Jays blast Sale as Yanks creep up on BoSox
McCutchen's 8 RBIs propel Pirates • Rockies, Twins close in on playoff berths • Cubs can't clinch division
Chris Sale was hammered for four home runs in five innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays played the role of spoilers for a second straight night by beating the Boston Red Sox 9-4 on Tuesday night.
Josh Donaldson hit two solo homers, Teoscar Hernandez delivered one, and Kendrys Morales belted a two-run shot off Sale (17-8).
J.A. Happ (10-11) pitched seven strong frames to keep the Red Sox from moving closer to their second straight American League East title. Boston leads the New York Yankees by three games with five to play in the regular season.
Yankees 6, Rays 1
Jordan Montgomery survived an eventful first inning and pitched six effective innings as New York clinched at least home-field advantage in next week’s wild-card game with a victory over Tampa Bay.
Aaron Hicks returned from a second disabled list stint because of an oblique injury and had an eventful start. He helped Montgomery (9-7) by leaping in front of the 385-foot sign to rob Wilson Ramos of a first-inning grand slam.
Pirates 10, Orioles 1
Andrew McCutchen recorded a careerhigh eight RBIs, including a grand slam and a three-run homer, to lead Pittsburgh over Baltimore.
In the second inning, McCutchen cracked his first career grand slam over the center-field wall to give Pittsburgh a 6-0 lead. His second home run made it 10-1 in the sixth.
McCutchen was taken out of the game at the start of the seventh inning, allowing the crowd to give him a standing ovation.
He also had a double and a single to go 4-for-4 while becoming the first Pirate to have eight RBIs in a game since Jason Bay in 2004.
Rockies 6, Marlins 0
Tyler Anderson pitched seven scoreless innings as Colorado moved another step closer to the postseason with a victory over Miami.
The Rockies lead Milwaukee for the National League’s second wild-card berth by 1½ games.
Trevor Story hit a three-run homer in Colorado’s four-run first inning, and Nolan Arenado belted a two-run homer in the fifth off Marlins starter Jose Urena (14-7).
Cardinals 8, Cubs 7
Jedd Gyorko and Randal Grichuk hit home runs in the seventh inning to build an 8-3 lead as St Louis prevented Chicago from winning the NL Central title.
The Cardinals remained 2½ games behind Colorado for the NL’s second wild-card spot. Jake Arrieta (14-10) lasted only three innings for the Cubs, yielding five runs (three earned) and six hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Twins 8, Indians 6
Brian Dozier’s three-run homer in the eighth inning lifted Minnesota to its fifth straight victory and to the brink of a playoff berth.
The Twins, whose magic number to clinch the second AL wild-card spot was reduced to one over the Los Angeles Angels, pounded out 17 hits and used 10 pitchers in the game that saw starter Bartolo Colon leave after one inning because of illness.
Angels 9, White Sox 3
Los Angeles used a six-run second to build an early lead, and Parker Bridwell worked 62/3 innings to improve to 5-0 on the road with a victory over Chicago.
Brandon Phillips, Luis Valbuena and Mike Trout each homered off White Sox Chris Volstad (1-1) in the second inning. Volstad, making his first start in five years, pitched five innings.
Dodgers 9, Padres 2
Yasmani Grandal and Corey Seager hit three-run homers, and Alex Wood worked around trouble for six innings as Los Angeles clinched home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs with a victory over San Diego.
The win was the Dodgers’ 56th at home this season, breaking the Los Angeles record for home victories in a season despite a stretch of nine consecutive home games during their recent 1-16 slump.
Astros 14, Rangers 3
Dallas Keuchel allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings as Houston routed Texas.
The Astros closed within one game of Cleveland for the best record and homefield advantage in the American League playoffs. Houston clinched home field in the AL Division Series.
Diamondbacks 11, Giants 4
J.D. Martinez hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, and Robbie Ray won his sixth consecutive decision as Arizona defeated San Francisco.
Martinez doubled home two runs in first inning and hit a grand slam in a sixrun second inning to extend his strong September run. He is hitting .414 with 15 homers and 35 RBIs in 21 games this month and 44 home runs in 115 games this season.
Phillies 4, Nationals 1
Jake Thompson allowed one run in fiveplus innings as Philadelphia spoiled the return of Bryce Harper in its victory over Washington.
Thompson (3-2) hit Anthony Rendon with a pitch to start the sixth inning and was removed after allowing one run and four hits with five strikeouts.
Harper, who had been out since August 13 due to left leg injuries, batted three times and was removed after his fifth-inning popout. The slugger finished 0-for-2 with a walk.
Mets 4, Braves 3
Travis Taijeron’s RBI single with one out in the ninth inning capped a comeback that gave New York a victory over Atlanta.
Kevin Plawecki, whose two-run homer in the seventh pulled the Mets within 3-2, led off the ninth with a single off A.J. Minter (0-1).
Dominic Smith then drew a walk before Minter struck out Amed Rosario. Taijeron followed with a line drive over the head of left fielder Jace Peterson as pinch runner Juan Lagares raced home.
Royals 2, Tigers 1
Jason Vargas notched his 18th victory, and Whit Merrifield scored a run and drove in a run as Kansas City defeated Detroit.
Vargas (18-10) picked up his first win over the Tigers since June 2014. He surrendered one run on five hits over six innings, throwing 54 strikes in 82 pitches. He walked one and struck out three.