Colome retired Trey Mancini on a groundout for his major league-leading 46th save. Jeremy Hellickson (2-6 with the Orioles) gave up three runs and four hits over six innings.
NATIONALS 4, METS 3
NEW YORK (AP) — Daniel Murphy homered in the 10th off Jacob Rhame (0-1) and is hitting .393 with 35 RBIs in 37 games versus his former team.
Noah Syndergaard threw a five-pitch scoreless inning in his first major league appearance since partially tearing his right lat muscle on April 30. Matt Harvey took over for New York and allowed three runs in four innings.
Stephen Strasburg gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings. Sammy Solis (1-0) got the win, and Sean Doolittle completed his 20th save in 20 chances since being acquired from Oakland.
GIANTS 2, DODGERS 1
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Madison Bumgarner (4-9) allowed five hits in 7 2/3 innings, including Austin Barnes' homer, ending a four-start losing streak. Gorkys Hernandez had three hits and scored both runs.
Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-8) in the third inning when Joe Panik hit a comebacker off his left forearm. The Dodgers said X-rays were negative and Ryu had a bruised forearm.
Sam Dyson pitched a scoreless ninth for his 14th save.
BRAVES 4, PHILLIES 2
ATLANTA (AP) — Pinch-hitter Johan Camargo hit a go-ahead, two-run double off Luis Garcia (2-5) in a three-run eighth inning and Rio Ruiz homered.
Rex Brothers (4-3) pitched a one-hit eighth, and Arodys Vizcaino struck out three in the ninth for his 13th save.
This is "The Line Drive", MLB and baseball news brought to you by the UNB! Network!
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
LEADING OFF: After Maxwell takes knee, will others join?
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ANTHEM PROTESTS
Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland Athletics became the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem on Saturday, adopting a protest started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in response to police treatment of blacks. More players could follow — there’s been a major backlash by athletes and executives after President Donald Trump denounced protests by NFL players at a rally on Friday. The Athletics quickly voiced support for Maxwell, tweeting shortly after the anthem that they “respect and support all of our players’ constitutional rights and freedom of expression” and “pride ourselves on being inclusive.”
WORKING OVERTIME
After playing three straight games that got decided in the 10th inning, the NL Central-leading Cubs and Brewers wrap up their series at Miller Park. Milwaukee bounced back from two losses to win Saturday 4-3 on Travis Shaw’s homer off closer Wade Davis. The Brewers moved within 4 1/2 games of the Cubs, and are even closer in the chase for the second wild-card spot. Jose Quintana starts for Chicago vs. Chase Anderson.
TRY AGAIN
Lance McCullers (7-3, 3.97) pitches for the AL West champion Astros when they host the Los Angeles Angels at night. The right-hander hasn’t pitched since he was scratched from his scheduled start on Sept. 13 because of arm fatigue. Manager A.J. Hinch said McCullers will be on a pitch count, but didn’t say exactly how many pitches they’ll let him throw. The Angels have lost six in a row and fallen back in the wild-card race.
KLUBOT IN CONTROL
Corey Kluber can improve his AL Cy Young Award resume when Cleveland faces Seattle. Kluber is 5-0 with a 1.15 ERA in his last five starts and hasn’t allowed a run in 22 innings. He is 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in three career starts against Seattle.
FEELING BETTER
Jacob deGrom is expected back on the mound for the Mets after having a scheduled start pushed back because of a stomach bug. He’ll face Washington ace Max Scherzer in the last game of the season series between the teams. The Nationals may also get star outfielder Bryce Harper back soon. Harper played in a simulated game Saturday, and manager Dusty Baker says he’s “very close” to returning after hyperextending his left knee in August.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Stanton, Marlins knock off Diamondbacks
(TSX / STATS) -- PHOENIX -- Giancarlo Stanton hit his 57th home run to lead the Miami Marlins to a 12-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.
The Marlins slugger went 3-for-6 and was a triple shy of the cycle. Stanton drove in four runs and became Miami's single-season RBI leader with 124, breaking the previous mark of 120 set by Preston Wilson in 2000.
Justin Bour homered for the fourth consecutive game as his two-run, opposite-field shot in the eighth gave Miami an 11-6 lead. Bour's shot bounced off the left-field foul pole for his 25th of the season.
Miami (73-81) took the lead for good with a five-run third inning and withstood home runs from Arizona's J.D. Martinez and Paul Goldschmidt. Martinez now has 43 homers and Goldschmidt connected for the 36th time this season.
The loss kept Arizona (89-66) within one game of clinching a wild card berth.
Brian Ellington (1-1) pitched two innings of relief for the win. Ellington struck out three around Martinez's solo home run.
Neither starter reached the fifth inning. Arizona's Taijuan Walker (9-9) allowed six runs and six hits, walked three and struck out six in 3 2/3 innings.
Despite enjoying four- and three-run leads, Miami's Dillon Peters was lifted for a pinch hitter after four innings. Peters surrendered five runs and six hits, walked three and struck out one.
Martinez's solo homer off Ellington in the fifth pulled Arizona within 7-6. Stanton leaped and attempted to catch Martinez's opposite-field shot before it landed over the wall in right-center field.
Stanton's solo homer and Justin Bour's RBI single in the fourth gave Miami a 7-4 lead.
Bour's single to shallow center scored Christian Yelich from second. Yelich originally was called out on second baseman Brandon Drury's throw to catcher Chris Ianetta. But Miami challenged the play and a video review overturned the call.
The Marlins erased a 1-0 deficit with a five-run third, keyed by Stanton's two-run double and a fielding error by Walker off Dee Gordon's short dribbler that scored Miguel Rojas from third. Bour drove in a run with a single and Brian Anderson's sacrifice fly to deep center scored Miami's fifth run of the inning.
Goldschmidt's three-run homer off Peters in the bottom of the inning cut the deficit to 5-4.
Drury's home run to lead off the second gave the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead. Drury drove Peters' pitch above the wall in right-center for his 13th home run.
NOTES: Marlins 2B Dee Gordon favored his right leg as he attempted to beat out a grounder in the fourth. Although Gordon limped on his way to the dugout, he remained in the game. ... Marlins 3B Martin Prado, sidelined since mid-July because of a right knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery, is traveling with the team on its road trip to Arizona and Colorado. Prado took batting practice before Saturday's game and is targeting possible pinch-hit opportunities the final week of the season. ... Diamondbacks OF J.D. Martinez has 27 home runs since July 19, second behind Stanton. Martinez also drove in his 28th run of the month. ... Saturday's crowd of 39,259 at Chase Field pushed the Diamondbacks over two million in home attendance for the season. Arizona has never drawn less than two million at home in the club's 19-year history.
The Marlins slugger went 3-for-6 and was a triple shy of the cycle. Stanton drove in four runs and became Miami's single-season RBI leader with 124, breaking the previous mark of 120 set by Preston Wilson in 2000.
Justin Bour homered for the fourth consecutive game as his two-run, opposite-field shot in the eighth gave Miami an 11-6 lead. Bour's shot bounced off the left-field foul pole for his 25th of the season.
Miami (73-81) took the lead for good with a five-run third inning and withstood home runs from Arizona's J.D. Martinez and Paul Goldschmidt. Martinez now has 43 homers and Goldschmidt connected for the 36th time this season.
The loss kept Arizona (89-66) within one game of clinching a wild card berth.
Brian Ellington (1-1) pitched two innings of relief for the win. Ellington struck out three around Martinez's solo home run.
Neither starter reached the fifth inning. Arizona's Taijuan Walker (9-9) allowed six runs and six hits, walked three and struck out six in 3 2/3 innings.
Despite enjoying four- and three-run leads, Miami's Dillon Peters was lifted for a pinch hitter after four innings. Peters surrendered five runs and six hits, walked three and struck out one.
Martinez's solo homer off Ellington in the fifth pulled Arizona within 7-6. Stanton leaped and attempted to catch Martinez's opposite-field shot before it landed over the wall in right-center field.
Stanton's solo homer and Justin Bour's RBI single in the fourth gave Miami a 7-4 lead.
Bour's single to shallow center scored Christian Yelich from second. Yelich originally was called out on second baseman Brandon Drury's throw to catcher Chris Ianetta. But Miami challenged the play and a video review overturned the call.
The Marlins erased a 1-0 deficit with a five-run third, keyed by Stanton's two-run double and a fielding error by Walker off Dee Gordon's short dribbler that scored Miguel Rojas from third. Bour drove in a run with a single and Brian Anderson's sacrifice fly to deep center scored Miami's fifth run of the inning.
Goldschmidt's three-run homer off Peters in the bottom of the inning cut the deficit to 5-4.
Drury's home run to lead off the second gave the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead. Drury drove Peters' pitch above the wall in right-center for his 13th home run.
NOTES: Marlins 2B Dee Gordon favored his right leg as he attempted to beat out a grounder in the fourth. Although Gordon limped on his way to the dugout, he remained in the game. ... Marlins 3B Martin Prado, sidelined since mid-July because of a right knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery, is traveling with the team on its road trip to Arizona and Colorado. Prado took batting practice before Saturday's game and is targeting possible pinch-hit opportunities the final week of the season. ... Diamondbacks OF J.D. Martinez has 27 home runs since July 19, second behind Stanton. Martinez also drove in his 28th run of the month. ... Saturday's crowd of 39,259 at Chase Field pushed the Diamondbacks over two million in home attendance for the season. Arizona has never drawn less than two million at home in the club's 19-year history.
Bumgarner helps pitch Giants to 2-1 win over Dodgers
(TSX / STATS) -- LOS ANGELES -- Madison Bumgarner allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings to end his four-game losing streak and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Saturday night.
Bumgarner (4-9) allowed five hits, struck out five and walked one. The Giants won for just the fourth time in his 14 starts this season.
The Dodgers had clinched their fifth straight National League West title on Friday night and rested several regulars.
Bumgarner blanked the Dodgers for seven innings on July 30, his only other appearance against them this season. He shut them out for seven more on Saturday before Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes led off the eighth with a home run to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Charlie Culberson doubled with one out in the inning and moved to third on a fly ball to right by pinch-hitter Cody Bellinger, the 99th pitch from Bumgarner. Giants manager Bruce Bochy then brought in right-handed reliever Hunter Strickland and he got Chris Taylor to fly out to the warning track in right.
Sam Dyson pitched the ninth for his 14th save.
The Dodgers hadn't put a runner in scoring position against Bumgarner until left fielder Enrique Hernandez doubled over the head of Denard Span in center with one out in the seventh. Hernandez, who came in 13-for-27 in his career against Bumgarner with four doubles and three home runs, was stranded at third.
Gorkys Hernandez and Span had three hits apiece. Hernandez scored both runs and Span and Buster Posey had the RBIs.
