Josh Naylor’s three-run double with two outs in the eighth inning helped the Seattle Mariners beat the visiting Colorado Rockies 4-3 Tuesday night, clinching a playoff berth in the process.
Dominic Canzone hit a solo homer for the Mariners, who won their fifth in a row and prevailed for the 15th time in their past 16 games to capture at least an American League wild-card spot. With five games left, they lead the American League West by four games over the Houston Astros.
The Mariners had just two hits and trailed 3-1 in the eighth before loading the bases on two hit batters and walk against Mejia (2-2). Naylor lined a 2-0 fastball from Victor Vodnik into the gap in left-center field to put Seattle in front.
Mariners reliever Gabe Speier (4-3) struck out three in the eighth and Andres Munoz fanned two more in a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 38th save.
Yankees 3, White Sox 2
Jose Caballero hit a walk-off single in the ninth inning and New York clinched a playoff berth with a victory over visiting Chicago. The Yankees won for the 20th time in 28 games.
Cody Bellinger’s bases-loaded walk tied the game in the ninth before Caballero gave New York its fifth walk-off win this season. The White Sox had built a 2-1 lead when rookie Colson Montgomery hit a two-run homer in the sixth off Luis Gil.
Yankees reliever Luke Weaver (4-4) threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win over Brandon Eisert (3-7).
Guardians 5, Tigers 2
Gavin Williams posted a career-high-tying 12 strikeouts and Daniel Schneemann drove in two runs as host Cleveland rallied for a victory over Detroit, leaving the teams tied atop the American League Central.
Williams (12-5) allowed two runs on four hits in six innings outduel Tigers ace Tarik Skubal (13-6), who gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits in six innings. With the win, the Guardians secured the tiebreaker between two teams.
Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 4
Geraldo Perdomo hit a walk-off single to cap a two-run ninth inning and Arizona rallied from a four-run deficit to spoil Shohei Ohtani’s longest outing of the season in a victory over Los Angeles at Phoenix.
Jorge Barrosa tied the game with a sacrifice fly off Tanner Scott (1-4) before Perdomo lined a single to left to keep the D-backs within one game of the final National League wild-card berth.
Teoscar Hernandez homered, tripled and drove in three runs for the Dodgers, whose NL West lead over the San Diego Padres was cut to 1 1/2 games. Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings, striking out eight.
Athletics 5, Astros 1
Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom each had two hits and one RBI to help the Athletics hand Houston a damaging loss in West Sacramento, Calif.
Jeffrey Springs and three relievers combined on a three-hitter for the Athletics. Wilson also walked twice and scored twice as the A’s won for the eighth time in the past 11 games.
Cam Smith drove in the lone run for the Astros, who lost their fourth consecutive contest. Houston sits one game behind the Detroit Tigers for the final American League wild-card berth and four games behind the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners.
Pirates 4, Reds 2
Oneil Cruz belted a two-run homer and five relievers combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings to lead visiting Pittsburgh past Cincinnati.
Elly De La Cruz homered and went 3-for-3 for the Reds, who hit into double plays to end each of the final three innings.
Left-handed reliever Hunter Barco (1-0) made his major league debut for Pittsburgh, tossing a scoreless sixth inning to earn his first big league win. Dennis Santana tossed a scoreless ninth for his 15th save in 17 chances.
Braves 3, Nationals 2
Michael Harris II hit a pair of home runs and rookie Hurston Waldrep pitched six strong innings to help Atlanta extend its league-leading winning streak to 10 games with a win over visiting Washington. It’s the Braves’ first double-digit winning streak since winning 14 straight in June 2022.
Harris’ homers, both solo shots, were his first home runs since Aug. 27. Waldrep (6-1) allowed one run on five hits. Raisel Iglesias worked around a one-out walk to pitch a scoreless ninth and earn his 28th save.
Nationals starter Brad Lord (5-9) pitched six innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He retired 13 straight at one point. James Wood hit a solo homer, his 28th, as Washington lost for the ninth time in 12 games against the Braves this season.
Twins 4, Rangers 1
Kody Clemens had a double, an RBI single and scored a run to back seven solid innings from starter Zebby Matthews as Minnesota defeated reeling Texas in the opener of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.
The loss was a season-high eighth straight for the Rangers and mathematically eliminated them from the postseason. Patrick Corbin (7-11) — the first of six Texas pitchers — lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Corbin is 0-2 in five September starts despite allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of those appearances.
