Marlins get key win with four-run eighth
Josh Bell's two-run double keyed a fourrun eighth-inning rally, and the visiting Miami Marlins edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Friday night to move closer to a playoff berth.
The Marlins broke through against Colin Selby (2-2) to reduce their magic number to earn the NL's third wild-card spot to two.
Miami didn't get into Pittsburgh until almost dawn on Friday. Its game against the Mets in New York on Thursday night was delayed for more than three hours with two outs in the top of the ninth before finally being suspended with the Marlins up 2-1. The Marlins would love to avoid needing a return trip to Citi Field on Monday to complete the suspended game and wrap up the regular season.
Their 10th victory when trailing after seven innings helped.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s sacrifice fly broke a 3-3 tie after Jake Burger's RBI single followed Bell's double.
BLUE JAYS 11, RED SOX 4 >> Alejandro Kirk homered and drove in three runs, Bo Bichette had four hits and host Toronto put itself on the brink of a playoff berth by routing Tampa Bay.
Brandon Belt and Matt Chapman each hit a solo home run for the Blue Jays. Bichette went 4 for 5 with an RBI and scored three times as Toronto pounded out 16 hits to win for the ninth time in 13 games.
Yandy Díaz returned as the Rays' designated hitter after missing two games because of a sore right hamstring and hit a two-run homer, his 22nd.
Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (11-6) allowed three runs and five hits in five-plus innings, improving to 4-0 in four career home starts against the Rays.
RED SOX 3, ORIOLES 0 >> Nick Pivetta allowed two hits in seven innings and Trevor Story hit a two-run homer in the fifth to lift Boston at Baltimore.
A day after winning the AL East title, the Orioles did little offensively but had to be encouraged by their own starter's effort. John Means (1-2) pitched into the seventh inning and looked like a solid option for Baltimore when it sets up its postseason rotation.
Means was Baltimore's opening day starter last year but needed Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch again for the Orioles until this month.
CABRERA JOINING TIGERS FRONT OFFICE >>
Miguel Cabrera isn't leaving the Detroit Tigers this week after all.
The 40-year-old slugger is still retiring Sunday after the season finale, but he will have a job waiting for him Monday. The Tigers announced that he's going to become a special assistant to team president Scott Harris.
Cabrera started his final weekend with a double in the first inning off Cleveland's Cal Quantrill, moving him past Hank Aaron into sole possession of 13th place with 625. He added another double and finished 3 for 4, Cabrera has 3,173 hits and 511 home runs.