Hernandez hit the first pitch of the game from Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu into the left-field corner for his 18th double of the year. Joe Panik sacrificed Hernandez to third and Buster Posey lined a two-out RBI single to center for a 1-0 lead.
Ryu stranded two runners in the second but then was hit in the left hand by a hard comebacker by Panik to lead off the third and was removed from the game.
Ross Stripling entered and pitched the remainder of the third inning and Brandon McCarthy, another former starter who came off his third stint on the DL on Friday, pitched a scoreless fourth in his first appearance since July 20.
The Giants tagged McCarthy for a run in the fifth, however.
Hernandez singled to center, stole second and advanced to third on Panik's grounder to second. Span then lined a single up the middle and Hernandez scored his second run of the game for a 2-0 lead.
Bumgarner, who had lost his past four starts for the first time in his career, walked Taylor to start the first and gave up a single to Kyle Farmer to lead off the third, but both were erased by 4-6-3 double plays. He retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings.
NOTES: Dodgers 3B Justin Turner was out of the lineup for a third straight game after suffering a thumb contusion when he was hit by a pitch on Thursday and then feeling the effects of a stomach virus the past two days. ... Dodgers 1B Kyle Farmer made his first major league start and was 1-for-3 against Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner. Farmer came in 4-for-12 (.333) in 12 games this season. His lone extra-base hit was a walk-off two-run double in the 11th inning against the Giants in his first major league at-bat on July 30, a game in which Bumgarner threw seven shutout innings. ... Bumgarner had been supported by 2.8 runs per game this season coming into Saturday, the second fewest of any major league pitcher with at least 100 innings pitched.
Bumgarner (4-9) allowed five hits, struck out five and walked one. The Giants won for just the fourth time in his 14 starts this season.
The Dodgers had clinched their fifth straight National League West title on Friday night and rested several regulars.
Bumgarner blanked the Dodgers for seven innings on July 30, his only other appearance against them this season. He shut them out for seven more on Saturday before Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes led off the eighth with a home run to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Charlie Culberson doubled with one out in the inning and moved to third on a fly ball to right by pinch-hitter Cody Bellinger, the 99th pitch from Bumgarner. Giants manager Bruce Bochy then brought in right-handed reliever Hunter Strickland and he got Chris Taylor to fly out to the warning track in right.
Sam Dyson pitched the ninth for his 14th save.
The Dodgers hadn't put a runner in scoring position against Bumgarner until left fielder Enrique Hernandez doubled over the head of Denard Span in center with one out in the seventh. Hernandez, who came in 13-for-27 in his career against Bumgarner with four doubles and three home runs, was stranded at third.
Gorkys Hernandez and Span had three hits apiece. Hernandez scored both runs and Span and Buster Posey had the RBIs.
Hernandez hit the first pitch of the game from Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu into the left-field corner for his 18th double of the year. Joe Panik sacrificed Hernandez to third and Buster Posey lined a two-out RBI single to center for a 1-0 lead.
Ryu stranded two runners in the second but then was hit in the left hand by a hard comebacker by Panik to lead off the third and was removed from the game.
Ross Stripling entered and pitched the remainder of the third inning and Brandon McCarthy, another former starter who came off his third stint on the DL on Friday, pitched a scoreless fourth in his first appearance since July 20.
The Giants tagged McCarthy for a run in the fifth, however.
Hernandez singled to center, stole second and advanced to third on Panik's grounder to second. Span then lined a single up the middle and Hernandez scored his second run of the game for a 2-0 lead.
Bumgarner, who had lost his past four starts for the first time in his career, walked Taylor to start the first and gave up a single to Kyle Farmer to lead off the third, but both were erased by 4-6-3 double plays. He retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings.
NOTES: Dodgers 3B Justin Turner was out of the lineup for a third straight game after suffering a thumb contusion when he was hit by a pitch on Thursday and then feeling the effects of a stomach virus the past two days. ... Dodgers 1B Kyle Farmer made his first major league start and was 1-for-3 against Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner. Farmer came in 4-for-12 (.333) in 12 games this season. His lone extra-base hit was a walk-off two-run double in the 11th inning against the Giants in his first major league at-bat on July 30, a game in which Bumgarner threw seven shutout innings. ... Bumgarner had been supported by 2.8 runs per game this season coming into Saturday, the second fewest of any major league pitcher with at least 100 innings pitched.
Padres shut out struggling Rockies
(TSX / STATS) -- SAN DIEGO -- Jhoulys Chacin pitched six effective innings as the San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0 on Saturday night.
The fading Rockies' lead over the Milwaukee Brewers was shaved to one game for the second National League wild-card spot as Colorado managed but five hits.
Chacin (13-10) surrendered a hit and three walks to his former team and struck out six in winning his fourth straight start at Petco Park. He beat the Rockies, who were shut out for the third time in four games, for the first time in three starts in 2017.
Four Padres relievers, with Brad Hand pitching the ninth, finished off the Rockies as they fell for the fifth time in six games.
Chad Bettis (1-4) lost for the third time in his last four decisions. He lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up a run and seven hits with two walks. He struck out three.
The Padres added three runs in the eighth, with Ian Desmond's throwing error accounting for one of the runs. The RBIs came from pinch-hitter Erick Aybar and Manuel Margot.
The Rockies, trailing 2-0, got to reliever Craig Stammen after Chacin's exit.
Desmond and Jonathan Lucroy produced one-out singles, but Stammen struck out pinch-hitter Raimel Tapia before southpaw Buddy Baumann came on to face the left-handed-hitting Charlie Blackmon. Baumann fanned the NL's batting leader to halt the rally.
Chacin, who tied Clayton Richard with his team-high 31st start, got out of a first-inning jam after DJ LeMahieu walked and Nolan Arenado reached on an error by second baseman by Carlos Asuaje. Chacin retired Gerardo Parra on a flyout to end the inning.
Bettis had to tiptoe around trouble with runners reaching base in each of the first five innings. He was bitten in the fifth when the Padres chased him after 85 pitches on Yangervis Solarte's RBI single as the Padres took a 1-0 lead.
NOTES: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeman will continue to pitch out of the bullpen, although he could get a spot start next weekend against the Dodgers. .... Padres LF Travis Jankowski started in left field, which has been the case against right-handed starters. ... CF Manuel Margot was thrown out attempting to steal, which snapped his streak at 10 straight stolen bases. He did extend his hitting streak to seven games.
The fading Rockies' lead over the Milwaukee Brewers was shaved to one game for the second National League wild-card spot as Colorado managed but five hits.
Chacin (13-10) surrendered a hit and three walks to his former team and struck out six in winning his fourth straight start at Petco Park. He beat the Rockies, who were shut out for the third time in four games, for the first time in three starts in 2017.
Four Padres relievers, with Brad Hand pitching the ninth, finished off the Rockies as they fell for the fifth time in six games.
Chad Bettis (1-4) lost for the third time in his last four decisions. He lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up a run and seven hits with two walks. He struck out three.
The Padres added three runs in the eighth, with Ian Desmond's throwing error accounting for one of the runs. The RBIs came from pinch-hitter Erick Aybar and Manuel Margot.
The Rockies, trailing 2-0, got to reliever Craig Stammen after Chacin's exit.
Desmond and Jonathan Lucroy produced one-out singles, but Stammen struck out pinch-hitter Raimel Tapia before southpaw Buddy Baumann came on to face the left-handed-hitting Charlie Blackmon. Baumann fanned the NL's batting leader to halt the rally.
Chacin, who tied Clayton Richard with his team-high 31st start, got out of a first-inning jam after DJ LeMahieu walked and Nolan Arenado reached on an error by second baseman by Carlos Asuaje. Chacin retired Gerardo Parra on a flyout to end the inning.
Bettis had to tiptoe around trouble with runners reaching base in each of the first five innings. He was bitten in the fifth when the Padres chased him after 85 pitches on Yangervis Solarte's RBI single as the Padres took a 1-0 lead.
NOTES: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeman will continue to pitch out of the bullpen, although he could get a spot start next weekend against the Dodgers. .... Padres LF Travis Jankowski started in left field, which has been the case against right-handed starters. ... CF Manuel Margot was thrown out attempting to steal, which snapped his streak at 10 straight stolen bases. He did extend his hitting streak to seven games.
Murphy homer lifts Nationals over Mets
(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- Daniel Murphy continued to torment his former team Saturday night, lacing the tiebreaking homer leading off the 10th inning to lift the Washington Nationals to a 4-3 win over the New York Mets at Citi Field.
The National League East champion Nationals (93-61) snapped a two-game losing streak. Washington entered Saturday 5 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NL.
The Mets (66-88) have lost four of five and nine of 12.
Murphy's homer off rookie right-hander Jacob Rhame (0-1) was his ninth in 37 games against the Mets, with whom he spent the first eight years of his career before signing with the Nationals following the 2015 season. With his 2-for-4 effort Saturday night, Murphy is now batting .393 against New York.
Sammy Solis (1-0) threw a perfect ninth and Sean Doolittle worked around a two-out walk in the 10th to earn his 23rd save of the season, and his 20th since the Nationals acquired him from the Oakland Athletics on July 16.
Adam Lind had two hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth, and Matt Wieters homered leading off the fifth for the Nationals. Lind's round-tripper was the 200th of his career.
Brandon Nimmo (RBI double) and Kevin Plawecki (two-RBI single) each delivered run-scoring hits in the third inning for the Mets. Nori Aoki had two hits.
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings.
Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard started for the Mets and threw a scoreless inning in his first major league action since he tore his right lat against the Nationals on April 30. Syndergaard, who was activated from the 60-day disabled list before the game, allowed one hit while throwing just five pitches.
Matt Harvey, making his first professional relief appearance, followed Syndergaard and gave up three runs on four hits over four innings.
The Mets took a 3-0 lead in the third against Strasburg, who entered the inning having allowed just three runs in his previous 45 frames. Aoki delivered a leadoff single and Asdrubal Cabrera drew a one-out walk before Nimmo's double scored Aoki. Plawecki followed with a two-run single.
The Nationals pulled within 3-2 in the fourth when Murphy doubled with one out and scored on Lind's milestone two-out homer, and tied the game on Wieters' shot leading off the fifth.
NOTES: To make room for RHP Noah Syndergaard on the 40-man roster, the Mets transferred RHP Zack Wheeler (stress reaction in his right arm) to the 60-day disabled list. ... Before Saturday, Mets RHP Matt Harvey hadn't pitched in relief since his sophomore season at North Carolina in 2009. ... Nationals RF Bryce Harper (left knee) and OF Michael Goodwin (left groin) each participated in a simulated game Saturday. Manager Dusty Baker said Harper, who was injured Aug. 12, was closer to returning to the Nationals than Goodwin, who hasn't played since Aug. 13. ... Nationals RHP Shawn Kelley (right forearm) will undergo what Baker called "extensive testing" early next week. Kelley left Friday's game with numbness in his right arm.
