Dozier’s HR pushes Twins closer to playoff berth
CLEVELAND » Brian Dozier’s threerun homer in the eighth inning pushed Minnesota to the brink of a playoff berth as the Twins rallied for an 8-6 victory over Cleveland on Tuesday night. The Indians lost for just the third time in 32 games.
Dozier connected for his 33rd homer against Bryan Shaw (4-6) as the Twins lowered their magic number for clinching a playoff berth to one.
Edwin Encarnacion hit his 38th homer and drove in four runs for the Indians, whose 29-3 mark over 32 games is the best in the majors since the 1947 New York Yankees accomplished the feat.
Taylor Rogers (7-3), one of a clubrecord 10 pitchers used by Twins manager Paul Molitor, got two outs in the seventh and Matt Belisle worked the ninth for his eighth save. YANKEES 6, RAYS 1 » Aaron Hicks robbed Wilson Ramos of a first-inning grand slam in the outfielder’s return from the disabled list, and the Yankees clinched home-field advantage if they end up in the AL wild-card game next week.
Tampa Bay’s first three batters reached against rookie Jordan Montgomery (9-7), and Hicks leaped at the 385-foot sign in right-center to get his glove above the wall. He squeezed the webbing tight, preventing the ball from popping out and limiting Ramos to a sacrifice fly.
Assured no worse than a wildcard berth, the Yankees closed within three games of AL East-leading Boston with five remaining. BLUE JAYS 9, RED SOX 4» Red Sox ace Chris Sale matched a career worst by giving up four home runs in a playoff tuneup, including a pair to Josh Donaldson.
Teoscar Hernandez hit one of his two homers off Sale, and Kendrys Morales had the other against the left-hander. Sale (17-8) allowed five runs in five innings and surrendered multiple homers for the third time in five starts.
J.A. Happ (10-11) struck out nine while pitching seven strong innings for the last-place Blue Jays.
He was charged with one run and four hits. PIRATES 10, ORIOLES 1» Andrew McCutchen hit his first career grand slam and drove in eight runs, powering Pittsburgh to the victory.
McCutchen raised a fist in triumph as he rounded the bases after connecting against Kevin Gausman (11-11) in the second inning. He also hit an RBI double in the first, singled in the fifth and belted a threerun homer in the seventh.
McCutchen’s eight RBIs were one off the franchise record and the most by a Pirate since Jason Bay in 2004. METS 4, BRAVES 3 » Travis Taijeron hit a game-ending RBI single in the ninth, sending the Mets to the win.
New York was stymied by R.A. Dickey much of the night and trailed 3-0 in the seventh before Kevin Plawecki hit a two-run homer off the 42-year-old knuckleballer. Asdrubal Cabrera tied it with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Jeurys Familia (2-2) pitched scoreless inning for the win. a