Padres win, return to the playoffs for 1st time in 14 years
SAN DIEGO » The San Diego Padres are returning to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years after beating the Seattle Mariners 7-4 Sunday with a three-run rally in the 11th inning that included a go-ahead double by newcomer Mitch Moreland.
The clincher came in the finale of a series that was moved from Seattle because of poor air quality due to wildfires, so the Mariners were considered the home team and batted last. After closer Trevor Rosenthal (1-0), another newcomer, struck out Phillip Ervin for the final out, the Padres had a brief but joyous celebration in the infield. Then they gathered near the dugouts to get playoff caps and T-shirts.
Although Petco Park was devoid of spectators, a handful of fans watched from a rooftop bar just beyond left-center field and several others watched from balconies on an office building high above right field.
Casey Sadler the loss.
RED SOX 10, YANKEES 2 » Tanner Houck took a nohitter into the sixth inning of his second major league start and Michael Chavis had a huge day at the plate as Boston halted two long streaks with a victory over New York.
Boston ended the Yankees’ 10-game winning streak and snapped a 12game skid against its longtime rival. New York remained
(1-1) took 3½ games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay. ORIOLES 2, RAYS 1 » John Means struck out a careerhigh 12 in a pitching duel with Ryan Yarbrough, and Baltimore stalled Tampa Bay’s push toward the AL East title.
Means (2-3) allowed three hits and a run in 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander tied a team record with seven consecutive strikeouts, matching the mark set by Sammy Stewart in 1978. BRAVES 7, METS 0 » Kyle Wright allowed one hit in the best start of his big league career, pitching into the seventh inning to lead Atlanta past New York.
Ronald Acuña Jr. homered off Rick Porcello (1-6) to break a scoreless tie in the sixth and finished with four RBIs. Travis d’Arnaud added a two-run double for his latest clutch hit against his former team.
MARLINS 2, NATIONALS 1, 1ST
GAME; NATIONALS 15, MARLINS 0, 2ND GAME » Kurt Suzuki homered and doubled to bounce back from a game-ending strikeout in the opener, and Washington routed playoff-contending Miami to split a doubleheader.
In the opener, Marlins reliever Brandon Kintzler fanned Suzuki with the bases loaded to preserve the win.
The split kept Miami a game ahead of Philadelphia for second place in the NL East. The top two teams in each division make the playoffs, along with two wild-card clubs in each league.
REDS 7, WHITE SOX 3 » Mike Moustakas hit a two-run single as Cincinnati scored five times in the fourth inning on just one hit.
Aristides Aquino hit a two-run homer as the surging Reds stayed in contention for a playoff spot, taking two out of three from the the AL Central leaders for their seventh win in eight games.
CARDINALS 2, PIRATES 1 » Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer and Jack Flaherty struck out 11 as St. Louis kept its hold on a postseason spot.
ROCKIES 6, DODGERS 3 » Antonio Senzatela pitched efficiently into the seventh inning as Colorado avoided a sweep and delayed the Dodgers from clinching their eighth straight NL West title.
INDIANS 7, TIGERS 4 » Carlos Carrasco allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings, and Jose Ramirez homered twice to lift Cleveland. BREWERS 5, ROYALS 3 » Daniel Vogelbach hit two homers and drove in all five runs as Milwaukee swept the three-game series. RANGERS 7, ANGELS 2 » Kyle Cody earned his first major league win as Texas hit a season-high five home runs.
Joey Gallo, Anderson Tejada, Sam Huff, Rougned Odor and Derek Dietrich homered for the Rangers. ASTROS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 2 » George Springer homered twice, including an insidethe-park shot, to lead Houston over Arizona.
BLUE JAYS 6, PHILLIES 3 » Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run homer and Taijuan Walker tossed six sharp innings to help Toronto snap a six-game losing streak. TWINS 4, CUBS 0 » Max Kepler homered, José Berríos threw six shutout innings to outduel Yu Darvish and Minnesota beat Chicago.