Astros top Angels 11-3, clinch postseason berth
Yuli Gurriel hit a grand slam and a two-run homer on his way to a career-high seven RBIs, and the Houston Astros clinched a postseason berth by routing the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Friday night.
George Springer added a three-run shot in the eighth for the Astros, who are still looking to secure the AL West title. The defending World Series champions began the day with a 3½-game lead over second-place Oakland.
Houston starter Gerrit Cole (15-5) allowed three hits and three runs in seven innings in his fifth straight win. He also struck out 12, giving him 1,006 for his career and moving him in front of teammate Justin Verlander (269) for most in the AL this season with 272.
Gurriel hit his third career grand slam in the first inning. He connected for his 12th homer against Andrew Heaney (9-10) in the third and singled in Tyler White in the fifth.
It was his first career multihomer game. His brother Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also homered twice for Toronto on Friday night, marking the first time in major league history that brothers had multihomer games on the same day.
RED SOX 7, INDIANS 5
In Cleveland, Sam Travis and Tzu-Wei Lin hit their first major league home runs and the Boston Red Sox tied a team record more than a century old with their 105th win.
The AL East champion Red Sox (105-49), playing without several of their regulars, matched the club mark set in 1912.
Trevor Bauer took a step toward being in Cleveland’s postseason rotation, pitching 1⅓ scoreless innings in his first appearance since breaking his right leg on Aug. 11. He was 12-6 with a 2.22 ERA when was struck on the lower leg by a line drive hit by Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox.
Boston ace Chris Sale, being eased back into the rotation after recent shoulder trouble, struck out seven in 3⅓ innings. He allowed two runs in his third start back from the disabled list.
YANKEES 10, ORIOLES 8
In New York, CC Sabathia won for just the second time since the All-Star break, Didi Gregorius and Aaron Hicks hit two-run homers and the Yankees built a sixrun lead to beat Baltimore and close in on their second straight AL wild card.
Luke Voit added a two-run single to give him 24 RBIs in 31 games with the Yankees, and Hicks scored four runs. After Baltimore closed to 9-8 in the eighth, Aaron Judge doubled in a run for his first RBI since returning from the disabled list on Sept. 14.
New York lowered its magic number to two over Tampa Bay for ensuring a wild-card game on Oct. 3, most likely against Oakland. The Yankees began the night 1½ games ahead of the Athletics for home-field advantage.
BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 5
In Atlanta, the Braves moved to the brink of their first NL East title since 2013, bouncing back from Ronald Acuna Jr.’s defensive blunder with a five-run seventh inning. Ozzie Albies sparked the comeback with a two-run homer and Johan Camargo finished it off with a two-out, two-run single, giving the Baby Braves a chance to celebrate as soon as Saturday afternoon with one more victory over the second-place Phillies.
Acuna misjudged Wilson Ramos’ liner to left in the top half of the seventh, turning what should have been an out into a two-run double.
WHITE SOX 10, CUBS 4
In Chicago, the Cubs played without shortstop Addison Russell, and they were unable to overcome a shaky performance by Jose Quintana in a loss to the White Sox in a crosstown matchup.
Quintana (13-11) was charged with five runs and nine hits in five-plus innings against his former team. The left-hander had been pitching well, going 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA over his previous six starts.
RANGERS 8, MARINERS 3
In Arlington, Texas, Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer in the first inning and finished with a seasonhigh five RBIs, and Texas prevailed in a game halted by rain with two outs in the top of the seventh inning.
The Rangers snapped a four-game losing streak and won their first game under interim manager Don Wakamatsu. Texas fired Jeff Banister on Friday morning. The Rangers are 65-88 and have been in last place since April 9.
The loss moved the Mariners closer to elimination in the American League wild-card race.