Phillies Secure First-Round Bye with 9-6 Win Over Cubs
Philadelphia Phillies 9, Chicago Cubs 6
Brandon Marsh delivered a key three-run double, while Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott each had three hits as the Philadelphia Phillies topped the visiting Chicago Cubs 9-6 on Wednesday night. The victory, paired with the Milwaukee Brewers’ loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowed the Phillies to clinch a first-round bye in the National League playoffs.
Philadelphia (94-65) also stayed a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race for the NL’s top seed. The Dodgers later edged the San Diego Padres 4-3, keeping them narrowly ahead. The Phillies finished their home schedule with an MLB-best 54-27 home record, despite notable efforts from Chicago’s Isaac Paredes, who went 4-for-5, and Nico Hoerner, who hit two homers for the Cubs (81-78).
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Dodgers Edge Padres, Inch Closer to NL West Title
Los Angeles Dodgers 4, San Diego Padres 3
Shohei Ohtani continued his MVP-caliber season with two RBIs, including the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning, as the Los Angeles Dodgers took down the visiting San Diego Padres 4-3. The Dodgers (94-64) moved three games ahead of San Diego, reducing their magic number to two to clinch their 11th NL West title in 12 seasons.
Teoscar Hernandez and Gavin Lux added RBIs for Los Angeles, while Alex Vesia (5-4) earned the win with one inning of relief. Michael Kopech closed out the ninth for his 15th save. Fernando Tatis Jr. homered for the Padres, while Jeremiah Estrada (6-3) took the loss.
Tigers Inch Closer to AL Wild-Card Berth with Win Over Rays
Detroit Tigers 7, Tampa Bay Rays 1
Spencer Torkelson homered and drove in three runs as the surging Detroit Tigers (83-74) beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-1, moving closer to securing an AL wild-card berth. Parker Meadows added a solo home run, while Riley Greene and Dillon Dingler each had two hits and an RBI for Detroit, which has won eight of its last nine games.
Detroit starter Keider Montero pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up just one run on four hits. Tampa Bay’s Zack Littell (8-9) allowed three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Blue Jays Avoid Sweep, Defeat Red Sox 6-1
Toronto Blue Jays 6, Boston Red Sox 1
Jonatan Clase hit his first career major league home run as part of a three-hit night, helping the Toronto Blue Jays snap a five-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Alejandro Kirk contributed with three hits and three RBIs, and Toronto (74-85) prevented Boston (80-79) from completing the sweep. The Red Sox’s faint playoff hopes were officially dashed with the loss.
Toronto’s Kevin Gausman (14-11) gave up just one run on four hits across six innings, while Boston’s Richard Fitts (0-1) allowed four runs in five innings in his second major league start.
Diamondbacks End Skid with 8-2 Win Over Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks 8, San Francisco Giants 2
Zac Gallen struck out 11 in six strong innings, and Pavin Smith launched a three-run homer as the Arizona Diamondbacks (83-74) snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating the San Francisco Giants 8-2. Gallen (14-6) allowed just one run on two hits and two walks, winning his fifth consecutive decision.
Heliot Ramos led the Giants (82-75) with two hits and an RBI, but starter Mason Black (1-5) struggled, giving up four runs in just 2 2/3 innings. The loss snapped San Francisco’s five-game winning streak.
Orioles Defeat Yankees, Stay Hot in Wild-Card Chase
Baltimore Orioles 9, New York Yankees 7
Gunnar Henderson had three hits and Colton Cowser drove in three runs as the Baltimore Orioles (92-66) outslugged the New York Yankees 9-7, holding on for a win that put them one step closer to the top AL wild card. The Orioles recorded 17 hits and went 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Juan Soto and Aaron Judge both homered for the Yankees, with Judge extending his league-leading total to 57. New York, however, failed to clinch the AL East title for the second straight night as its magic number remained at one.
