Beltre’s homer helps Rangers clinch AL West
Cubs secure home field for NL’s postseason
OAKLAND, Calif. — Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland A’s 3-0 on Friday night to earn their second straight AL West title, becoming the first American League team to clinch a playoff spot this season.
Beltre’s homer came during a threerun seventh after Oakland starter Kendall Graveman (10-11) began with six perfect innings.
All-Star left-hander Cole Hamels (155) pitched the division-clinching game for the second year in a row.
CUBS 5, CARDINALS 0: In Chicago, right-hander Jake Arrieta struck out 10 in seven innings as Chicago beat St. Louis for its 98th victory, the most since it last played in the World Series in 1945.
Chicago’s victory, combined with Washington’s loss at Pittsburgh later Friday, ensured the Cubs would have the NL’s best record and home field through the NL postseason.
Arrieta (18-7) allowed five hits and walked one as the Cubs tied a team record with their 56th home win.
PADRES 7, GIANTS 2: In San Diego, the Padres’ Wil Myers hit a three-run homer in the first inning to trigger San Diego’s victory over San Francisco.
Despite the Giants’ loss, they retain a half-game lead over St. Louis for the final NL wild card. ORIOLES 3, DIAMONDBACKS 2 (12): In Baltimore, Mark Trumbo led off the Baltimore 12th with his 44th home run to cap the Orioles’ rally from a late tworun deficit to beat Arizona.
The O’s remained a half-game behind Detroit for the AL’s second wild card.
Baltimore trailed 2-0 before Pedro Alvarez homered in the eighth and Matt Wieters homered in the ninth.
BLUE JAYS 9, YANKEES 0: In
Toronto, Francisco Liriano and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Troy Tulowitzki had four RBIs as Toronto beat New York to retain a one-game lead in the AL wild-card standings.
TIGERS 8, ROYALS 3: In Detroit, Michael Fulmer (11-7) pitched seven sharp innings for his first win in over a month and Detroit homered three times in a victory over Kansas City.
Justin Upton, Victor Martinez and Cameron Maybin homered for the Tigers, who won their fifth straight.
RED SOX 2, RAYS 1: In St. Petersburg, Fla., David Ortiz hit a two-run homer in the first to set the RBI record for a player in his final season as AL East-leading Boston beat Tampa Bay.
Ortiz’s 37th homer raised his RBI total to 124, one more than Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1920.
METS 10, PHILLIES 5: In New York, Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer that capped a six-run rally in the fifth inning as New York beat Philadelphia to stay atop the NL wild-card race.
The Mets hold a one-game lead ove San Francisco for the wild-card lead. St. Louis trails N.Y. by 1½ games.
INDIANS 10, WHITE SOX 4: In Cleveland, Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs as Cleveland moved a step closer to the AL Central title with a win over Chicago.
The Indians dropped their magic number to three to win the AL Central.
PIRATES 6, NATIONALS 5 (11): In Pittsburgh, rookie Jacob Stallings’ pinch-hit single in the 11th inning lifted Pittsburgh over Washington, preventing the Nationals from clinching a postseason berth.
Pittsburgh loaded the bases with one out when Francisco Cervelli doubled, Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked and Pedro Florimon walked before Stalling’s hit. ANGELS 10, ASTROS 6: In Houston, Yunel Escobar hit a two-run homer and pinch-hitter Rafael Ortega had three RBIs during a six-run ninth inning to lift Los Angeles over Houston.
MARINERS 10, TWINS 1: In Minneapolis, Robinson Cano had four hits and two RBIs, and Nelson Cruz added a two-run homer among his four RBIs as Seattle beat Minnesota.
BREWERS 5, REDS 4: In Milwaukee, Chris Carter homered, Ryan Braun delivered a late clutch hit and Milwaukee turned its second triple play of the season in a victory over Cincinnati.
In the first inning, with Reds on first and second base, Joey Votto hit a shot down the first-base line off Zach Davies that Carter snagged. He stepped on first for the second out then lobbed the ball to shortstop Orlando Arcia, who stepped on second for the third out.
BRAVES 3, MARLINS 2: In Miami, Adonis Garcia hit a tie-breaking single in the ninth inning as Atlanta beat Miami for its seventh straight win.
Note
SCULLY: Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully thanked Los Angeles Dodgers fans for making him feel like an 8-year-old again every time they cheer. The crowd, in turn, saluted Scully with a loud roar and multiple standing ovations on his appreciation night Friday.
Holding hands with wife Sandi, he walked slowly from the dugout along a blue carpet dotted with the team’s logo to a stage in front of home plate for the pre-game ceremony honoring his 67 years in the team’s broadcast booth.
Smiling, laughing and waving to the crowd, Scully placed his left hand over his heart in a sign of gratitude.
SUSPENDED: Seattle suspended reserve catcher Steve Clevenger for the rest of the season without pay Friday in the wake of his tweets regarding a recent police shooting in Charlotte, N.C., and the Black Lives Matter movement. Clevenger made disparaging comments about protesters and President Barack Obama, saying “everyone involved should be locked behind bars like animals!”