Ohtani Makes MLB History as Dodgers Clinch Playoff Berth in 20-4 Rout of Marlins
Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to reach 50 home runs and 50 steals in the same season as the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a playoff berth with a 20-4 thrashing of the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
Ohtani had a historic day, going 6-for-6 with 10 RBIs, three home runs, two doubles, two steals, and four runs scored. He reached the 50-50 milestone with an opposite-field homer in the seventh inning, earning a standing ovation from the Miami crowd. Ohtani finished the game with 51 homers, breaking the Dodgers’ single-season record of 49 set by Shawn Green in 2001, and added his 51st steal.
Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty (13-7) earned the win, pitching six innings while allowing five hits, two walks, and three runs. Flaherty is now 3-0 in Miami with a career-best 13 wins this season.
Marlins starter Edward Cabrera (4-8) struggled with control, lasting only 2 1/3 innings after walking five and hitting a batter, allowing four hits and seven runs.
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Astros 3, Angels 1: Singleton’s Late Double Lifts Houston Over LA
Jon Singleton delivered a two-run, two-out double in the eighth inning as the Houston Astros edged the Los Angeles Angels 3-1.
Singleton’s double to center off Angels reliever Ryan Miller (0-1) broke a 1-1 tie, driving in Yordan Alvarez and Yainer Diaz. Yusei Kikuchi started for Houston, pitching six innings with five hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts. The Astros bullpen, led by Bryan Abreu (3-3) and Josh Hader (32nd save), closed the door.
The Astros remain unbeaten in nine games started by Kikuchi and reduced their magic number to five to clinch the AL West.
Diamondbacks 5, Brewers 1: Pfaadt Dominates as Arizona Stays Hot in Wild Card Race
Brandon Pfaadt took a one-hit shutout into the seventh inning as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 to stay in the NL wild-card hunt.
Pfaadt (10-9) struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked none, allowing just one hit before Garrett Mitchell’s solo homer in the seventh. A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez combined for two perfect innings of relief as Arizona held Milwaukee to two hits.
The Diamondbacks broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning, capitalizing on walks and an error to score all three runs on one hit.
Mets 10, Phillies 6: Nimmo’s Homer Propels Mets Past Phillies in High-Scoring Opener
Brandon Nimmo hit a tie-breaking home run and drove in three runs as the New York Mets outslugged the Philadelphia Phillies 10-6 in the first game of a four-game series.
The Mets’ offensive onslaught was highlighted by Mark Vientos and Pete Alonso hitting back-to-back homers in the first inning, and Francisco Alvarez’s three-run blast in the fourth. New York has now scored 10 or more runs in three consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.
Trea Turner tied the game with a two-run homer in the third, but the Phillies couldn’t hold off the Mets, who denied Philadelphia a chance to clinch a playoff berth.
Pirates 3, Cardinals 2: Nick Gonzales Leads Pittsburgh Past St. Louis
Nick Gonzales went 2-for-4 with a triple and the decisive RBI as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2.
Yasmani Grandal homered for the Pirates, who avoided a four-game sweep. Luis Ortiz allowed two runs on five hits over six innings with seven strikeouts. Carmen Mlodzinski (4-5) earned the win, while Aroldis Chapman picked up his 10th save.
Brendan Donovan went 4-for-4 with two RBIs for St. Louis, but reliever JoJo Romero (7-3) took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run.
Guardians 3, Twins 2 (10 Innings): Gimenez’s Walk-Off Single Sends Cleveland to Playoffs
Andres Gimenez hit a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning as the Cleveland Guardians rallied to defeat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 and clinch a playoff berth.
With Jose Ramirez as the automatic runner at second, Gimenez singled to right field off Caleb Thielbar (2-4), ending the game. Kyle Manzardo hit a home run among his three hits as Cleveland won its fifth game in six to secure at least a wild-card spot.
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Orioles 5, Giants 3: Santander’s Walk-Off Homer Lifts Baltimore Past San Francisco
Anthony Santander hit a game-ending, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning as the Baltimore Orioles beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3.
Santander fouled off four consecutive two-strike pitches before belting his 42nd homer of the season off Ryan Walker. Jackson Holliday contributed a two-run single, while Zach Eflin pitched six strong innings to help Baltimore snap a three-game losing streak.
San Francisco tied the game in the ninth when Cedric Mullins and Austin Slater collided on Casey Schmitt’s fly ball, allowing Brett Wisely to score the tying run.
Braves 15, Reds 3: Olson, Harris Lead Atlanta’s Rout of Cincinnati
Matt Olson and Michael Harris II each hit two home runs as the Atlanta Braves crushed the Cincinnati Reds 15-3 in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Harris went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and four runs, while Ramon Laureano and Jorge Soler each added three-run homers. Chris Sale (18-3) earned his career-best 18th win, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings.
Rookie Blake Dunn hit his first major league homer as part of a 2-for-3 day for Cincinnati, which has lost five of its last eight games.
Mariners 3, Yankees 2: Logan Gilbert Ends Winless Streak as Mariners Avoid Sweep
Logan Gilbert allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings as the Seattle Mariners defeated the New York Yankees 3-2 to avoid a sweep.
Gilbert (8-11) struck out nine and snapped a six-start winless streak. Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered for the Yankees, who had clinched a playoff berth the night before and remain four games ahead of Baltimore in the AL East.
Blue Jays 4, Rangers 0: Guerrero’s Two Homers Power Toronto Past Texas
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit two solo homers, and Kevin Gausman pitched five hitless innings as the Toronto Blue Jays shut out the Texas Rangers 4-0.
Guerrero went 3-for-4 and walked once, while Gausman (13-11) struck out six over 58 pitches before exiting due to lower back tightness. Texas, which managed only two hits, has now lost six of its last nine games.
Rays 2, Red Sox 0: Littell Dominates in Rays’ Combined One-Hitter
Zack Littell allowed just one hit over seven innings, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
Littell (8-9) was near perfect, fanning seven batters and allowing only a third-inning single by Nick Sogard. The Rays’ bullpen held Boston hitless over the final two innings, and Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe drove in an RBI to help secure the win.
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Cubs 7, Nationals 6: Swanson, Bellinger Power Cubs Past Nationals
Dansby Swanson collected three hits and scored four runs, and Cody Bellinger drove in three as the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 7-6.
Seiya Suzuki hit a two-run homer, and Ian Happ added three hits as Chicago snapped a two-game skid. Washington’s Joey Gallo belted a three-run homer, while CJ Abrams had four hits in the Nationals’ fourth straight loss.
