Marlins star Jose Fernandez dies in tragic accident

The Miami Marlins organization is devastated by the tragic loss of José Fernández. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.

Today's game against the Atlanta Braves has been cancelled.

"It is with the deepest sorrow that I, together with my family and the entire Marlins organization, mourn the tragic loss of José," said Marlins owner Jeffrey H. Loria. "Sadly, the brightest lights are often the ones that extinguish the fastest. José left us far too soon, but his memory will endure in all of us. At this difficult time, our prayers are with his mother, grandmother, family and friends."

Hernandez died early Sunday in a boating accident.

MLB Transactions from September 24, 2016

Atlanta Braves activated RHP Jose Ramirez.

Baseball Capsules (September 25, 2016)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Washington Nationals clinched their third National League East title in five years, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 Saturday night behind 5 1/3 scoreless innings from rookie reliever Reynaldo Lopez.

Stephen Drew's two-run single capped a three-run first inning for the Nationals, who return to the postseason after a one-year absence. Their win ensured a playoff berth, and they won the division about 20 minutes later when the second-place New York Mets lost to Philadelphia.

Lopez (4-3) came on to the start the bottom of the fourth inning with a 6-1 lead and allowed three hits while striking out five and walking one.

Ivan Nova (12-8) lost his second straight outing after a 5-0 start with Pittsburgh, giving up six runs — three earned — and eight hits in four innings.

RED SOX 6, RAYS 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Dustin Pedroia hit his fourth career grand slam to help Rick Porcello get his major league-leading 22nd win, and Boston clinched a playoff berth by extending its winning streak to 10 — the team's longest in September since 1949.

Boston maintained a 5½-game lead over Toronto for the division title and ensured no worse than the AL's second wild card.

Pedroia stopped an 0-for-17 skid with a single in the sixth and gave Boston a 6-3 lead with a seventh-inning drive off Danny Farquhar.

Porcello (22-4) gave up three runs, eight hits and struck out nine over 6 1/3 innings, and Craig Kimbrel reached 30 saves for the sixth straight season. Ryan Garton (1-2) was the loser.

BLUE JAYS 3, YANKEES 0

TORONTO (AP) — Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer off Tyler Clippard (3-5) in the eighth inning, reaching 30 homers for the seventh straight season.

New York has been shut out in three straight games for the first time July 27-28, 1975. The Yankees have lost 10 of 13 following a seven-game winning streak and likely will miss the playoffs for the third time in four years.

Jason Grilli (7-5) struck out Billy Butler in the eighth to strand a runner at third, and Roberto Osuna completed a three-hitter for his 35th save.

PHILLIES 10, METS 8

NEW YORK (AP) — The Mets fell behind 10-0 by the fourth inning, then fell short of what would have been the largest comeback victory in team history.

New York dropped into a tie with San Francisco for the two NL wild cards. St. Louis trails by a half-game.

Philadelphia's Maikel Franco and Darin Ruf each hit long a home run for the second consecutive night as Philadelphia built its lead.

Sean Gilmartin (0-1) fell behind 3-0 after 12 pitches and left having allowed five runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Jay Bruce hit his first career pinch-hit home run with one out in the ninth. The Mets put two on before Michael Mariot got his second save by retiring Lucas Duda on a popup and Travis d'Arnaud on a comebacker.

Alec Asher (2-0) allowed four unearned runs over five innings.

DODGERS 14, ROCKIES 1

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings, Josh Reddick slugged a grand slam in the seventh and Los Angeles moved within a game of clinching its fourth consecutive NL West title.

The Dodgers can wrap up the title Sunday in Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully's final home game before he retires next weekend.

Kershaw (12-3) struck out six and walked none to improve to 8-1 at home.

Chad Bettis (13-8) gave up seven runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings, struck out three and walked four.

GIANTS 9, PADRES 6, 10 INNINGS

SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Francisco blew a six-run lead before scoring three times in the 10th inning, including a two-run home run by Denard Span, to beat San Diego and pull even with the New York Mets atop the NL wild-card standings.