The National League East champion Nationals (93-61) snapped a two-game losing streak. Washington entered Saturday 5 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NL.
The Mets (66-88) have lost four of five and nine of 12.
Murphy's homer off rookie right-hander Jacob Rhame (0-1) was his ninth in 37 games against the Mets, with whom he spent the first eight years of his career before signing with the Nationals following the 2015 season. With his 2-for-4 effort Saturday night, Murphy is now batting .393 against New York.
Sammy Solis (1-0) threw a perfect ninth and Sean Doolittle worked around a two-out walk in the 10th to earn his 23rd save of the season, and his 20th since the Nationals acquired him from the Oakland Athletics on July 16.
Adam Lind had two hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth, and Matt Wieters homered leading off the fifth for the Nationals. Lind's round-tripper was the 200th of his career.
Brandon Nimmo (RBI double) and Kevin Plawecki (two-RBI single) each delivered run-scoring hits in the third inning for the Mets. Nori Aoki had two hits.
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings.
Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard started for the Mets and threw a scoreless inning in his first major league action since he tore his right lat against the Nationals on April 30. Syndergaard, who was activated from the 60-day disabled list before the game, allowed one hit while throwing just five pitches.
Matt Harvey, making his first professional relief appearance, followed Syndergaard and gave up three runs on four hits over four innings.
The Mets took a 3-0 lead in the third against Strasburg, who entered the inning having allowed just three runs in his previous 45 frames. Aoki delivered a leadoff single and Asdrubal Cabrera drew a one-out walk before Nimmo's double scored Aoki. Plawecki followed with a two-run single.
The Nationals pulled within 3-2 in the fourth when Murphy doubled with one out and scored on Lind's milestone two-out homer, and tied the game on Wieters' shot leading off the fifth.
NOTES: To make room for RHP Noah Syndergaard on the 40-man roster, the Mets transferred RHP Zack Wheeler (stress reaction in his right arm) to the 60-day disabled list. ... Before Saturday, Mets RHP Matt Harvey hadn't pitched in relief since his sophomore season at North Carolina in 2009. ... Nationals RF Bryce Harper (left knee) and OF Michael Goodwin (left groin) each participated in a simulated game Saturday. Manager Dusty Baker said Harper, who was injured Aug. 12, was closer to returning to the Nationals than Goodwin, who hasn't played since Aug. 13. ... Nationals RHP Shawn Kelley (right forearm) will undergo what Baker called "extensive testing" early next week. Kelley left Friday's game with numbness in his right arm.
Braves rally past Phillies with three-run eighth
(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves have long been eliminated from playoff consideration. But it hasn't stopped the club from continuing to weave its late-inning magic.
On Saturday, the Braves collected their league-leading 20th win in their last at-bat. And it was the rookies who came through to produce the win.
Rookie Johan Camargo delivered a pinch-hit double with two outs in the eighth inning to drive in two runs and give the Braves a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night at SunTrust Park.
"It's important for me to put in the work ethic day in and day out," Camargo said. "The other thing is I try to stay as healthy as I can and be consistent."
The Braves rallied to score three times in the eighth against reliever Luis Garcia. Matt Adams opened with a one-out single and rookie pinch-runner Micah Johnson stole second and scored on rookie Dansby Swanson's single, tying the score at 2.
Swanson went to second on the throw and rookie Rio Ruiz was intentionally walked. Both advanced on a wild pitch and scored easily when Camargo lined a 1-2 pitch in the gap in right.
The winning pitcher was left-hander Rex Brothers (4-3), who worked a scoreless eighth inning. Arodys Vizcaino pitched the ninth and struck out the side for his 13th save.
Atlanta has won four consecutive games over the Phillies after starting the season 12-2 against Philadelphia.
Garcia (2-5) had not allowed a run in his last 12 1/3 innings and gave up multiple runs in one inning for the first time since Aug. 3.
"Luis got behind on the hitters and didn't throw quality strikes," Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's had some good moments and some bad moments like tonight. When you're pitching in a clutch situation like that, you can't fall behind hitters. You've got to get ahead of hitters."
Phillies starter Henderson Alvarez pitched five shutout innings but failed to pick up his first victory in three years when the bullpen was unable to hold the lead. Alvarez was seeking his first major league win since Sept. 23, 2014, when he beat the Philadelphia Phillies while a member of the Miami Marlins.
"Alvarez pitched through five innings, got through it," Mackanin said. "Didn't give up a run. Ball had some movement on it, he changed speeds."
The veteran right-hander pitched five shutout innings in his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He gave up five runs and walked three (one intentionally) and struck out two.
"That's the way baseball is sometimes," Alvarez said. "There are some things you cannot control. Just go out there and try your best."
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran received no decision. He pitched seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned), seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts. In his last six starts, Teheran has not allowed more than three runs.
"I think it was huge to be able to get out of that (seventh) inning," he said. "I wanted to try my best. I gave up one run early, but I was trying to keep the score low. I knew the guys would get some runs later."
The Braves got their first run when Ruiz hit his fourth homer in the sixth inning off Kevin Siegrist.
The Phillies got a run in the first inning. Nick Williams had a two-out single and came around to score when Rhys Hoskins doubled off the fence in center field.
Philadelphia added a run in the fifth without hitting the ball out of the infield. Maikel Franco reached on an infield single and J.P. Crawford walked. Both advanced on an infield out and Franco scored a passed ball.
The Braves had the bases loaded in the fourth inning and runners on the corners in the fifth but failed to score.
NOTES: Philadelphia broke a club record by allowing its 215th home run. The previous record was set in 2004. Kevin Siegrist allowed the tiebreaker, which was hit by Atlanta's Rio Ruiz. ... Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte had a double and needs five more hits to reach 200. ... Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman was sick with a stomach virus and out of the lineup on Saturday. ... Atlanta signed C Kurt Suzuki to a one-year, $3.5 million contract for 2018. The club has a $4 million option on C Tyler Flowers, which the club expected to exercise. .. Atlanta signed Korean SS Jihwan Bae. He was at SunTrust Park and met with fellow countryman Hyn Soo Kim of the Phillies before the game. Bae is likened to a left-handed Trea Turner. ... Sunday will be the final game of the season at SunTrust Park. The Braves are 37-43 in their new home.
On Saturday, the Braves collected their league-leading 20th win in their last at-bat. And it was the rookies who came through to produce the win.
Rookie Johan Camargo delivered a pinch-hit double with two outs in the eighth inning to drive in two runs and give the Braves a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night at SunTrust Park.
"It's important for me to put in the work ethic day in and day out," Camargo said. "The other thing is I try to stay as healthy as I can and be consistent."
The Braves rallied to score three times in the eighth against reliever Luis Garcia. Matt Adams opened with a one-out single and rookie pinch-runner Micah Johnson stole second and scored on rookie Dansby Swanson's single, tying the score at 2.
Swanson went to second on the throw and rookie Rio Ruiz was intentionally walked. Both advanced on a wild pitch and scored easily when Camargo lined a 1-2 pitch in the gap in right.
The winning pitcher was left-hander Rex Brothers (4-3), who worked a scoreless eighth inning. Arodys Vizcaino pitched the ninth and struck out the side for his 13th save.
Atlanta has won four consecutive games over the Phillies after starting the season 12-2 against Philadelphia.
Garcia (2-5) had not allowed a run in his last 12 1/3 innings and gave up multiple runs in one inning for the first time since Aug. 3.
"Luis got behind on the hitters and didn't throw quality strikes," Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's had some good moments and some bad moments like tonight. When you're pitching in a clutch situation like that, you can't fall behind hitters. You've got to get ahead of hitters."
Phillies starter Henderson Alvarez pitched five shutout innings but failed to pick up his first victory in three years when the bullpen was unable to hold the lead. Alvarez was seeking his first major league win since Sept. 23, 2014, when he beat the Philadelphia Phillies while a member of the Miami Marlins.
"Alvarez pitched through five innings, got through it," Mackanin said. "Didn't give up a run. Ball had some movement on it, he changed speeds."
The veteran right-hander pitched five shutout innings in his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He gave up five runs and walked three (one intentionally) and struck out two.
"That's the way baseball is sometimes," Alvarez said. "There are some things you cannot control. Just go out there and try your best."
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran received no decision. He pitched seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned), seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts. In his last six starts, Teheran has not allowed more than three runs.
"I think it was huge to be able to get out of that (seventh) inning," he said. "I wanted to try my best. I gave up one run early, but I was trying to keep the score low. I knew the guys would get some runs later."
The Braves got their first run when Ruiz hit his fourth homer in the sixth inning off Kevin Siegrist.
The Phillies got a run in the first inning. Nick Williams had a two-out single and came around to score when Rhys Hoskins doubled off the fence in center field.
Philadelphia added a run in the fifth without hitting the ball out of the infield. Maikel Franco reached on an infield single and J.P. Crawford walked. Both advanced on an infield out and Franco scored a passed ball.
The Braves had the bases loaded in the fourth inning and runners on the corners in the fifth but failed to score.
NOTES: Philadelphia broke a club record by allowing its 215th home run. The previous record was set in 2004. Kevin Siegrist allowed the tiebreaker, which was hit by Atlanta's Rio Ruiz. ... Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte had a double and needs five more hits to reach 200. ... Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman was sick with a stomach virus and out of the lineup on Saturday. ... Atlanta signed C Kurt Suzuki to a one-year, $3.5 million contract for 2018. The club has a $4 million option on C Tyler Flowers, which the club expected to exercise. .. Atlanta signed Korean SS Jihwan Bae. He was at SunTrust Park and met with fellow countryman Hyn Soo Kim of the Phillies before the game. Bae is likened to a left-handed Trea Turner. ... Sunday will be the final game of the season at SunTrust Park. The Braves are 37-43 in their new home.
Pirates hit Cardinals with 8-run first in 11-6 win
(TSX / STATS) -- PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates used an eight-run first inning Saturday night to put a dent in the St. Louis Cardinals' push for a playoff spot with an 11-6 win at PNC Park.
St. Louis (81-73), which had its winning streak stopped at four, missed a chance to move into second place in the National League Central. The Cardinals trail the Milwaukee Brewers by a half-game and the first-place Chicago Cubs by five.
The Cardinals were 1 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot entering the day pending the Colorado outcome later Saturday.
Jordy Mercer was 3-for-3 with four RBIs, David Freese had three RBIs and Starling Marte added two RBIs for Pittsburgh (70-85), which is reduced to a spoiler role.
The eight-run first, when Pittsburgh sent 12 players to the plate and took an 8-2 lead, was highlighted by Mercer's two-run triple, Marte's RBI triple, Freese's leadoff double and four singles.
St. Louis starter Lance Lynn (11-8) was charged with all eight runs, six that crossed the plate while he was on the mound and two that Josh Lucas inherited.