Minnesota, which has long been excused from postseason consideration, has won two straight games for just the second time since capturing three in a row Aug. 5-8. Matthews scattered four hits to win for just the second time in eight starts since Aug. 5.
Marlins 6, Phillies 5 (11 innings)
Heriberto Hernandez hit a tying home run in the ninth inning and Xavier Edwards knocked in the decisive run in the 11th as Miami nipped host Philadelphia.
The Marlins opened the 11th with an infield single off Lou Trivino (3-2), putting runners on the corners, and Edwards followed with a sacrifice fly. The Phillies put the tying run on third with one out in the bottom of the 11th before Josh Simpson (4-2) retired Weston Wilson and Bryson Stott to give Miami its seventh straight victory. The Marlins have won 11 of their past 12 contests.
Kyle Schwarber and Otto Kemp homered for Philadelphia, which remains 2 1/2 games back of Milwaukee for the top seed in the National League playoffs.
Padres 7, Brewers 0
Ryan O’Hearn hit a grand slam, Luis Arraez and Jose Iglesias also homered and San Diego blanked visiting Milwaukee to gain ground in the playoff race.
San Diego moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Dodgers in the National League West. The Padres are also within 1 1/2 games of the Cubs in the chase for the top NL wild card and home-field advantage in a potential first-round playoff series between the teams. Randy Vasquez (6-7) retired the last 14 batters he faced as he gave up just one hit in seven innings.
Bruce Zimmermann, making his first major league appearance since 2023 and his first start since 2022, was charged with seven hits and six runs, five earned, in six innings.
Mets 9, Cubs 7
Francisco Alvarez broke a tie with a two-run homer in the eighth inning after visiting New York had already erased a five-run deficit in a victory over Chicago.
New York’s Brandon Nimmo launched a three-run homer in a five-run fifth inning and Francisco Lindor also went deep to lead off the game. Lindor drove in three runs and Pete Alonso had an RBI single for the Mets, who recorded just the fifth win in their last eight games to move one game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the final wild-card spot in the National League.
Carlos Santana and Ian Happ both had two-run doubles and Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki each added an RBI single for the Cubs, who have lost a season-high five games in a row.
Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 1
Nathaniel Lowe and Carlos Narvaez had two RBIs apiece and visiting Boston defeated Toronto.
Both had key hits in Boston’s three-run sixth inning that broke a 1-1 tie. Lucas Giolito allowed one run and three hits in 4 2/3 innings for the Red Sox, who are trying to secure a playoff spot.
The Blue Jays confirmed their postseason berth with a win on Sunday that ended a four-game losing streak but their lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East was cut to one game. Kevin Gausman (10-11) allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Cardinals 9, Giants 8
Brendan Donovan tied the score with his fourth double of the game in the ninth inning and Alec Burleson put St. Louis ahead with a run-scoring single as the visiting Cardinals rallied for two in the ninth inning to stun San Francisco.
Ivan Herrera and Nolan Arenado hit home runs for the Cardinals, who remained 3 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the National League wild-card race. Donovan tied the franchise record for doubles in a game. Cardinals starter Andre Pallante was charged with five runs (two earned) on three hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Heliot Ramos launched his 20th home run for the Giants, who were eliminated from postseason contention. Giants starter Logan Webb allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings.
Royals 8, Angels 4
Cole Ragans struck out 10 batters over five innings as Kansas City earned a victory over Los Angeles in the opener of a three-game series in Anaheim, Calif.
Ragans (3-3), making his second start since missing 3 1/2 months with a left rotator cuff strain, picked up his first win since May 5. He allowed two runs on three hits. Maikel Garcia went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three runs, a walk and an RBI for Kansas City. Salvador Perez went 2-for-3 with an RBI single, moving past Hal McRae into second place on the Royals’ all-time RBI list.
Bryce Teodosio hit his first major league home run and Taylor Ward also homered for Los Angeles, which lost for the 10th time in 11 games. Sam Aldegher (0-1) allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Orioles 6, Rays 0
Dean Kremer pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings as Baltimore blanked visiting Tampa Bay to open a three-game series.
Colton Cowser hit a two-run home run to highlight the Orioles’ offense. Jose Castillo, Colin Selby and Yaramil Hiraldo completed the two-hit shutout by following Kremer (11-10) to the mound.
Cowser, Coby Mayo and Jordan Westburg all posted two hits for Baltimore. Rays starter Ryan Pepiot (11-12) gave up three runs in three innings.