Angel Pagan scored the go-ahead run on a fielding error by rookie right fielder Hunter Renfroe with one out in the 10th, followed by Span's 11th homer, off Kevin Quackenbush (7-7).

Will Smith (2-4) pitched one-third of an inning for the win. Sergio Romo got his third save.

ROYALS 7, TIGERS 4

DETROIT (AP) — Paulo Orlando hit a tying, two-run double and Eric Hosmer followed with a three-run homer against Francisco Rodriguez (3-4), capping a comeback from a 4-2 deficit in the ninth.

Wade Davis (2-1) pitched a one-hit eighth and Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City's seventh pitcher, got three straight outs for his 12th save.

Detroit's five-game winning streak was stopped and the World Series champion Royals ended a four-game skid.

CARDINALS 10, CUBS 4

CHICAGO (AP) — Yadier Molina drove in four runs and Stephen Piscotty homered to help St. Louis in its wild-card chase. Randal Grichuk added three RBIs and Jhonny Peralta had three hits.

Jason Hammel (15-10) allowed six runs and six hits while getting just seven outs, hurting his bid for a postseason rotation spot.

Alex Reyes (4-1) needed 115 pitches to get through five innings but settled down after a tough start to allow three runs and six hits.

RANGERS 5, ATHLETICS 0

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The lone veteran in the lineup a day after Texas won another AL West title, Elvis Andrus hit a pair of two-run homers.

Yu Darvish (6-5) had all the run support he needed on a couple of big swings from Andrus, who had his first career multi-homer game. Robinson Chirinos added an RBI double in the ninth for Texas (92-63), which moved 29 games above .500 for the first time since exactly four years ago on Sept. 24, 2012.

A's rookie Raul Alcantara (1-2) struck out six with one walk over six innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits.

ORIOLES 6, DIAMONDBACKS 1

BALTIMORE (AP) — Mark Trumbo connected for his league-leading 45th homer and Trey Mancini hit his third homer in nine major league at-bats,

Baltimore pulled a half-game ahead of the Tigers for the AL's second wild card and trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 1 1/2 games for the top spot.

Wade Miley (9-13) allowed one run and seven hits and tied a career high with 11 strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings to beat Robbie Ray (8-14).

WHITE SOX 8, INDIANS 1

CLEVELAND (AP) — Melky Cabrera and Jose Abreu hit RBI singles in the first off Cody Anderson (2-5), and Todd Frazier connected for his 39th homer in the sixth as Chicago stopped a six-game losing streak.

Joel Quintana (13-11) gave up one run in six innings and beat Cleveland for the second time in 11 days. The Indians' magic number is two for clinching the AL Central.

MARLINS 6, BRAVES 4

MIAMI (AP) — Derek Dietrich hit a two-run homer, helping stop Atlanta's season-high seven-game winning streak.

Atlanta's Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 28 games in the first inning and has reached base in 44 straight. He also hit a solo home run in the sixth, his 32nd.

Brian Ellington (4-2) earned the win in relief and A.J. Ramos got his 39th save. Five days after getting his first big league win, Aaron Blair (1-7) allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings.

ANGELS 10, ASTROS 4

HOUSTON (AP) — Kole Calhoun had three hits and two RBIs, and Los Angeles scored nine runs in the final two innings. Houston fell to three games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.

Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and C.J. Cron each added two RBIs for the Angels.

Jose Valdez (2-3) allowed two runs in the seventh for the win, and Luke Gregerson (4-2) took the loss.

TWINS 3, MARINERS 2

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Miguel Sano hit a tiebreaking homer in the fourth inning off Ariel Miranda (5-2) and Tyler Duffey (9-11) gave up four runs and four hits in seven innings. Seattle is 2½ games back for the second AL wild card.

Sano's 24th homer followed Nelson Cruz's tying two-run shot for Seattle in the top of the fourth. Cruz's homer reached the third deck in left field for what was estimated by MLB's Statcast as 493 feet, the second-longest home run in the majors this season behind a 504-foot strike by Miami's Giancarlo Stanton in Colorado's Coors Field.

Jorge Polanco had a solo home run for Minnesota, which snapped a seven-game losing streak.