Lynn's pitching line was like something from a nightmare -- eight runs and six hits with two walks and a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. He has one win in his past nine starts.
Pittsburgh bumped its lead to 10-3 through five innings before St. Louis scored three in the sixth -- including tying a major league record by using six pinch hitters in the inning -- to close to 10-6.
Freese added an RBI double in the eighth to make it 11-6.
Pittsburgh starter Gerrit Cole (12-11) allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings with one walk and five strikeouts to break an 0-3 streak at home. He had gotten just five runs of support in his previous five starts, totaling 32 innings, but had plenty Saturday.
St. Louis' first inning looked promising with Tommy Pham hitting his 22nd homer, a two-run shot to dead center, but that was dwarfed by what the Pirates did in the bottom of the inning.
Pittsburgh's key hit that inning came from Mercer. He stepped to the plate with a 3-2 lead, the bases loaded and one out. He looped the ball into shallow center, where Dexter Fowler raced in and dived forward but missed, letting the ball get behind him.
It appeared that Mercer might have a shot at an inside-the-park homer, but he had to hold up at third with a still-impressive bases-clearing triple.
The Cardinals made it 8-3 on Pham's RBI double in the third, but Pittsburgh answered in the bottom of the third against Adam Wainwright when Marte's sacrifice fly made it 9-3.
The Pirates reached double figures in the fifth on Mercer's RBI double, making it 10-3.
NOTES: St. Louis 1B Jose Martinez, who left Friday in the seventh because of a sprained left thumb, had tests in St. Louis that showed no serious damage, manager Mike Matheny said. ... Matt Carpenter moved from 3B to 1B for the Cardinals, with Jedd Gyorko returning to his normal spot at 3B. ... Pittsburgh OF Jordan Luplow was named the organization's minor league player of the year and LHP Steven Brault the minor league pitcher of the year.
St. Louis (81-73), which had its winning streak stopped at four, missed a chance to move into second place in the National League Central. The Cardinals trail the Milwaukee Brewers by a half-game and the first-place Chicago Cubs by five.
The Cardinals were 1 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot entering the day pending the Colorado outcome later Saturday.
Jordy Mercer was 3-for-3 with four RBIs, David Freese had three RBIs and Starling Marte added two RBIs for Pittsburgh (70-85), which is reduced to a spoiler role.
The eight-run first, when Pittsburgh sent 12 players to the plate and took an 8-2 lead, was highlighted by Mercer's two-run triple, Marte's RBI triple, Freese's leadoff double and four singles.
St. Louis starter Lance Lynn (11-8) was charged with all eight runs, six that crossed the plate while he was on the mound and two that Josh Lucas inherited.
Lynn's pitching line was like something from a nightmare -- eight runs and six hits with two walks and a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. He has one win in his past nine starts.
Pittsburgh bumped its lead to 10-3 through five innings before St. Louis scored three in the sixth -- including tying a major league record by using six pinch hitters in the inning -- to close to 10-6.
Freese added an RBI double in the eighth to make it 11-6.
Pittsburgh starter Gerrit Cole (12-11) allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings with one walk and five strikeouts to break an 0-3 streak at home. He had gotten just five runs of support in his previous five starts, totaling 32 innings, but had plenty Saturday.
St. Louis' first inning looked promising with Tommy Pham hitting his 22nd homer, a two-run shot to dead center, but that was dwarfed by what the Pirates did in the bottom of the inning.
Pittsburgh's key hit that inning came from Mercer. He stepped to the plate with a 3-2 lead, the bases loaded and one out. He looped the ball into shallow center, where Dexter Fowler raced in and dived forward but missed, letting the ball get behind him.
It appeared that Mercer might have a shot at an inside-the-park homer, but he had to hold up at third with a still-impressive bases-clearing triple.
The Cardinals made it 8-3 on Pham's RBI double in the third, but Pittsburgh answered in the bottom of the third against Adam Wainwright when Marte's sacrifice fly made it 9-3.
The Pirates reached double figures in the fifth on Mercer's RBI double, making it 10-3.
NOTES: St. Louis 1B Jose Martinez, who left Friday in the seventh because of a sprained left thumb, had tests in St. Louis that showed no serious damage, manager Mike Matheny said. ... Matt Carpenter moved from 3B to 1B for the Cardinals, with Jedd Gyorko returning to his normal spot at 3B. ... Pittsburgh OF Jordan Luplow was named the organization's minor league player of the year and LHP Steven Brault the minor league pitcher of the year.
Shaw's 2-run homer lifts Brewers to dramatic win over Cubs
(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- In each of the first two games of their four-game weekend showdown at Miller Park, the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs went into the 10th inning before the defending World Series champions broke their young challengers' hearts.
So Saturday afternoon, when the Cubs again manufactured a go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning, the few remaining local fans among the sold out crowd of 44,067 prepared for more agony.
Instead, the Brewers flipped the script, getting a one-out double from Ryan Braun that set up a two-run walk-off home run from Travis Shaw as Milwaukee rallied late -- and kept its slim postseason hopes alive -- with a 4-3 victory.
"I haven't been able to come up with the words for this series," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell, whose team got within 4 1/2 games of the Cubs and one of the Rockies for a wild-card spot. "If this hasn't been the best series that you've seen in a long time this is about as exciting as it gets. It is as exciting as it gets. They're clearly coming into a good place where they're really tough to beat but we hung with them today."
Shaw hit his 31st homer after Milwaukee tied it in the ninth on a homer by Orlando Arcia off Wade Davis. The Cubs, who won the first two games in the 10th, took a one-run lead on a single by Jon Jay before Milwaukee dramatically won it.
Davis came back out for the 10th, working two innings for the second time in three games. He struck out Neil Walker to open the inning but Braun sent a double down the line and into the corner to bring up Shaw, who took ball one before connecting on a hanging curveball to win it.
"He missed with the curveball on the first pitch, and I was going to see if he'd do it again and he tried it again," Shaw said. "Last night I missed an opportunity early in the game to kind of blow it open. It just feels good to come out on the right side of things after a couple of tough days."
Davis (4-2), working multiple innings for the second time in three games, hadn't blown a save since Sept. 2, 2016.
"My arm was dragging a little bit," Davis said. "I just made a lot of bad pitches and good pitches for them to hit."
In the ninth, Davis struck out Neil Walker to open the inning but missed his mark coming inside on a 0-1 fastball that Arcia ripped down the left-field line for his 14th home run of the season, tying the game 3-3.
"Just wanted to get it in more and obviously I didn't," Davis said. "He put a pretty good swing on it."
Davis hadn't allowed a home run since Aug. 13 but recovered quickly from there, retiring the next two batters and Chicago got to work quickly in the 10th against Jeremy Jeffress (4-2) with Ian Happ starting things off by drawing a leadoff walk.
Jason Heyward moved him over with a sacrifice bunt and Jay sent him home with a single back up the middle, putting the Cubs ahead. Jay stole second and took third on a throwing error by Stephen Vogt and, with the Cubs threatening to break the game open, Jeffress intentionally walked Anthony Rizzo, Chicago's leader with 32 home runs and 107 RBIs.
The move paid off as Jeffress got Wilson Contreras -- no slouch himself with 21 homers and 73 RBIs this season -- to bounce into a force, ending the inning.
"The walk hurt JJ today but again, he did a pretty good job," Counsell said. "It's not hard contact that's beating him. It was just a roller up the middle."
Milwaukee got a solid start from left-hander Brent Suter, who held the Cubs to a run on six hits with a pair of strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Kyle Hendricks was just as stingy, allowing just a run on Eric Thames' first-inning RBI single, despite giving up eight hits with a walk while striking out six over six innings of work.
The bullpens took over from there and maintained the tie into the eighth when Jacob Barnes, back out for his second inning, allowed a leadoff double to Ian Happ and a single to Heyward.
Counsell turned to setup man Anthony Swarzak to get out of the jam but Jay moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt and Kris Bryant put the Cubs ahead with a sacrifice fly to center before Swarzak ended the inning.
NOTES: Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Maddon says he plans to keep his rotation in order this week, with LHP Jon Lester kicking off a four-game series at St. Louis on Monday despite command problems in his last outing. ... Milwaukee Brewers C Manny Pina missed a second consecutive game because of a sprained left thumb suffered Thursday in the series opener. ... The Brewers and Cubs have split the season series, winning nine games each, and wrap it up Sunday afternoon with Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (6-3, 3.95 ERA) facing Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (11-3, 2.74).
So Saturday afternoon, when the Cubs again manufactured a go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning, the few remaining local fans among the sold out crowd of 44,067 prepared for more agony.
Instead, the Brewers flipped the script, getting a one-out double from Ryan Braun that set up a two-run walk-off home run from Travis Shaw as Milwaukee rallied late -- and kept its slim postseason hopes alive -- with a 4-3 victory.
"I haven't been able to come up with the words for this series," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell, whose team got within 4 1/2 games of the Cubs and one of the Rockies for a wild-card spot. "If this hasn't been the best series that you've seen in a long time this is about as exciting as it gets. It is as exciting as it gets. They're clearly coming into a good place where they're really tough to beat but we hung with them today."
Shaw hit his 31st homer after Milwaukee tied it in the ninth on a homer by Orlando Arcia off Wade Davis. The Cubs, who won the first two games in the 10th, took a one-run lead on a single by Jon Jay before Milwaukee dramatically won it.
Davis came back out for the 10th, working two innings for the second time in three games. He struck out Neil Walker to open the inning but Braun sent a double down the line and into the corner to bring up Shaw, who took ball one before connecting on a hanging curveball to win it.
"He missed with the curveball on the first pitch, and I was going to see if he'd do it again and he tried it again," Shaw said. "Last night I missed an opportunity early in the game to kind of blow it open. It just feels good to come out on the right side of things after a couple of tough days."
Davis (4-2), working multiple innings for the second time in three games, hadn't blown a save since Sept. 2, 2016.
"My arm was dragging a little bit," Davis said. "I just made a lot of bad pitches and good pitches for them to hit."
In the ninth, Davis struck out Neil Walker to open the inning but missed his mark coming inside on a 0-1 fastball that Arcia ripped down the left-field line for his 14th home run of the season, tying the game 3-3.
"Just wanted to get it in more and obviously I didn't," Davis said. "He put a pretty good swing on it."
Davis hadn't allowed a home run since Aug. 13 but recovered quickly from there, retiring the next two batters and Chicago got to work quickly in the 10th against Jeremy Jeffress (4-2) with Ian Happ starting things off by drawing a leadoff walk.
Jason Heyward moved him over with a sacrifice bunt and Jay sent him home with a single back up the middle, putting the Cubs ahead. Jay stole second and took third on a throwing error by Stephen Vogt and, with the Cubs threatening to break the game open, Jeffress intentionally walked Anthony Rizzo, Chicago's leader with 32 home runs and 107 RBIs.
