Rays’ decade-old AL East Division title drought is over
NEW YORK: Randy Arozarena hit a tiebreaking two-run homer with one out in the sixth inning and added another homer in the ninth and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched the American League East Division title with an 8-5 victory over the hosts New York Mets on Wednesday night.
The Rays won their third division title and first since 2010. They took over first place in the division for good on Aug 22 and are closing in on clinching the top seed in the American League play-offs. The Rays celebrated on the field with confetti near their dugout on the third base side.
Joey Wendle also homered as the Rays won for the ninth time in 13 games. Manuel Margot created a run in the third with a bunt single and then scored on a ground ball to first base when he got his hand in just before catcher Wilson Ramos could apply the tag.
The Mets clinched a losing season for the third time in four seasons and their play-off hopes grew even more unlikely.
Salvador Perez and Franchy Cordero each hit two homers and drove in five runs as Kansas City clobbered visiting St Louis 12-3. Perez tied his career high in RBIs on his first two swings and Cordero never previously had more than three RBIs in a game.
The Cardinals fell into a tie with the Cincinnati Reds for second place in the National League Central. In the NL wild-card race, St Louis, Cincinnati and San Francisco ended the day tied, with both Philadelphia and Milwaukee one game back.
Danny Duffy (4-4) earned the win for the Royals. He allowed one run on six hits with five strike-outs and one walk in 5 2/3 innings. Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez (0-3) allowed eight runs on nine hits with two walks and three strike-outs in five-plus innings.
Jordan Luplow drilled a walk-off solo home run and four pitchers combined on a four-hitter with 16 strike-outs to lift hosts Cleveland past Chicago 3-2 and knock the White Sox out of first place in the American League Central.
The White Sox, who have lost four straight and five of six, fell a half-game behind the Twins. The Indians are 2½ games behind the Twins.