REDS 6, BREWERS 1

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Dan Straily (14-8) allowed one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings, and Joey Votto hit a two-run homer in the first off Taylor Jungmann (0-5). Straily is 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four starts against Milwaukee this year.

MLB Transactions from September 23, 2016

Chicago Cubs activated RHP Pedro Strop from the 15-day disabled list.
Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of Phil Coke from Indianapolis Indians.
Pittsburgh Pirates placed RHP A.J. Schugel on the 60-day disabled list. Right shoulder discomfort.
Los Angeles Dodgers activated LHP Scott Kazmir from the 15-day disabled list.
Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Chris Taylor from Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Texas Rangers activated RHP Jeremy Jeffress from the restricted list.
Texas Rangers recalled LHP Andrew Faulkner from Round Rock Express.

Baseball Capsules (September 24, 2016)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Texas Rangers secured their second straight AL West title, becoming the first American League team to clinch a playoff spot with a 3-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

Beltre's homer came during a three-run seventh after Oakland starter Kendall Graveman (10-11) pitched six perfect innings. Texas got its first baserunner when Carlos Gomez beat out an infield hit to lead off the seventh against Graveman.

This is Texas' eighth AL West title and fourth since 2010.

All-Star left-hander Cole Hamels (15-5), acquired prior to last year's non-waiver trade deadline, pitched the division-clinching game for the second year in a row. Last year, he threw a three-hitter in the last game of the regular season to beat the Los Angeles Angels.

Rangers closer Sam Dyson got pinch-hitter Yonder Alonso to hit into a fielder's choice for the last out to record his 36th save.

RED SOX 2, RAYS 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - David Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the first inning to set the RBIs record for a player in his final season, and the AL East-leading Boston beat Tampa Bay for its ninth straight victory

Ortiz's 37th homer came off Chris Archer (8-19) and raised his RBIs total to 124, one more than Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1920. The 40-year-old's 540th homer, his 300th on the road, struck an overhanging catwalk above the right-field seats.

Coming off four-game sweeps of the New York Yankees and Baltimore, the Red Sox began the night with a six-game lead over second-place Toronto in the AL East. They lowered their magic number to two for clinching a playoff berth.

Drew Pomeranz (3-5) allowed one run and four hits in five innings. Brad Ziegler, the fifth Boston reliever, got his fourth save after allowing a leadoff double in the ninth to Evan Longoria.

Archer set a Tampa Bay record for losses in a season, breaking the mark Tanyon Sturtze set in 2002. He has lost 11 straight decisions against Boston since beating the Red Sox in his first career start against them on Sept. 19, 2012. Mikie Mahtook hit a solo homer in the second for the Rays.

CUBS 5, CARDINALS 0

CHICAGO (AP) - Jake Arrieta struck out 10 in seven innings and Chicago beat St. Louis for its 98th victory, the Cubs' most since they last played in the World Series in 1945.

Arrieta (18-7) allowed five hits and walked one, Anthony Rizzo had three hits and Ben Zobrist drove in two runs to help the Cubs (98-55) tie a team record with their 56th home win. They moved within one victory or one Washington loss of clinching home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.

Chicago scored four runs in the first inning off Mike Leake (9-11).

Pedro Strop came off the disabled list to work the eighth, and Travis Wood and Carl Edwards Jr. finished the five-hitter. Rizzo, Zobrist and Chris Coghlan drove in runs in the first off Leake, who lasted 3 1/3 innings and is winless in four starts since recovering from shingles.

Leake allowed another run on one of two wild pitches. Cardinals' gaffes included Kolten Wong face-planting into the turf chasing Rizzo's first-inning double and Matt Adams getting picked off first. Zobrist's fourth-inning groundout added another run for Chicago.

METS 10, PHILLIES 5

NEW YORK (AP) - Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer that capped a six-run rally in the fifth inning, Hansel Robles gave a big boost from the bullpen and New York beat Philadelphia to stay atop the NL wild-card race.

The Mets began the day tied with San Francisco for the wild-card lead. St. Louis lost and trails New York by 1 1/2 games.