The move paid off as Jeffress got Wilson Contreras -- no slouch himself with 21 homers and 73 RBIs this season -- to bounce into a force, ending the inning.
"The walk hurt JJ today but again, he did a pretty good job," Counsell said. "It's not hard contact that's beating him. It was just a roller up the middle."
Milwaukee got a solid start from left-hander Brent Suter, who held the Cubs to a run on six hits with a pair of strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Kyle Hendricks was just as stingy, allowing just a run on Eric Thames' first-inning RBI single, despite giving up eight hits with a walk while striking out six over six innings of work.
The bullpens took over from there and maintained the tie into the eighth when Jacob Barnes, back out for his second inning, allowed a leadoff double to Ian Happ and a single to Heyward.
Counsell turned to setup man Anthony Swarzak to get out of the jam but Jay moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt and Kris Bryant put the Cubs ahead with a sacrifice fly to center before Swarzak ended the inning.
NOTES: Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Maddon says he plans to keep his rotation in order this week, with LHP Jon Lester kicking off a four-game series at St. Louis on Monday despite command problems in his last outing. ... Milwaukee Brewers C Manny Pina missed a second consecutive game because of a sprained left thumb suffered Thursday in the series opener. ... The Brewers and Cubs have split the season series, winning nine games each, and wrap it up Sunday afternoon with Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (6-3, 3.95 ERA) facing Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (11-3, 2.74).
Red Sox blank hapless Reds
(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- The Boston Red Sox still have plenty of decisions to make in terms of their postseason pitching staff. But, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is pitching himself into the conversation.
Mitch Moreland hit a three-run home run and Rodriguez allowed only three hits through 7 2/3 innings, lifting the Red Sox to a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
The win reduced Boston's magic number to five to clinch the American League East title. The Red Sox (90-64) lead the New York Yankees by four games.
"We're playing good ball," Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez said. "We're getting on base. Getting clutch hits."
The Yankees defeated Toronto 5-1 on Saturday to clinch a wild-card spot.
Rodriguez (6-6) had six strikeouts and walked two.
It was his longest outing since May 21. Rodriguez has made six straight quality starts on the road and four consecutive starts of two earned runs or fewer.
"He maintained his stuff all the way through seven innings," Boston manager John Farrell said. "He used three pitches at both sides of the plate. Using his secondary pitches to make the fastball even better."
Cincinnati (66-89) committed two errors and had a passed ball while losing its fifth straight game.
Rookie right-hander Robert Stephenson (5-6) made his 10th start of the season for the Reds and was charged with two earned runs in six innings.
Xander Bogaerts led off Saturday's game with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball by Tucker Barnhart. Bogaerts scored on a sacrifice fly by Brock Holt to put the Red Sox ahead 1-0.
Rodriguez did not allow a hit until Joey Votto's single with one out in the fourth.
"He's very comfortable on the mound," Vazquez said. "He has a good feeling out there. We're on the same page. (Three times) I just put down whatever you want to throw."
Boston's defense helped Rodriguez out.
Votto was thrown out trying to reach second after his single by Andrew Benintendi.
It was Benintendi's 11th outfield assist this season, tying him for third in the American League.
Scooter Gennett singled leading off the fifth to extend his hitting streak to a season-high seven games. But, he was erased on an inning-ending 3-6-3 double play.
Stephenson's fielding error on Holt's grounder back to the mound opened the floodgates in the sixth.
Benintendi walked, then Moreland followed with a three-run blast to center, putting Boston ahead 4-0.
It was Moreland's 20th homer of the season, and it snapped a 0-for-19 skid.
"He threw a changeup that split the plate in half, top of the zone," Moreland said. "I got the barrel on it. It gave us some breathing room."
Reds manager Bryan Price believed Stephenson's error on a routine grounder, contributed to his poor location on the Moreland homer.
"That's one the challenges of this game when you make a mistake, get beyond it," Price said. "That's part of the game. It can linger. That's not an excuse. That may have had nothing to do with what followed."
Benintendi, a Cincinnati area native, prompted cheers from his hometown fans with an RBI single in the seventh to make the score 5-0.
Reds right-hander Luke Farrell, son of the Red Sox manager, pitched the ninth inning, marking the first time a major-league player has faced his manager father since the Chicago Cubs' Moises Alou faced his dad, Felipe's San Francisco Giants, in 2004.
Farrell walked two in a scoreless frame, then offered a subtle tip of his cap toward his dad in the dugout as he walked off.
"There was a lot of internal conflict going on there," John Farrell said. "It was somewhat surreal. It's a proud day. Class move by Bryan (Price) to put him in there."
NOTES: Boston Red Sox RF Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup with a left foot contusion. Betts fouled a pitch off the top of his foot in his second at-bat on Friday, according to manager John Farrell. Brock Holt started in RF. Betts is expected back in the lineup on Sunday. ... Cincinnati Reds CF Billy Hamilton was given a day off on Saturday. He returned to the lineup Friday after missing 13 games with a fractured left thumb. ... The Reds honored RHP Bronson Arroyo prior to Saturday's game. He is retiring following the season after 14 seasons, including three with the Red Sox.
Mitch Moreland hit a three-run home run and Rodriguez allowed only three hits through 7 2/3 innings, lifting the Red Sox to a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
The win reduced Boston's magic number to five to clinch the American League East title. The Red Sox (90-64) lead the New York Yankees by four games.
"We're playing good ball," Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez said. "We're getting on base. Getting clutch hits."
The Yankees defeated Toronto 5-1 on Saturday to clinch a wild-card spot.
Rodriguez (6-6) had six strikeouts and walked two.
It was his longest outing since May 21. Rodriguez has made six straight quality starts on the road and four consecutive starts of two earned runs or fewer.
"He maintained his stuff all the way through seven innings," Boston manager John Farrell said. "He used three pitches at both sides of the plate. Using his secondary pitches to make the fastball even better."
Cincinnati (66-89) committed two errors and had a passed ball while losing its fifth straight game.
Rookie right-hander Robert Stephenson (5-6) made his 10th start of the season for the Reds and was charged with two earned runs in six innings.
Xander Bogaerts led off Saturday's game with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball by Tucker Barnhart. Bogaerts scored on a sacrifice fly by Brock Holt to put the Red Sox ahead 1-0.
Rodriguez did not allow a hit until Joey Votto's single with one out in the fourth.
"He's very comfortable on the mound," Vazquez said. "He has a good feeling out there. We're on the same page. (Three times) I just put down whatever you want to throw."
Boston's defense helped Rodriguez out.
Votto was thrown out trying to reach second after his single by Andrew Benintendi.
It was Benintendi's 11th outfield assist this season, tying him for third in the American League.
Scooter Gennett singled leading off the fifth to extend his hitting streak to a season-high seven games. But, he was erased on an inning-ending 3-6-3 double play.
Stephenson's fielding error on Holt's grounder back to the mound opened the floodgates in the sixth.
Benintendi walked, then Moreland followed with a three-run blast to center, putting Boston ahead 4-0.
It was Moreland's 20th homer of the season, and it snapped a 0-for-19 skid.
"He threw a changeup that split the plate in half, top of the zone," Moreland said. "I got the barrel on it. It gave us some breathing room."
Reds manager Bryan Price believed Stephenson's error on a routine grounder, contributed to his poor location on the Moreland homer.
"That's one the challenges of this game when you make a mistake, get beyond it," Price said. "That's part of the game. It can linger. That's not an excuse. That may have had nothing to do with what followed."
Benintendi, a Cincinnati area native, prompted cheers from his hometown fans with an RBI single in the seventh to make the score 5-0.
Reds right-hander Luke Farrell, son of the Red Sox manager, pitched the ninth inning, marking the first time a major-league player has faced his manager father since the Chicago Cubs' Moises Alou faced his dad, Felipe's San Francisco Giants, in 2004.
Farrell walked two in a scoreless frame, then offered a subtle tip of his cap toward his dad in the dugout as he walked off.
"There was a lot of internal conflict going on there," John Farrell said. "It was somewhat surreal. It's a proud day. Class move by Bryan (Price) to put him in there."
NOTES: Boston Red Sox RF Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup with a left foot contusion. Betts fouled a pitch off the top of his foot in his second at-bat on Friday, according to manager John Farrell. Brock Holt started in RF. Betts is expected back in the lineup on Sunday. ... Cincinnati Reds CF Billy Hamilton was given a day off on Saturday. He returned to the lineup Friday after missing 13 games with a fractured left thumb. ... The Reds honored RHP Bronson Arroyo prior to Saturday's game. He is retiring following the season after 14 seasons, including three with the Red Sox.
Davis' 40th HR only run in A's win over Rangers
(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- Khris Davis hit his 40th home run of the season, Raul Alcantara threw five strong innings and the Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers 1-0 on Saturday night at the Oakland Coliseum.
The A's (71-83) won their season-high sixth straight game and beat the Rangers at the Coliseum for the seventh consecutive time.
Texas (76-78) fell 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins, 10-4 winners over Detroit, for the second wild-card spot in the American League. The Rangers, who have eight games remaining, are tied with Kansas City and the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card race.
Davis became the second Athletic in franchise history to hit at least 40 home runs in back-to-back seasons, joining Jimmie Foxx (1932-34). Davis hit a career-high 42 home runs last season, his first with Oakland. With his solo shot in the second inning, Davis also set a career high for RBIs with 103, one more than he had last year.
Alcantara (1-1) made a spot start in place of lefty Sean Manaea, who was a late scratch because a strained upper back. Alcantra allowed no runs on two hits over five innings with five strikeouts and two walks. He lowered his ERA from 9.20 to 6.86.
Alcantara made a spot start at Detroit on Monday and blanked the Tigers for 3 2/3 innings on two hits in an 8-3 A's victory.
Ryan Dull, Daniel Coulombe, Chris Hatcher and Blake Treinen combined to blank Texas over the final four innings on two hits. Treinen pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.
Rangers right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (8-12) allowed one run on four hits over six innings in his fourth start since being traded by the White Sox to Texas. He struck out five and walked none.
The Athletics took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Davis led off with his 40th home run. Davis launched Gonzalez' first-pitch fastball over the right-center field wall.
After Davis' home run, the A's loaded the bases as Matt Olson and Ryon Healy singled and Matt Chapman was hit by a pitch. But Gonzalez retired the next three batters to escape further damage.
The Rangers had runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth after Robinson Chirinos singled and Alcantara walked Rougned Odor. But Alcantara retired Drew Robinson on a ground ball to end the threat.
