Major league playoffs return to D.C.
Nationals, Reds clinch post-season berths
The Washington Nationals brought post-season baseball back to the nation’s capital for the first time since 1933, clinching a playoff spot Thursday night with a 4-1win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Nats Clinch” flashed on the scoreboard in Washington as the Nationals ensured at least an NL wild-card spot behind Ross Detwiler’s six strong innings and Ryan Zimmerman’s RBI double.
An announced crowd of 30,359 stood and cheered in the ninth inning, then got even louder when Drew Storen struck out Hanley Ramirez to end it. Manager Davey Johnson saluted the fans as he left the field and the team wore caps acknowledging the playoff berth.
REDS 5, CUBS 3: The Cincinnati Reds became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this season, while manager Dusty Baker remained in a hospital after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.
The NL Central leaders ensured themselves of at least a wild-card spot. Cincinnati cut its magic number to two for winning the division for the second time in three years. Baker missed his second straight game. The team said that if all goes well, he could return to Cincinnati on Friday. Johnny Cueto (18-9) pitched six shutout innings as the Reds completed a three-game sweep.
BREWERS 9, PIRATES 7: The Brewers have won five straight, eight of nine and 15 of 19 to climb into the playoff race. They remained 21⁄ 2games back of St. Louis for the second wild-card slot.
GIANTS 9, ROCKIES 2: Pablo Sandoval homered from both sides of the plate and the Giants reduced their magic number to clinch the NL West to four. Buster Posey also connected to back another strong start by Barry Zito (13-8) as San Francisco completed a four-game series sweep.
CARDINALS 5, ASTROS 4: Houston starter Bud Norris fell to 0-12 with
six no-decisions since May 21.
A’S 12, TIGERS 4: Detroit centre fielder Austin Jackson misplayed a line drive into a two-run triple in the pivotal sixth inning. The Tigers remain two games behind the Central-leading White Sox. Before the game, the A’s announced starting pitcher Brett Anderson will miss the rest of the regular season with a strained oblique.
ROYALS 4, WHITE SOX 3: Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez threw out Alex Rios at the plate and picked off Alexei Ramirez at third, while Eric Hosmer singled home the winning run with two out in the ninth.
RAYS 7, RED SOX 4: Tampa Bay salvaged a split of the four-game set and stayed 51⁄ games back of Oak
2 land and Baltimore in the wild-card race with 12 games left. Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey gave up four hits and a walk in the ninth before Vicente Padilla came in to face B.J. Upton, who hit a game-winning three-run homer to centre.