A day after using 10 pitchers in a stirring 9-8, 11-inning win over the Phillies, the Mets sent out six more. With his team competing for a playoff spot, manager Terry Collins yanked starter Gabriel Ynoa after just two shaky innings.

Robles preserved a 7-5 lead in the seventh, getting pinch-hitter Tommy Joseph to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. Robles finished with hitless relief for his first career save. Josh Smoker (3-0) was the winner.

Jeremy Hellickson (12-10) was the loser. Maikel Franco homered for the second straight day and pinch-hitter Darin Ruf also connected for the Phillies.

PIRATES 6, NATIONALS 5, 11 INNINGS

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Rookie Jacob Stallings' pinch-hit single in the 11th inning lifted Pittsburgh past Washington, preventing the Nationals from clinching a postseason berth.

Pittsburgh loaded the bases with one out against Yusmiero Petit (3-5) when Francisco Cervelli doubled, Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked and Pedro Florimon walked.

Sean Rodriguez struck out and Stalling, a son of University of Pittsburgh basketball coach Kevin Stallings, grounded a 3-2 pitch into left field.

Wade LeBlanc (4-0) was the winner. Pittsburgh's seventh win in nine games kept the Pirates on the fringe of the NL wild-card race.

Washington lost for the fifth time in six games. The Nationals have magic numbers of one for a playoff berth and two for an NL East title. Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa homered for the Nationals.

INDIANS 10, WHITE SOX 4.

CLEVELAND (AP) - Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, and Cleveland beat Chicago to move a step closer to the AL Central title.

The Indians dropped their magic number to three games for their first division title since 2007.

Trevor Bauer (12-8) overcame two-run homers by Melky Cabrera and Avisail Garcia. The right-hander allowed four runs in 7 2/3 innings.

Mike Napoli drove in two runs and became the first Cleveland player to reach 100 RBIs in nine years.

Miguel Gonzalez (4-8) was the loser. Chicago has lost six in a row and was eliminated from the AL wild-card race.

White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton left after appearing to hit his head and left shoulder running into the wall catching Roberto Perez's long drive in the sixth.

ORIOLES 3, DIAMONDBACKS 2, 12 INNINGS

BALTIMORE (AP) - Mark Trumbo led off the 12th inning with his major league-leading 44th home run, and Baltimore ovrcame a late two-run deficit to beat Arizona.

After getting swept in a four-game series by Boston, the Orioles remained a half-game behind Detroit for the AL's second wild card.

Baltimore trailed 2-0 before Pedro Alvarez homered in the eighth off Enrique Burgos, and Matt Wieters homered against Daniel Hudson leading off the ninth.

Oliver Drake (1-0) pitched a scoreless 12th for his first big league win. Matt Koch (1-1) relieved to start the bottom half and Trumbo sent his first pitch over the left-field fence, setting off a celebration.

BLUE JAYS 9, YANKEES 0

TORONTO (AP) - Francisco Liriano and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, Troy Tulowitzki had four RBIs and the Toronto routed New York to maintain a one-game lead in the AL wild-card standings.

Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer, Edwin Encarnacion had his 124th RBI - tied with Boston's David Ortiz for the AL lead - and the Blue Jays won their sixth straight home game over New York.

New York was shut out for the second straight night and lost for the ninth time in 12 games, following a seven-game winning streak. The Yankees have gone 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position in their last two games and stranded 17 runners.

Liriano (8-13) escaped a bases-loaded jam by striking out Chase Headley to end a 27-pitch first inning, then left runners at the corners after the first two batters reached in the third. That was the start of a stretch that saw the left-hander retire nine straight. Liriano allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six for his second win with Toronto. Bryan Mitchell (1-2) was the loser.

BREWERS 5, REDS 4

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Chris Carter homered, Ryan Braun had a late clutch hit and Milwaukee its second triple play of the season in a victory over Cincinnati.

Carter hit his 38th home run of the season leading off the second against Anthony DeSclafani (8-4).

Jose Peraza put the Reds in front with a three-run homer with one out in the fifth off Milwaukee starter Zach Davies.