NOTES: A's C Bruce Maxwell became the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem as he joined a protest against racial injustice that former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began last season. Maxwell is an African American who was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, when his father, Bruce, was stationed there with the Army during a tour of duty. Maxwell posted a strong response on Instagram opposing President Trump's recent criticism of NFL players who kneel during the anthem. A's OF Mark Canha placed a hand on Maxwell's shoulder during the anthem then hugged him when it ended. Maxwell missed his second straight game while undergoing concussion tests. ... Rangers manager Jeff Banister returned to Clear Lake, Texas, before Saturday's game to be with his mother, Verda, who is experiencing complications from recent surgery. Banister is expected to miss Sunday's series finale, too. Bench coach Steve Buechele filled in for Banister on Saturday in his first full game managing in the big leagues and will fill in again Sunday. "We'll just hold down the fort until he's back," Buchele said. ... A's INF/OF Chad Pinder (sore back/neck) was out of the lineup, one day after crashing into the right-center field wall in the sixth inning while trying to catch a deep fly ball.
The A's (71-83) won their season-high sixth straight game and beat the Rangers at the Coliseum for the seventh consecutive time.
Texas (76-78) fell 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins, 10-4 winners over Detroit, for the second wild-card spot in the American League. The Rangers, who have eight games remaining, are tied with Kansas City and the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card race.
Davis became the second Athletic in franchise history to hit at least 40 home runs in back-to-back seasons, joining Jimmie Foxx (1932-34). Davis hit a career-high 42 home runs last season, his first with Oakland. With his solo shot in the second inning, Davis also set a career high for RBIs with 103, one more than he had last year.
Alcantara (1-1) made a spot start in place of lefty Sean Manaea, who was a late scratch because a strained upper back. Alcantra allowed no runs on two hits over five innings with five strikeouts and two walks. He lowered his ERA from 9.20 to 6.86.
Alcantara made a spot start at Detroit on Monday and blanked the Tigers for 3 2/3 innings on two hits in an 8-3 A's victory.
Ryan Dull, Daniel Coulombe, Chris Hatcher and Blake Treinen combined to blank Texas over the final four innings on two hits. Treinen pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.
Rangers right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (8-12) allowed one run on four hits over six innings in his fourth start since being traded by the White Sox to Texas. He struck out five and walked none.
The Athletics took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Davis led off with his 40th home run. Davis launched Gonzalez' first-pitch fastball over the right-center field wall.
After Davis' home run, the A's loaded the bases as Matt Olson and Ryon Healy singled and Matt Chapman was hit by a pitch. But Gonzalez retired the next three batters to escape further damage.
The Rangers had runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth after Robinson Chirinos singled and Alcantara walked Rougned Odor. But Alcantara retired Drew Robinson on a ground ball to end the threat.
NOTES: A's C Bruce Maxwell became the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem as he joined a protest against racial injustice that former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began last season. Maxwell is an African American who was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, when his father, Bruce, was stationed there with the Army during a tour of duty. Maxwell posted a strong response on Instagram opposing President Trump's recent criticism of NFL players who kneel during the anthem. A's OF Mark Canha placed a hand on Maxwell's shoulder during the anthem then hugged him when it ended. Maxwell missed his second straight game while undergoing concussion tests. ... Rangers manager Jeff Banister returned to Clear Lake, Texas, before Saturday's game to be with his mother, Verda, who is experiencing complications from recent surgery. Banister is expected to miss Sunday's series finale, too. Bench coach Steve Buechele filled in for Banister on Saturday in his first full game managing in the big leagues and will fill in again Sunday. "We'll just hold down the fort until he's back," Buchele said. ... A's INF/OF Chad Pinder (sore back/neck) was out of the lineup, one day after crashing into the right-center field wall in the sixth inning while trying to catch a deep fly ball.
Duffy pitches Royals past White Sox
(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Left-hander Danny Duffy figures to make one more start for the Kansas City Royals before the regular season ends.
His latest effort helped sustain the Royals' faint aspirations to go beyond that and return to the postseason for the first time since 2015.
Duffy pitched six-plus strong innings to finally solve a familiar foe, helping the Royals to an 8-2 win against the Chicago White Sox and keep Kansas City's American League wild-card hopes alive.
Kansas City (76-78) remained 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second AL wild-card spot while pulling even with Anaheim. Texas, playing late at Oakland, was one-half game ahead of the Royals when Saturday's game ended.
"Just keep pushing," Duffy said. "I mean, there's crazier things that have happened in this game. We want to continue to try to finish strong and worry about next year when next year comes."
Duffy pitched into the seventh inning, allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. He was 0-3 with a 9.56 ERA in three earlier starts against the White Sox this season, yielding at least five runs each time.
"Historically, I've done well here," Duffy said. "This has been a rough year for me. They've seen me, so they're incredibly tough to punch out and they're hard to finish off, so hats off to them. Tonight, we were able to make some pitches in some tough spots, and my changeup was really working for me tonight, and everything felt great. I just felt like I was in rhythm, big time."
Whit Merrifield smacked a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning to break things open for Kansas City. The White Sox (62-92) struggled to mount an attack after Jose Abreu hit an RBI single against Duffy (9-9) in the first inning. Abreu added a run-scoring groundout in the seventh for his club-leading 100th RBI. Abreu joined Joe DiMaggio and Albert Pujols as the only players with at least 25 home runs and 100 RBIs in their first four major league seasons.
Speaking through a team translator, Abreu praised the White Sox front office, teammates and fans for their support.
"This organization was the one that made possible my mom's dream for me to play in the majors," Abreu said.
White Sox right-hander Dylan Covey (0-7) retired the first seven Royals he faced before Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar singled with one out in the third inning. Greater trouble surfaced one inning later as the Royals erased an early one-run deficit with a two-out rally in the fourth.
Salvador Perez doubled to score Eric Hosmer from first base before Perez scored on a Mike Moustakas single. Alex Gordon added to the lead in the fifth, hitting an opposite-field, solo home run against Covey with one out.
Covey made his 17th career major league appearance and 11th start, all this season. Covey spaced three runs, five hits, three strikeouts and one walk in six innings, his longest outing since also working six innings in a May 18 no-decision at Seattle.
"That was, I think, my fourth start against (the Royals)," Covey said. "I'm familiar with their hitters a little bit. I feel like the more a pitcher faces a hitter, the pitcher gets the advantage a little bit, more so than the hitter might."
Hosmer, Perez, Gordon and Brandon Moss had two hits apiece for the Royals. Perez doubled twice and had two RBI.
Matt Davidson had two hits for the White Sox and their only extra-base hit, a double.
The White Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, but left-hander Scott Alexander pitched out of the jam, sandwiching two strikeouts around the Abreu groundout.
"That was huge for us," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "All our relievers pitched well tonight."
Game time temperature was 91 degrees, but several players, including Escobar, seemingly felt right at home.
Heat and humidity are the norm in his native Venezuela this time of year.
"It's just like this; 85, 90 (degrees)," Escobar said.
The White Sox fell to 10-12 in September and are aiming to finish a rebuilding season with a winning record in the final month. Manager Rick Renteria lauded a consistent effort and clubhouse vibe among players, key elements he feels have buoyed the White Sox throughout 2017.
NOTES: Royals C Salvador Perez returned to the lineup after leaving Friday's game as a precautionary measure when he was hit by a foul tip. "It was more his neck got a little sore last night, a little stiff," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "But he's fine." ... White Sox SS Tim Anderson extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games when he singled to lead off the fourth inning. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon, out for the remainder of the season with an injured throwing shoulder, said the club still is working to determine the extent of his injury. Rodon said he could not answer whether offseason shoulder surgery could be a possibility.
His latest effort helped sustain the Royals' faint aspirations to go beyond that and return to the postseason for the first time since 2015.
Duffy pitched six-plus strong innings to finally solve a familiar foe, helping the Royals to an 8-2 win against the Chicago White Sox and keep Kansas City's American League wild-card hopes alive.
Kansas City (76-78) remained 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second AL wild-card spot while pulling even with Anaheim. Texas, playing late at Oakland, was one-half game ahead of the Royals when Saturday's game ended.
"Just keep pushing," Duffy said. "I mean, there's crazier things that have happened in this game. We want to continue to try to finish strong and worry about next year when next year comes."
Duffy pitched into the seventh inning, allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. He was 0-3 with a 9.56 ERA in three earlier starts against the White Sox this season, yielding at least five runs each time.
"Historically, I've done well here," Duffy said. "This has been a rough year for me. They've seen me, so they're incredibly tough to punch out and they're hard to finish off, so hats off to them. Tonight, we were able to make some pitches in some tough spots, and my changeup was really working for me tonight, and everything felt great. I just felt like I was in rhythm, big time."
Whit Merrifield smacked a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning to break things open for Kansas City. The White Sox (62-92) struggled to mount an attack after Jose Abreu hit an RBI single against Duffy (9-9) in the first inning. Abreu added a run-scoring groundout in the seventh for his club-leading 100th RBI. Abreu joined Joe DiMaggio and Albert Pujols as the only players with at least 25 home runs and 100 RBIs in their first four major league seasons.
Speaking through a team translator, Abreu praised the White Sox front office, teammates and fans for their support.
"This organization was the one that made possible my mom's dream for me to play in the majors," Abreu said.
White Sox right-hander Dylan Covey (0-7) retired the first seven Royals he faced before Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar singled with one out in the third inning. Greater trouble surfaced one inning later as the Royals erased an early one-run deficit with a two-out rally in the fourth.
Salvador Perez doubled to score Eric Hosmer from first base before Perez scored on a Mike Moustakas single. Alex Gordon added to the lead in the fifth, hitting an opposite-field, solo home run against Covey with one out.
Covey made his 17th career major league appearance and 11th start, all this season. Covey spaced three runs, five hits, three strikeouts and one walk in six innings, his longest outing since also working six innings in a May 18 no-decision at Seattle.
"That was, I think, my fourth start against (the Royals)," Covey said. "I'm familiar with their hitters a little bit. I feel like the more a pitcher faces a hitter, the pitcher gets the advantage a little bit, more so than the hitter might."
Hosmer, Perez, Gordon and Brandon Moss had two hits apiece for the Royals. Perez doubled twice and had two RBI.
Matt Davidson had two hits for the White Sox and their only extra-base hit, a double.
The White Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, but left-hander Scott Alexander pitched out of the jam, sandwiching two strikeouts around the Abreu groundout.
"That was huge for us," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "All our relievers pitched well tonight."
Game time temperature was 91 degrees, but several players, including Escobar, seemingly felt right at home.
Heat and humidity are the norm in his native Venezuela this time of year.
"It's just like this; 85, 90 (degrees)," Escobar said.
The White Sox fell to 10-12 in September and are aiming to finish a rebuilding season with a winning record in the final month. Manager Rick Renteria lauded a consistent effort and clubhouse vibe among players, key elements he feels have buoyed the White Sox throughout 2017.
