Cabrera powers Mets to a dramatic victory
Indians move closer to clinching AL Central
NEW YORK — Jose Reyes hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth inning and Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run drive in an 11th-inning comeback to lift the New York Mets to a dramatic 9-8 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night that assured them of remaining tied for the NL wild-card lead.
New York trailed 6-4 when pinch-hitter Brandon Nimmo singled off Jeanmar Gomez leading off the ninth and Reyes homered to right with one out.
Philadelphia went ahead 8-6 in the 11th when A.J. Ellis hit an RBI single off Jeurys Familia and Jim Henderson (2-2) walked Maikel Franco with the bases loaded.
Pinch-hitter Michael Conforto walked against Edubray Ramos (1-3) with one out in the bottom half, Reyes singled and Cabrera, who has been playing on an injured knee, homered to right, setting off a wild celebration. The Mets had been 0-63 this year when trailing after eight innings.
New York, which stopped a three-game skid, began the night tied with St. Louis and San Francisco for the NL wildcard lead.
INDIANS 5, ROYALS 2: In Cleveland, Carlos Santana’s three-run homer pushed Cleveland over Kansas City and nearer to its first AL Central championship since 2007.
Santana’s shot in the sixth inning off Dillon Gee (7-9) snapped a 2-2 tie as the Indians lowered their magic number to three and improved to 9-1 against the Royals this season.
Kansas City’s chances of making the postseason took another blow. The defending World Series champions began the night behind six teams in the wild-card chase. TIGERS 9-4, TWINS 2-2: In Minneapolis, Justin Verlander tied a season-high with 11 strikeouts and Detroit moved into the second AL wildcard spot by beating Minnesota to sweep a day-night doubleheader.
Erick Aybar drove in two runs for Detroit, which moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore for the second wild card and trails Toronto by one game. The Tigers went 9-0 at Minnesota this year.
In the first game, Anibal Sanchez allowed one run and two hits in five innings in a spot start, and Alex Wilson (4-0), Shane Green and Mark Lowe finished the five-hitter.
GIANTS 2, PADRES 1: In San Diego, Angel Pagan’s single broke a scoreless tie in the eighth and Jeff Samardzjia struck out nine in seven innings for San Francisco, which beat San Diego to keep pace with the New York Mets
for the NL wild card lead.
The Mets and Giants took a half-game lead over the idle St. Louis Cardinals in the wild card race.
DODGERS 7, ROCKIES 4: In Los Angeles, Yasmani Grandal homered twice, including a grand slam in the seventh inning, to rally Los Angeles past Colorado.
The victory reduced the Dodgers’ magic number for clinching their record fourth consecutive NL West title to four. Their division lead remained at six games.
RED SOX 5, ORIOLES 3: In Baltimore, David Price won his eighth straight decision, Hanley Ramirez homered and Boston completed a four-game sweep of sinking Baltimore.
Boston has won eight straight to open a 5½-game lead over idle Toronto in the AL East. With 13 victories in their last 16 games, the Red Sox have moved within one game of Texas for best record in the AL.
Baltimore fell seven games out. It was the first time since 2002 that the Orioles were swept at home by Boston in a four-game series.
Price (17-8) gave up three runs and six hits in seven inning, walking two and striking out five. The Red Sox have won each of the left-hander’s last nine starts since Aug. 7.
Koji Uehara worked the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel got three straight outs for his 29th save in 31 chances.
Boston used a walk, a wild pitch and Andrew Benintendi’s two-out RBI single off Vance Worley (2-2) to move in front in the fifth.
ANGELS 2, ASTROS 0: In Houston, Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the first
inning and Ricky Nolasco pitched seven solid innings, helping Los Angeles hinder Houston’s wild-card hopes.
The Angels ended an 11-game skid and pushed Houston 1½ games behind the Tigers for the second AL wild card.
Nolasco (7-14) gave up five hits — all singles — and struck out five. Andrew Bailey pitched the ninth for his fifth save.
RAYS 2, YANKEES 0: In St. Petersburg, Fla., Blake Snell and Tampa Bay’s bullpen combined to strand 11 runners in a win that prevented a muchneeded three-game sweep by New York.
The Yankees are three games behind Detroit for the second AL wild-card spot and also trail Baltimore, Houston and Seattle.
Snell (6-8) gave up five hits and three walks. New York had scoring threats in four of five innings against him, leaving the bases loaded in the third when Chase Headley flied out.
PIRATES 3, BREWERS 1: In Milwaukee, Chris Carter hit his 37th home run, matching his career high and Scooter Gennett sliced an oppositefield, two-run homer to help Milwaukee avoid another sweep at Miller Park.
Chase Anderson (9-11) allowed four hits in 5⅔ innings, including a fifthinning home run by Francisco Cervelli, his first since last Sept. 30. He improved to 3-1 in five starts this season against the Pirates, who had won their prior six games at Milwaukee.
BRAVES 6, MARLINS 3: In Miami, Matt Kemp hit two home runs to power Atlanta over Miami.
Atlanta’s Josh Collmenter (3-0) pitched seven innings and allowed two runs.
Mauricio Cabrera pitched the ninth for his fifth save in six chances.
Marlins starter Jose Urena (4-8) allowed five runs and four hits in three innings.