Ramirez’s home run wins for Cleveland
White Sox’s loss, Twins’ win tightens AL Central
CLEVELAND — With one sweet swing, José Ramírez pushed the Cleveland Indians into the playoffs and strengthened his case for the AL MVP award.
Ramírez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning, giving Cleveland a 5-3 win over the Chicago White Sox that clinched a postseason berth Tuesday night.
Ramírez’s drive to right off José Ruiz scored César Hernández and Francisco Lindor, setting off a wild celebration at home plate as the Indians reached the postseason for the fourth time in five years. TWINS 5, TIGERS 4, 10 innings: In Minneapolis, Max Kepler hit the tying home run in the eighth inning and the gamewinning single with two outs in the 10th, giving Minnesota a victory over Detroit that tightened the AL Central race with the Twins just a half-game behind the Chicago White Sox.
Byron Buxton and former La Cueva Bear and New Mexico Lobo Mitch Garver also homered for the Twins (34-22), who have all four of their remaining games at home, where their 22-5 record is the best in baseball.
DODGERS 7, ATHLETICS 2: In Los Angeles, Corey Seager had three hits, including one of Los Angeles’ four home runs, as the Dodgers clinched the National League’s top postseason seed and eighth straight West title with a victory over Oakland.
The Dodgers, who own the best record in the majors at 39-16, were the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff berth on Sept. 16. They will open postseason play on Sept. 30 by hosting every game in a best-ofthree series against the No. 8 seed.
YANKEES 12, BLUE JAYS 1: In Buffalo, N.Y., Gerrit Cole limited Toronto to five hits over seven innings in his final preparation for the playoffs, and Aaron Hicks drove in three runs in a rout over the Jays.
Cole (7-3) struck out seven and walked none, inducing 11 ground-ball outs and 14 swings and misses. His one mistake was Cavan Biggio’s sole homer in the fourth.
Cole finished his first season with the Yankees with a 2.84 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 73 innings after signing a $324 million, nine-year contract as a free agent with the team he rooted for growing up.
NATIONALS 5-8, PHILLIES 1-7: In Washington, Philadelphia tumbled out of a playoff position, getting swept in a doubleheader by Washington when Yadiel Hernández hit a game-ending, two-run homer in eighth inning off Brandon Workman in the second game.
Austin Voth (1-5) pitched a three-hitter for the Nationals to win the opener.
BRAVES 11, MARLINS 1: In Atlanta, Bryse Wilson pitched five scoreless innings, Marcell Ozuna drove in five runs with four hits that included two homers and the Braves beat Miami and clinched their third straight NL East title.
Atlanta hit five homers, including drives by Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman off Nick Vincent in a five-run seventh.
BREWERS 3, REDS 2: In Cincinnati, Tyrone Taylor homered, Eric Sogard doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and Milwaukee rallied over the Reds. PIRATES 3, CUBS 2: In Pittsburgh, Jacob Stallings hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Pirates stalled Chicago’s bid to win the NL Central.
Anthony Rizzo’s two-run homer in the eighth inning had pulled the Cubs into a tie at 2-all. METS 5, RAYS 2: In New York, the Mets prevented Tampa Bay from clinching the AL East crown, beating the Rays behind three home runs and Seth Lugo’s bounceback pitching performance. CARDINALS 5, ROYALS 0: In Kansas City, Mo., Austin Gomber tossed six innings of four-hit ball in a crucial spot start and St. Louis beat the Royals.
The Cardinals, who trail the Chicago Cubs by 3½ games in the NL Central, improved to 27-25 by evening their series with their cross-state rivals. RED SOX 8, ORIOLES 3: In Boston, Nick Pivetta struck out eight in five innings of one-run ball in his Red Sox debut, Christian Vázquez hit a three-run homer and Boston beat Baltimore.
ASTROS 6, MARINERS 1: In Seattle, Martin Maldonado hit a three-run home run, Framber Valdez struck out eight to set career highs for wins and strikeouts, and Houston beat the Mariners to close on their fourth straight playoff berth.
Houston cut its magic number to one over the Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels for clinching second in the AL West.
ANGELS 4, PADRES 2: In San Diego, Max Stassi had two impressive home runs among his four hits, Griffin Canning struck out 10 in six crafty innings and the Los Angeles Angels beat the punchless, playoff-bound Padres.
The loss, plus St. Louis’ 5-0 win at Kansas City, kept the Padres from clinching the NL’s No. 4 seed in the playoffs and homefield advantage in the wild-card round next week.
GIANTS 5, ROCKIES 2: In San Francisco, pinch-hitter Alex Dickerson hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh, Austin Slater also connected, and the Giants beat Colorado to stay right in the playoff race.
Dickerson hit his first pinch-hit homer since exactly four years earlier on Sept. 22, 2016, with San Diego against the Giants at Petco Park.
D-BACKS 7, RANGERS 0: In Phoenix, Carson Kelly had a three-run homer, Caleb Smith and Riley Smith combined to throw a six-hitter and Arizona blanked Texas.