Return of century
A 2nd straight season of 100 wins for ’Stros
The Houston Astros reached 100 wins for the second straight season and closed in on the AL West title, beating the Blue Jays, 4-1, last night behind Alex Bregman’s two-run homer in Toronto.
Houston improved to 100-57 and would clinch the division with one more win or a loss by second-place Oakland (95-62), which played later at Seattle. Seeking their second straight AL West title, the Astros need three wins in their final five games to break the franchise record for victories in a season, set in 1998. Houston is 18-4 in September and 54-22 on the road, both best in the major leagues.
Roberto Osuna needed just six pitches in the ninth for his 20th save in 21 chances, completing a six-hitter. Earlier Tuesday, assault charges against Osuna were dropped because the complainant, who lives in Mexico, made clear she would not travel to Toronto to testify. Osuna agreed to stay away from the alleged victim for one year and continue counseling.
Yankees 9, Rays 2 — Struggling Gary Sanchez drove in four runs for the first time since early April, Luis Severino won his 19th game and New York beat Tampa Bay to keep up its push for home-field advantage in the AL wild card game in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Severino (19-8) is competing for Masahiro Tanaka and J.A. Happ to start in the Oct. 3 wild card game, most likely against Oakland.
Interleague
Royals 4, Reds 3 — Hunter Dozier led off the ninth inning with a tie-breaking home run, lifting Kansas City to an interleague win over host Cincinnati.
In other news with the Reds, Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin is not a candidate to become Cincinnati’s next manager. President of Baseball Operations Dick Williams said Larkin prefers to remain in his current role of helping develop minor leaguers.
National League
Nationals 9, Marlins 4 — Max Scherzer became the 17th pitcher since 1900 to strike out 300 batters in a season, reaching that milestone by fanning 10 in seven innings during host Washington’s otherwise meaningless victory over Miami.
Scherzer (18-7) lowered his ERA to 2.53 by allowing one run in seven innings as he bids for a third consecutive NL Cy Young Award; he also won the 2013 honor in the AL for Detroit. He threw 70 of his 100 pitches for strikes, gave up five hits and didn’t walk a batter.
The righty reached the 300-K mark by getting Austin Dean to whiff on an 85mph slider at the end of a 10-pitch at-bat for the second out of the seventh. Scherzer pumped his fist while much of the announced crowd of 26,483 — including his wife, Erica May-Scherzer — joined players in the home dugout and home bullpen by saluting the ace with a standing ovation.
In other Mets news, David Wright has been reinstated from the disabled list and added to the team’s active roster for the first time since June 3, 2016.