Mariners Crush Astros to Stay in Playoff Hunt
Seattle Mariners 8, Houston Astros 1
George Kirby delivered six strong innings, and Julio Rodriguez joined the 20-20 club as the Seattle Mariners (82-75) kept pace in the AL wild-card race with an 8-1 win over the Houston Astros. The Mariners remain 2 1/2 games behind in the hunt for the final two wild-card spots.
Astros rookie Shay Whitcomb committed four errors, with three coming after he replaced veteran Alex Bregman at third base in the fourth inning. Bregman received a standing ovation from the home crowd, potentially signaling his final home game with Houston before becoming a free agent this offseason.
Jose Ramirez Powers Guardians Past Reds
Cleveland Guardians 5, Cincinnati Reds 2
Jose Ramirez hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning, lifting the Cleveland Guardians (88-70) to a 5-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Ramirez’s late blast helped the Guardians complete a two-game sweep.
Hunter Gaddis (6-3) earned the win despite giving up the lead in the eighth inning, while Emmanuel Clase recorded his 47th save of the season. Cincinnati loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth but failed to score.
Royals Blank Nationals Behind Grossman’s Big Hit
Kansas City Royals 3, Washington Nationals 0
Robbie Grossman’s two-run single was all the Kansas City Royals (82-75) needed as they blanked the Washington Nationals 3-0. Six Royals pitchers combined on the two-hit shutout.
Michael Lorenzen exited after 2 1/3 innings with leg fatigue, but Daniel Lynch IV (2-0) picked up the win with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Lucas Erceg closed out the ninth inning for his 13th save of the season.
Pirates Edge Brewers 2-1
Pittsburgh Pirates 2, Milwaukee Brewers 1
Luis L. Ortiz allowed just one run over seven innings and Liover Peguero delivered a two-run double as the Pittsburgh Pirates (75-82) defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1. Pittsburgh had only three hits, but Peguero’s two-run hit in the second inning was enough to win the game.
Jake Bauers homered for Milwaukee (90-69), which has now been eliminated from contention for a first-round playoff bye.
White Sox Walk Off Angels in 10th Inning
Chicago White Sox 4, Los Angeles Angels 3 (10 innings)
Andrew Benintendi’s RBI single in the 10th inning lifted the Chicago White Sox (39-120) to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, preventing Chicago from tying the 1962 Mets for the most losses in modern MLB history.
Jose Quijada (2-1) struck out Luis Robert Jr. in the 10th before Benintendi’s single ended the game. Korey Lee and Lenyn Sosa both homered for the White Sox.
Twins Stay Alive in AL Wild-Card Race, Beat Marlins
Minnesota Twins 8, Miami Marlins 3
Carlos Santana’s three-run double helped cap a five-run seventh inning as the Minnesota Twins (82-76) pulled away from the Miami Marlins in an 8-3 win. The Twins remain two games behind in the AL wild-card race with four games remaining.
Byron Buxton added a solo homer for Minnesota, while Jake Burger went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs for Miami, which reached 100 losses for the fourth time in franchise history.
Rangers Defeat A’s in Oakland’s Final Night Game
Texas Rangers 5, Oakland Athletics 1
Wyatt Langford homered in the first inning to spark a three-run rally as the Texas Rangers defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-1 in the final night game at Oakland Coliseum. Rangers relievers combined to shut down Oakland on just three hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler collected the only extra-base hits for Oakland, while Brady Basso (1-1) allowed five runs in three innings of work.
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Cardinals Beat Rockies Behind Fedde’s Strong Start
St. Louis Cardinals 5, Colorado Rockies 2
Erick Fedde struck out 10 over seven innings, and Masyn Winn tripled and doubled as the St. Louis Cardinals (79-80) defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-2 in Denver. Pedro Pages, Ivan Herrera, and Thomas Saggese all had two hits for St. Louis.
Brenton Doyle homered for Colorado (61-98), while Aaron Schunk and Charlie Blackmon each collected two hits in the loss.
