Harper hurt as Phillies miss out on sweep
PHILADELPHIA » Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run homer and Taijuan Walker tossed six sharp innings to help the Toronto Blue Jays snap a six-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Phillies on Sunday.
Phillies slugger Bryce Harper exited with lower back stiffness after he struck out with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Harper took a slow walk in the dugout toward the clubhouse and signaled to manager Joe Girardi he was done for the day. Harper has 11 homers and 28 RBIs for the Phillies, who are trying to hang on over the final week and secure their first playoff berth since 2011.
The Blue Jays (27-26) held onto the eighth and final playoff spot in the American League. They return home to Sahlen Field in
Buffalo, New York, for the final seven games to try and earn a trip to the postseason.
The Phillies hit the road for the final seven games and played about as poorly as their sports complex neighbor, the Philadelphia Eagles, as they failed to sweep the Blue Jays. On a sports day in Philly that normally would have been hopping with tailgates, thick traffic and — given the results — a cacophony of boos, the Phillies limped out of town in front of a few thousand cardboard cutouts and the Phanatic standing atop the dugout and shaking his hands at Blue Jays pitchers in a furry, failed attempt at a curse.
Walker (4-3) allowed four hits and struck out eight on a chilly, breezy day at the ballpark. Walker, acquired last month from Seattle to help Toronto’s playoff push, allowed only Did
Gregorius’ RBI double off the right-field scoreboard in the second.
Trailing 6-1 in the seventh, the Phillies loaded the bases with no outs with Harper up against righty Thomas Hatch. Harper struck out swinging. Alex Bohm’s grounder up the middle was thrown away by second baseman Joe Panik, making it a 6-3 game.
RED SOX 10, YANKEES 2 BOSTON » Tanner Houck took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his second major league start and Michael Chavis had a huge day at the plate as the Boston Red Sox halted two long streaks with a 10-2 victory over the Yankees.
Boston ended New York’s 10-game winning streak and snapped a 12-game skid against its longtime rival.
Chavis hit two homers over the Green Monster and drove in five runs. Jackie Bradley Jr. went 4 for 5, and J.D. Martinez and Bobby Dalbec each had a solo homer.
It was Boston’s first win over the Yankees this season in their last of 10 meetings. New York had matched its longest winning streak against the Red Sox, also winning 12 in a row in 1936 and from 1952-53 when Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams was flying combat missions in the Korean War.
The Yankees’ magic number remained at one to clinch a playoff spot. A loss by Seattle later Sunday would earn them a postseason berth for the fourth straight year. New York stayed 3½ games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay, which lost 2-1 in Baltimore.
Luke Voit hit his major league-leading 21st homer for the Yankees, who outscored their opponents 85-25 during the winning streak.
BRAVES 7, METS 0
NEW YORK » Kyle Wright allowed only one hit in the best start of his big league career, pitching into the seventh inning to lead the Atlanta Braves past the Mets.
Ronald Acuña Jr. homered off Rick Porcello 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.
Looking for its third straight NL East title, Atlanta began the day with a 2 ½-game division lead over Miami, which won the opener of its doubleheader against Washington.