Rangers rout Seattle, score playoff berth

SEATTLE — Texas is back in the postseason for the first time since 2016, beating Seattle 6-1 on Saturday to clinch an American League playoff berth.

The Rangers (90-71) can claim the AL West title by beating the Mariners on Sunday or with a loss by Houston at Arizona in the teams’ regularseason finales Sunday.

Texas put together a four-run third inning against Luis Castillo (14-9), highlighted by two-out hits from Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim and Leody Tavares that plated runs. Heim hit a two-run single on an 0-and-2 count after fouling off three straight pitches, and Tavares’ broken-bat RBI single made it 4-0.

That was all spot starter Andrew Heaney and three relievers needed in shutting down Seattle. The Mariners (87-74) were ousted from the playoff race with Houston’s win over Arizona.

It’s the ninth postseason appearance for the Rangers, but after reaching the playoffs five times between 2010 and ’16, it’s been a rough stretch for Texas. The turnaround in the first year with Bruce Bochy in charge was dramatic. The Rangers reached 90 wins for the ninth time, and they already have made a 22-game improvement over last season.

Castillo was pulled after 2⅔ innings, the shortest start in his 1½ seasons with the Mariners and tied for the second-shortest start of his career. The right-hander had pitched at least five innings in his previous 32 starts this season.

Castillo needed 86 pitches to record eight outs. He went to full counts to seven of the 18 batters he faced, and his five walks were one off his season high.

■ Mets 4-11, Phillies 3-4: At New York, Tylor Megill (9-8) held Philadelphia to one run over 7⅓ innings in Game 1. Rookie Francisco Alvarez hit a grand slam and a two-run homer in Game 2.

■ Astros 1, Diamondbacks 0: At Phoenix, Jose Abreu hit an RBI double in the fourth to back Justin Verlander (13-8), who pitched five shutout innings, and both teams clinched playoff berths.

■ Yankees 5, Royals 2: At Kansas City, Mo., Frankie Montas (1-0) earned the win out of the bullpen in his season debut, and New York clinched its 31st straight winning season.

■ Orioles 5, Red Sox 2: At Baltimore, Ryan Mountcastle broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double in the Baltimore seventh and scored on rookie Heston Kjerstad’s single.

■ Padres 6, White Sox 1: At Chicago, Jurickson Profar hit a three-run double and an RBI single to back Michael Wacha (14-4), who pitched seven shutout innings.

■ Tigers 8, Guardians 0: At Detroit, Miguel Cabrera followed a pregame retirement celebration by hitting a double, scoring the first run and driving in another.

■ Cubs 10, Brewers 6: At Milwaukee, Yan Gomes hit a grand slam for Chicago, which was ousted from playoff consideration with Miami’s win at Pittsburgh.

■ Cardinals 15, Reds 6: At St. Louis, Lars Nootbaar hit a three-run homer to help St. Louis build a 10-0 lead. Cincinnati was ousted from playoff consideration.

■ Braves 5, Nationals 3: At Atlanta, Marcell Ozuna hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth to help Spencer Strider (20-5) notch his 20th win.

■ Twins 14, Rockies 6: At Denver, Trevor Larnach’s grand slam in the third was one of four homers by Minnesota, which led 11-0 in the sixth.

■ Marlins 7, Pirates 3: At Pittsburgh, Josh Bell hit a two-run double for Miami, which clinched the fourth playoff berth in franchise history.

■ Rays 7, Blue Jays 5: At Toronto, Taylor Walls hit a go-ahead two-run single with two outs in Tampa Bay’s three-run 10th.

Colin E. Braley The Associated Press Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. pursues a ball hit by Yankees rookie Oswald Peraza for a single during New York’s 5-2 win Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. Witt, who has 30 homers this season, was caught while attempting his 50th steal.

The Associated Press Lindsey Wasson Adolis Garcia, left, greets Nathaniel Lowe after they scored on Jonah Heim’s single in Texas’ 6-1 win over the host Mariners on Saturday.