Red Sox clinch in AL East
The hard chopper bounced off first baseman Mitch Moreland’s glove and high into the air. Second baseman Brock Holt jumped to glove the ball and flipped it to first, where David Price was covering.
When the Boston Red Sox needed him, Price was there.
The one- time ace came out of the bullpen in relief of Drew Pomeranz and squelched a dangerous seventh- inning rally on Saturday, helping the host Red Sox beat the Houston Astros 6- 3 and clinch the first back- to- back AL East titles in franchise history.
With the win, the Red Sox avoided a possible tiebreaker against the rival New York Yankees.
“That was important: Just get it done today,” star Hanley Ramirez said afterward in the Red Sox clubhouse.
With the Red Sox’ victory, the Yankees were left with a wild- card spot and a one- game matchup against the Minnesota Twins for the right to play the Cleveland Indians in the best- of- five AL Division Series. The win set up an immediate rematch with the AL West champion Astros in the ALDS, starting Thursday in Houston.
Rockies in, Brewers out
The Milwaukee Brewers were eliminated from playoff contention when they squandered a six- run lead in a 7- 6 loss to the host St. Louis Cardinals, handing baseball’s final postseason spot to the Colorado Rockies.
Brewers reliever Anthony Swarzak gave up a tying, two- run single to Stephen Piscotty in the eighth inning and a go- ahead single to Harrison Bader. The Brewers tried to rally in the ninth, but Brett Phillips struck out with a runner on second to end it.
“It’s a fun group and they found a way to lift each other up and that’s why we were in a position we were in on the second- to- last day of the season,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “It stings.”
The Brewers’ loss clinched the second NL wild card for the Rockies, who play at division the rival Arizona Diamondbacks in the wildcard game Wednesday.
Scherzer leaves with leg injury
Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer was pulled from his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates because of an apparent injury to his right leg. Scherzer stumbled on a 2- 2 pitch to Josh Bell in the fourth inning. Scherzer then began to throw a full- count pitch, but abruptly stopped when time was called. Nationals manager Dusty Baker, pitching coach Mike Maddux and team trainers visited the mound and quickly took out Scherzer.