NOTES: Royals C Salvador Perez returned to the lineup after leaving Friday's game as a precautionary measure when he was hit by a foul tip. "It was more his neck got a little sore last night, a little stiff," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "But he's fine." ... White Sox SS Tim Anderson extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games when he singled to lead off the fourth inning. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon, out for the remainder of the season with an injured throwing shoulder, said the club still is working to determine the extent of his injury. Rodon said he could not answer whether offseason shoulder surgery could be a possibility.
Odorizzi's nine strikeouts highlight Rays' win over Orioles
(TSX / STATS) -- BALTIMORE -- Jake Odorizzi struck out a season-high nine batters and Lucas Duda matched his career high with his 30th home run of the season, as the Tampa Bay Rays eliminated the Baltimore Orioles from playoff contention with a 9-6 victory Saturday night at Camden Yards.
Odorizzi (10-8, 4.26 ERA) kept the Rays' long-shot playoff hopes alive with his second straight dominant performance. Earlier in the week, he held the Boston Red Sox to a pair of earned runs on one hit to go along with six strikeouts over six innings.
Tampa Bay (76-79) remained five games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second American League wild-card spot with seven games to play.
Before an announced crowd of 42,802, the Orioles (74-82) fell out of playoff contention with their sixth loss in the last seven games. They made things interesting by scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth before an out was recorded, but still fell for the 14th time in their last 17 games.
Duda gave the Rays a 3-1 lead with two outs in the top of the third by lining a 3-2 pitch from Orioles starter Jeremy Hellickson over the right-field wall.
The homer followed back-to-back singles by No. 9 hitter Adeiny Hechavarria and leadoff man Kevin Kiermaier. Hellickson had retired the first eight batters prior to that flurry of hits.
The Rays added two more runs in the seventh off reliever Richard Bleier on an RBI single by Wilson Ramos and a sacrifice fly to right by Hechavarria that scored Steven Souza Jr. They added four more in the ninth, including designated hitter Logan Morrison's 37th home run of the season.
That was more than enough for Odorizzi, the 27-year-old who was making his 27th start of the season for the Rays. Over six innings, he allowed one unearned run on three hits and walked only two.
Since the start of 2016, Odorizzi has allowed three hits or fewer in 18 starts, the most in the American League over that span.
Hellickson pitched well other than the one brief rough patch in the third inning. But that was enough to send him to his third consecutive loss and sixth in his last nine starts.
Facing his former team for the first time, Hellickson (2-6, 6.97 ERA) allowed the three earned runs on four hits, in addition to striking out four and walking one.
Hellickson, who pitched for the Rays from 2010-2014, has not won since an Aug. 25 road start against the Boston Red Sox.
The Orioles jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Jonathan Schoop ripped a double down the left-field line and then scored on a throwing error.
Adam Jones put a ball in play on the right side of the infield. Odorizzi ran over to cover first, but the throw over missed him by a wide mark. Jones was credited with an infield single and hustled over to third base on the error.
NOTES: The Rays improved to 8-7 against the Orioles this season with four games remaining between the teams. ... Rays DH Logan Morrison hit his 27th home run of the season on the road to extend his American League lead and team record. ... Orioles RHP Jeremy Hellickson surrendered his 35th home run of the season, which is a career high. ... With one home game remaining, the Orioles fell to 45-35 this season at Camden Yards.
Odorizzi (10-8, 4.26 ERA) kept the Rays' long-shot playoff hopes alive with his second straight dominant performance. Earlier in the week, he held the Boston Red Sox to a pair of earned runs on one hit to go along with six strikeouts over six innings.
Tampa Bay (76-79) remained five games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second American League wild-card spot with seven games to play.
Before an announced crowd of 42,802, the Orioles (74-82) fell out of playoff contention with their sixth loss in the last seven games. They made things interesting by scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth before an out was recorded, but still fell for the 14th time in their last 17 games.
Duda gave the Rays a 3-1 lead with two outs in the top of the third by lining a 3-2 pitch from Orioles starter Jeremy Hellickson over the right-field wall.
The homer followed back-to-back singles by No. 9 hitter Adeiny Hechavarria and leadoff man Kevin Kiermaier. Hellickson had retired the first eight batters prior to that flurry of hits.
The Rays added two more runs in the seventh off reliever Richard Bleier on an RBI single by Wilson Ramos and a sacrifice fly to right by Hechavarria that scored Steven Souza Jr. They added four more in the ninth, including designated hitter Logan Morrison's 37th home run of the season.
That was more than enough for Odorizzi, the 27-year-old who was making his 27th start of the season for the Rays. Over six innings, he allowed one unearned run on three hits and walked only two.
Since the start of 2016, Odorizzi has allowed three hits or fewer in 18 starts, the most in the American League over that span.
Hellickson pitched well other than the one brief rough patch in the third inning. But that was enough to send him to his third consecutive loss and sixth in his last nine starts.
Facing his former team for the first time, Hellickson (2-6, 6.97 ERA) allowed the three earned runs on four hits, in addition to striking out four and walking one.
Hellickson, who pitched for the Rays from 2010-2014, has not won since an Aug. 25 road start against the Boston Red Sox.
The Orioles jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Jonathan Schoop ripped a double down the left-field line and then scored on a throwing error.
Adam Jones put a ball in play on the right side of the infield. Odorizzi ran over to cover first, but the throw over missed him by a wide mark. Jones was credited with an infield single and hustled over to third base on the error.
NOTES: The Rays improved to 8-7 against the Orioles this season with four games remaining between the teams. ... Rays DH Logan Morrison hit his 27th home run of the season on the road to extend his American League lead and team record. ... Orioles RHP Jeremy Hellickson surrendered his 35th home run of the season, which is a career high. ... With one home game remaining, the Orioles fell to 45-35 this season at Camden Yards.
Granite's HR highlights 8-run eighth as Twins rout Tigers
(TSX / STATS) -- DETROIT -- A big inning was big for the surging Minnesota Twins.
Minnesota scored eight times in the eighth inning Saturday night, capped by rookie Zach Granite's three-run homer, to earn a come-from-behind 10-4 victory over Detroit that was the Tigers' sixth straight loss.
The Twins lead Texas, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Angels by 4 1/2 games for the American League's second wild-card spot.
"That's a really good win," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It didn't look particularly good. (Tigers' starter Matthew) Boyd's been on a good run. He had us baffled a little bit.
"Doz (Brian Dozier) had the bunt to lead off the game. ... He got another single but I think we only had two hits going into the seventh inning before we got the double and the single to cut it to one."
Ervin Santana (16-8) gave up four straight hits at the start of the game but only three thereafter in his seven innings, during which he struck out five and didn't walk a batter. Santana retired 18 of 20 after the first inning.
"Give Ervin a lot of credit," Molitor said. "It looked like he had a little rough start. He didn't catch many breaks. Couple balls painted down the right field line. Couple other things that happened.
"But he settled in really nicely and other than the changeup he kind of left up for (Efren) Navarro he had a solid seven innings for us.
"I'm glad we're able to pick up a win for the team first and get another for Ervin in his win column too."
Alan Busenitz pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Gabriel Moya the ninth to finish the win and make Minnesota's lead in the American League second wild-card chase four games over Texas, which played later Saturday. Moya gave up Navarro's second home run of the game leading off the ninth.
Tigers reliever Alex Wilson took a line drive single by Joe Mauer off his right leg to start the eighth, threw one warm-up pitch and crumpled to the ground. He limped off the field with help and was replaced by Daniel Stumpf. X-Rays showed a non-displaced fracture of near Wilson's right ankle.
"It was numb at first, and then it kinda felt warm," Wilson said. "I was walking around the mound to see whether or not I was going to be able to go. I squatted down, and was able to do that. Of course, it wasn't on the weight-bearing bone.
"So, really, it had no effect. Then I tried to throw a pitch, and I felt a pop. And, obviously, that was the end of the night. And, that's when the pain really started shooting through."
Jorge Polanco greeted Stumpf (0-1) with a single to right and Eddie Rosario forged a 3-3 tie with a single to left. Eduardo Escobar blooped an RBI single into right center to put Minnesota ahead, 4-3.
Reliever Joe Jimenez hit a batter and caught a line drive before giving up a two-run line single to center by Robbie Grossman, making it 6-3. The Twins got another run on a groundout to second by Jason Castro.
Granite, who pinch-ran for Mauer earlier in the inning, completed the eight-run inning by hitting his first major league home run, off Blaine Hardy. Granite's three-run blast went to right field.
Granite became the first Minnesota Twin to pinch-run and hit a home run in the same inning and the first major leaguer to do so since 2001.
"Unfortunate for them that their guy gets knocked out," Molitor said. "Not surprisingly Joe's the guy to get us going. That was a huge hit leading off the inning there and Polanco followed up with a good at-bat and Rosie. One after another, next thing you know we put eight up there."
The Twins cut the gap to 3-2 and chased Boyd in the seventh. Ehire Adrianza, an early sub for injured Max Kepler, doubled to left center with one out and scored when Grossman followed with a single.
Boyd, in his first start since his near no-hitter Sunday, lasted 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. The first run he allowed was unearned.
"He's been outstanding," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said of his lefty. "He's been much better since he cleaned up his mechanics. The last two outings have been superb. He got us deep in the game. We just had trouble getting the ball to (closer Shane) Greene."
Navarro entered the game when Miguel Cabrera left after one inning with a lower back strain. He cranked a high changeup into the seats in right for his first home run to put the Tigers ahead, 3-1, with one out in the sixth.
Detroit opened its half of the first with four straight hits good for a 2-1 lead against Santana. Ian Kinsler doubled to right and scored on a ground single to right by Alex Presley. Cabrera blooped a single near the line in right and Nicholas Castellanos plopped an RBI single into short left.
Dozier gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead to open the game with a bunt single to third on which he ended up scoring when Jeimer Candelario threw the ball past first for a three-base error. The error was his fourth in nine games.
NOTES: Tigers OF Mikie Mahtook's return this season is doubtful after he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left groin strain suffered Friday night, a recurrence of an injury that struck him earlier this month. ... Twins manager Paul Molitor says RHP Bartolo Colon is set to open Minnesota's three-game series at Cleveland on Tuesday night. ... RHP Jeff Ferrell of Detroit, struck on the head by a line drive Monday night, remains in MLB's concussion protocol with no time set for a possible return. ... RF Max Kepler was removed from Saturday night's game after one inning and being examined for a left hip injury.
Minnesota scored eight times in the eighth inning Saturday night, capped by rookie Zach Granite's three-run homer, to earn a come-from-behind 10-4 victory over Detroit that was the Tigers' sixth straight loss.
The Twins lead Texas, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Angels by 4 1/2 games for the American League's second wild-card spot.
"That's a really good win," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It didn't look particularly good. (Tigers' starter Matthew) Boyd's been on a good run. He had us baffled a little bit.
