Yanks lose Hicks to injury; BoSox clinch home field
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Aaron Hicks injured his left hamstring running up the firstbase line in the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night, another concern for New York heading into next week’s AL wild-card game.
Hicks’ 11th-inning double on Saturday drove Didi Gregorius with the run that clinched a postseason berth, and on Sunday the Yankees learned Sunday that Gregorius had torn cartilage in his right wrist during his headfirst slide across the plate.
Hicks, who had fouled a pitch off his left ankle just before the double, left Monday’s game with left hamstring tightness.
New York’s win eliminated the Rays and ensured a postseason berth for Oakland, which is likely to be the wild-card opponent but also is still alive in the AL West race. At 96-60, New York is assured of its best record since going 97-65 in 2011.
RED SOX 6, ORIOLES 2
In Boston, the Red Sox broke a 106-year-old franchise record with its 106th victory, clinching home-field advantage through the postseason thanks to a pair of hits from major league batting leader Mookie Betts.
Nathan Eovaldi struck out 10 hapless Baltimore batters to assure the Red Sox of the best record in baseball this season and home-field advantage through the World Series, if they make it that far. For now, they know they will open the Division Series at Fenway Park on Oct. 5 against the winner of the AL wild-card game between the New York Yankees and mostly likely Oakland.
The 1912 Red Sox won 105 games in their first season at Fenway Park.
PIRATES 5, CUBS 1
In Chicago, Jameson Taillon outpitched Cole Hamels, Francisco Cervelli hit a two-run homer and Pittsburgh made Chicago wait at least another day to clinch a playoff spot.
The Cubs needed a win plus a loss by Colorado to Philadelphia to assure a franchise-record fourth straight trip to the playoffs, a run that includes a drought-busting World Series championship in 2016.
ASTROS 5, BLUE JAYS 3
In Toronto, Brian McCann and Josh Reddick hit back-to-back home runs, and Houston beat Toronto to move one step closer to its second straight AL West title.
The defending World Series champions began the day with a magic number of three over Oakland to clinch the division — which would set up a best-of-five postseason matchup against AL Central champion Cleveland. The Athletics, who played later in Seattle, clinched at least a wild-card playoff spot when Tampa Bay lost to the New York Yankees.
INDIANS 4, WHITE SOX 0
In Chicago, Corey Kluber struck out 11 in seven scoreless innings and won his 20th game, and Brandon Guyer hit a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh as Cleveland beat Chicago.
Kluber (20-7) reached 20 victories for the first time after recording 19 wins last season and 18 victories the two previous seasons and in 2004. The reigning AL CY Young winner is the first 20-game winner for the Central Division champions since Cliff Lee went 22-3 in 2008.
The Indians tied the Chicago Cubs for the major league lead with 17 shutouts.
NATIONALS 7, MARLINS 3
In Washington, Anthony Rendon homered and drove four runs, Bryce Harper reached 100 RBIs in a season for the first time and Washington beat Miami.
Juan Soto and Matt Wieters also homered for Washington, which broke it open with four runs on three pitches in the fourth inning.
Harper started the big inning, driving in his 100th run with a sacrifice fly that scored Adam Eaton and put Washington ahead 3-1. Harper, a pending free agent who may be playing his final home series at Nationals Park, got a standing ovation from the sparse, rain-soaked crowd. His previous high was 99 RBIs in 2015, when he won the NL MVP Award.
Rendon and Soto then homered back-to-back on the next two pitches from Sandy Alcantara (2-2).
ROCKIES 10, PHILLIES 1
In Denver, Jon Gray pitched seven crisp innings and drew a bases-loaded walk as part of a fiverun third to lead Colorado.
Colorado won its fourth straight game since being swept in Los Angeles by the NL West-leading Dodgers, who entered the night with a 1½-game advantage over the Rockies in the division. Colorado also began the day trailing St. Louis by 1½ games for the second wild card.
Gray (12-8) got the start when Tyler Anderson was scratched due to shoulder tightness. The right-hander’s one costly mistake was an elevated fastball that Rhys Hoskins hit for a homer in the seventh when the game was out of reach.