The Brewers scored in the sixth on Carter's RBI groundout to cut the lead to 3-2. Milwaukee loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh, chasing DeSclafani. Scooter Gennett drew a walk off reliever Tony Cingrani to tie it. Milwaukee regained the lead when Braun followed with a two-run single off Blake Wood.

Brent Suter (2-1) retired the only batter he faced to get the victory. Tyler Thornburg finished for his 13th save.

ANGELS 10, ASTROS 6

HOUSTON (AP) - Yunel Escobar hit a two-run homer and pinch-hitter Rafael Ortega had three RBIs during a six-run ninth inning, lifting Los Angeles past Houston.

Houston fell 2 1/2 games behind the Tigers for the second AL wild card.

Houston led 6-4 when Escobar sent a slider from Ken Giles (2-5) into the seats in left field to start the ninth. Giles walked Mike Trout with one out before intentionally walking Albert Pujols. C.J. Cron followed with a bloop single to score Trout and put the Angels on top.

Giles was replaced by Michael Feliz after loading the bases with a walk. Ortega cleared the bases with his two-out single, which deflected off shortstop Carlos Correa's glove to extend the lead.

Cody Ege (1-0) got the last two outs of the eighth inning for the win.

TIGERS 8, ROYALS 3

DETROIT (AP) - Michael Fulmer pitched seven sharp innings for his first win in over a month and Detroit homered three times in a victory over Kansas City.

Justin Upton, Victor Martinez and Cameron Maybin went deep to help the Tigers win their fifth straight while chasing a postseason spot. Upton has 27 homers, including 14 in his last 29 games.

Fulmer (11-7) allowed a run and eight hits, striking out nine with no walks. Danny Duffy (12-3) allowed six runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Kansas City has lost nine of its last 12.

MARINERS 10, TWINS 1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Robinson Cano had four hits and two RBIs, and Nelson Cruz added a towering two-run homer among his four RBIs and struggling Seattle beat Minnesota.

James Paxton pitched seven strong innings and finally received a boost from the offense, which broke out with a six-run seventh inning. Paxton (5-7) struck out nine and allowed one run on five hits.

The Mariners (81-72) passed Houston - which lost to the Los Angeles Angels - in the standings but still trail Detroit by two games for the second wild card.

Kyle Gibson (6-10) gave up two runs, five hits and four walks for Minnesota.

BRAVES 3, MARLINS 2.

MIAMI (AP) - Adonis Garcia hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning, and Atlanta beat Miami for its season-high seventh straight win

Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 27 games with a sixth-inning double. Atlanta's winning streak is its longest since it won nine in a row from June 27-July 5, 2014.

With the score 2-2, Emilio Bonifacio singled with one out off A.J. Ramos (1-4), stole his first base this season, took third on catcher J.T. Realmuto's throwing error and came home on Garcia's single to center.

Brandon Cuniff (2-0) struck out two of three batters in a hitless eighth, and Mauricio Cabrera threw a hitless ninth for his sixth save in seven chances with the Braves.

Mariners suspend Steve Clevenger without pay for remainder of season

Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced that the club has suspended Steve Clevenger without pay for the remainder of the season.

"As soon as we became aware of the tweets posted by Steve yesterday we began to examine all of our options in regard to his standing on the team," Dipoto said. "Today we have informed him that he is suspended for the reminder of the season without pay."

Clevenger, 30, appeared in 22 games with the Mariners this season prior to being placed on the disabled list with a fractured hand on June 30. He hit .221 (15x68) with 3 doubles, 1 home run and 7 RBI.

Clevenger is a veteran of six Major League seasons with the Cubs (2011-13), Orioles (2013-15) and Mariners (2016).

MLB Transactions from September 22, 2016

Los Angeles Dodgers activated LHP Brett Anderson from the 15-day disabled list.
Tampa Bay Rays selected the contract of Juniel Querecuto from Montgomery Biscuits.
Kansas City Royals released RHP Chien-Ming Wang.
New York Yankees traded LHP Phil Coke to Pittsburgh Pirates for cash.
Tampa Bay Rays placed RF Steven Souza Jr. on the 60-day disabled list. Left hip impingement and labral tear.
Miami Marlins sent Bryan Morris outright to New Orleans Zephyrs