"Doz (Brian Dozier) had the bunt to lead off the game. ... He got another single but I think we only had two hits going into the seventh inning before we got the double and the single to cut it to one."
Ervin Santana (16-8) gave up four straight hits at the start of the game but only three thereafter in his seven innings, during which he struck out five and didn't walk a batter. Santana retired 18 of 20 after the first inning.
"Give Ervin a lot of credit," Molitor said. "It looked like he had a little rough start. He didn't catch many breaks. Couple balls painted down the right field line. Couple other things that happened.
"But he settled in really nicely and other than the changeup he kind of left up for (Efren) Navarro he had a solid seven innings for us.
"I'm glad we're able to pick up a win for the team first and get another for Ervin in his win column too."
Alan Busenitz pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Gabriel Moya the ninth to finish the win and make Minnesota's lead in the American League second wild-card chase four games over Texas, which played later Saturday. Moya gave up Navarro's second home run of the game leading off the ninth.
Tigers reliever Alex Wilson took a line drive single by Joe Mauer off his right leg to start the eighth, threw one warm-up pitch and crumpled to the ground. He limped off the field with help and was replaced by Daniel Stumpf. X-Rays showed a non-displaced fracture of near Wilson's right ankle.
"It was numb at first, and then it kinda felt warm," Wilson said. "I was walking around the mound to see whether or not I was going to be able to go. I squatted down, and was able to do that. Of course, it wasn't on the weight-bearing bone.
"So, really, it had no effect. Then I tried to throw a pitch, and I felt a pop. And, obviously, that was the end of the night. And, that's when the pain really started shooting through."
Jorge Polanco greeted Stumpf (0-1) with a single to right and Eddie Rosario forged a 3-3 tie with a single to left. Eduardo Escobar blooped an RBI single into right center to put Minnesota ahead, 4-3.
Reliever Joe Jimenez hit a batter and caught a line drive before giving up a two-run line single to center by Robbie Grossman, making it 6-3. The Twins got another run on a groundout to second by Jason Castro.
Granite, who pinch-ran for Mauer earlier in the inning, completed the eight-run inning by hitting his first major league home run, off Blaine Hardy. Granite's three-run blast went to right field.
Granite became the first Minnesota Twin to pinch-run and hit a home run in the same inning and the first major leaguer to do so since 2001.
"Unfortunate for them that their guy gets knocked out," Molitor said. "Not surprisingly Joe's the guy to get us going. That was a huge hit leading off the inning there and Polanco followed up with a good at-bat and Rosie. One after another, next thing you know we put eight up there."
The Twins cut the gap to 3-2 and chased Boyd in the seventh. Ehire Adrianza, an early sub for injured Max Kepler, doubled to left center with one out and scored when Grossman followed with a single.
Boyd, in his first start since his near no-hitter Sunday, lasted 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. The first run he allowed was unearned.
"He's been outstanding," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said of his lefty. "He's been much better since he cleaned up his mechanics. The last two outings have been superb. He got us deep in the game. We just had trouble getting the ball to (closer Shane) Greene."
Navarro entered the game when Miguel Cabrera left after one inning with a lower back strain. He cranked a high changeup into the seats in right for his first home run to put the Tigers ahead, 3-1, with one out in the sixth.
Detroit opened its half of the first with four straight hits good for a 2-1 lead against Santana. Ian Kinsler doubled to right and scored on a ground single to right by Alex Presley. Cabrera blooped a single near the line in right and Nicholas Castellanos plopped an RBI single into short left.
Dozier gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead to open the game with a bunt single to third on which he ended up scoring when Jeimer Candelario threw the ball past first for a three-base error. The error was his fourth in nine games.
NOTES: Tigers OF Mikie Mahtook's return this season is doubtful after he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left groin strain suffered Friday night, a recurrence of an injury that struck him earlier this month. ... Twins manager Paul Molitor says RHP Bartolo Colon is set to open Minnesota's three-game series at Cleveland on Tuesday night. ... RHP Jeff Ferrell of Detroit, struck on the head by a line drive Monday night, remains in MLB's concussion protocol with no time set for a possible return. ... RF Max Kepler was removed from Saturday night's game after one inning and being examined for a left hip injury.
Lindor, Gomes power Indians to rout of Mariners
(TSX / STATS) -- SEATTLE -- It took one batter for the Cleveland Indians to get over dropping their series opener against the Seattle Mariners. After that, the American League Central champions were fine.
Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff homer and the Indians went deep four times in an 11-4 victory over the Mariners on Saturday at Safeco Field.
Jose Ramirez and Yan Gomes each had four RBIs. Ramirez went 3-for-3 with a double and a homer, and Gomes was 3-for-5 with two homers.
Lindor made the most of a rare start at designated hitter -- he went 2-for-5 with a double in the third inning and scored three runs. The Indians had 14 hits.
Cleveland (97-58) stayed 1 1/2 games ahead of Houston for the best record in the American League and home-field advantage up to the World Series. The Indians also responded after losing the series opener to Seattle on Friday night.
"It's part of the game," Gomes said of the Friday night loss. "The best thing to do is just come back and put that behind you like we've done all year. Put games behind us and go out there and compete."
Seattle (75-80) lost for the seventh time in eight games and fell six games behind Minnesota for the second AL wild card.
Carlos Carrasco (17-6) pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed one earned run, six hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Five relievers, including All-Star Andrew Miller, went the rest of the way for the Indians to seal the victory.
Miller, who missed time in August and September with knee tendinitis, pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings after walking his first two batters.
"(Carrasco's) been great, they've got a pretty good lineup," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He got up around 100 pitches and they were starting to look like he left a couple balls up, and we were trying to get Andrew for the inning-plus, so that seemed a good time to do it."
Seattle rookie Andrew Moore (1-5) went four innings, allowing three runs (two earned). He struck out three.
"I thought Andrew made a few adjustments during the game," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "But you could see from the get-go he wasn't as sharp as he had been."
Defense was a problem for Seattle, which committed five errors -- three of them led to Cleveland runs.
"For us and where we're going, it's about catching the baseball and doing things right fundamentally," Servais said. "We haven't done that. We've struggled with that."
Lindor got the Indians going early, hitting his 33rd homer and his third leadoff shot of the season.
He kept it going in the third inning, leading off with single down the right-field line. Austin Jackson then singled him home and he took third on errors by first baseman Yonder Alonso and catcher Mike Zunino.
Ramirez followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Jackson to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead.
The Mariners scored in the sixth inning on Kyle Seager's RBI double to left-center field.
The Indians tacked on two runs in the seventh on sacrifice flies by Ramirez and Greg Allen to put the game out of reach. Ramirez and Gomes each homered in a five-run ninth.
Nelson Cruz added a solo shot in the eighth, his 37th homer, for the Mariners.
NOTES: Cleveland RHP Mike Clevinger has been moved to the bullpen, with Indians manager Terry Francona noting, "We kind of think he can be a weapon." ... Cleveland IF Yandy Diaz returned after missing three days with a jammed finger. He went 1-for-1 as a pinch hitter and stayed in the game at third base. ... Seattle RHP Tony Zych has been shut down for the season with a strain of his right elbow flexor bundle, an injury he suffered in August. ... The Mariners lost an instant replay challenge on Marco Gonzales' attempted pickoff of Cleveland OF Tyler Naquin in the sixth inning. The delay for the replay was 2 minutes, 35 seconds. ... The Indians won their challenge on a Francisco Lindor grounder that 1B Yonder Alonso muffed before 2B Robinson Cano scooped it and threw to first. Lindor was ruled safe after a 32-second delay.
Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff homer and the Indians went deep four times in an 11-4 victory over the Mariners on Saturday at Safeco Field.
Jose Ramirez and Yan Gomes each had four RBIs. Ramirez went 3-for-3 with a double and a homer, and Gomes was 3-for-5 with two homers.
Lindor made the most of a rare start at designated hitter -- he went 2-for-5 with a double in the third inning and scored three runs. The Indians had 14 hits.
Cleveland (97-58) stayed 1 1/2 games ahead of Houston for the best record in the American League and home-field advantage up to the World Series. The Indians also responded after losing the series opener to Seattle on Friday night.
"It's part of the game," Gomes said of the Friday night loss. "The best thing to do is just come back and put that behind you like we've done all year. Put games behind us and go out there and compete."
Seattle (75-80) lost for the seventh time in eight games and fell six games behind Minnesota for the second AL wild card.
Carlos Carrasco (17-6) pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed one earned run, six hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Five relievers, including All-Star Andrew Miller, went the rest of the way for the Indians to seal the victory.
Miller, who missed time in August and September with knee tendinitis, pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings after walking his first two batters.
"(Carrasco's) been great, they've got a pretty good lineup," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He got up around 100 pitches and they were starting to look like he left a couple balls up, and we were trying to get Andrew for the inning-plus, so that seemed a good time to do it."
Seattle rookie Andrew Moore (1-5) went four innings, allowing three runs (two earned). He struck out three.
"I thought Andrew made a few adjustments during the game," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "But you could see from the get-go he wasn't as sharp as he had been."
Defense was a problem for Seattle, which committed five errors -- three of them led to Cleveland runs.
"For us and where we're going, it's about catching the baseball and doing things right fundamentally," Servais said. "We haven't done that. We've struggled with that."
Lindor got the Indians going early, hitting his 33rd homer and his third leadoff shot of the season.
He kept it going in the third inning, leading off with single down the right-field line. Austin Jackson then singled him home and he took third on errors by first baseman Yonder Alonso and catcher Mike Zunino.
Ramirez followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Jackson to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead.
The Mariners scored in the sixth inning on Kyle Seager's RBI double to left-center field.
The Indians tacked on two runs in the seventh on sacrifice flies by Ramirez and Greg Allen to put the game out of reach. Ramirez and Gomes each homered in a five-run ninth.
Nelson Cruz added a solo shot in the eighth, his 37th homer, for the Mariners.
NOTES: Cleveland RHP Mike Clevinger has been moved to the bullpen, with Indians manager Terry Francona noting, "We kind of think he can be a weapon." ... Cleveland IF Yandy Diaz returned after missing three days with a jammed finger. He went 1-for-1 as a pinch hitter and stayed in the game at third base. ... Seattle RHP Tony Zych has been shut down for the season with a strain of his right elbow flexor bundle, an injury he suffered in August. ... The Mariners lost an instant replay challenge on Marco Gonzales' attempted pickoff of Cleveland OF Tyler Naquin in the sixth inning. The delay for the replay was 2 minutes, 35 seconds. ... The Indians won their challenge on a Francisco Lindor grounder that 1B Yonder Alonso muffed before 2B Robinson Cano scooped it and threw to first. Lindor was ruled safe after a 32-second delay.
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