SATURDAY’S MLB ROUNDUP

NATIONAL LEAGUE REDS 3, METS 2

CINCINNATI — Pinch-hitter Christian Colón’s two-out single off Seth Lugo broke an eighth-inning tie, lifting Cincinnati over the Mets and dealing New York a critical defeat in the NL wild card race.

New York (80-74) went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and dropped four games back of Milwaukee for the second wild card with eight games left. The Brewers played last-place Pittsburgh later Saturday.

Justin Wilson (4-2) took the loss. Joel Kuhnel (1-0) got the final out of the eighth for his first major league win. Raisel Iglesias picked up his 34th save in 39 chances.

A day after hitting his 50th homer, Mets rookie Pete Alonso went 0 for 4 and stranded the bases loaded in the fifth when he struck out.

BRAVES 8, GIANTS 1

ATLANTA — Max Fried strengthened his case for a spot in Atlanta’s postseason rotation by throwing 51/3 scoreless innings, Francisco Cervilli and Adam Duvall hit two-run homers and the Braves rolled to a win over the San Francisco Giants.

At 96-60, the Braves will finish with their most wins since 2013. San Francisco dropped to 71-81, ensuring Bruce Bochy will not have a winning record in his 25th and final season as a major league manager, the last 13 with the Giants.

Each team rested several starters one day after the Braves clinched the NL East title and the Giants were eliminated from postseason contention.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said before the game he didn’t expect to alter his rotation after clinching the division. He added he will lessen the starters’ workload in the regular season’s final nine days.

BREWERS 10, PIRATES 1

MILWAUKEE — Rookies Keston Hiura and Trent Grisham each hit two-run homers and the Milwaukee Brewers increased their edge for the second NL wild-card spot, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Brewers lead Chicago by three games in the wild-card race after the Cubs lost to St. Louis. Milwaukee remained one game behind Washington for the top wild-card slot.

Milwaukee has won seven of eight and extended its September record to 16-4, tops in the major leagues. The Brewers are 9-2 since losing reigning MVP Christian Yelich to a fractured kneecap.

NATIONALS 10, MARLINS 4

MIAMI — Brian Dozier hit a go-ahead RBI single during Washington’s six-run 10th inning in a win over Miami.

Dozier’s single to left off Miami reliever Jose Urena (4-10) scored Ryan Zimmerman from third. Zimmerman had led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a single by Victor Robles.

The Nationals are atop the NL wildcard race, one game ahead of Milwaukee, which has a three-game lead for the second wild card.

Washington got a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double from Kurt Suzuki in the 10th inning. Adam Eaton had an RBI single and Juan Soto walked with the bases loaded.

AMERICAN LEAGUE YANKEES 7, BLUE JAYS 2

NEW YORK — Giancarlo Stanton launched his first homer since missing nearly three months to injury, James Paxton won his 10th straight start and New York beat Toronto.

New York manager Aaron Boone was ejected after another tangle with a rookie umpire, and the 101-win Yankees got promising news shortly before first pitch when an MRI of Gleyber Torres’ achy right hamstring came back negative.

The AL East champions entered with a major league-leading 294 homers.

Paxton (15-6) allowed an unearned run while pitching three-hit ball over six innings. The left-hander threw just 87 pitches.

Toronto ended a five-game winning streak, which matched its best of the season.

T.J. Zeuch (1-1) racked up six strikeouts in four innings. He allowed two runs and four hits.

WHITE SOX 5, TIGERS 3

DETROIT — Tim Anderson homered in a three-run fifth inning, and the Chicago White Sox went on to a victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Anderson went 1 for 4, lowering his American League-leading average to .335, but the one hit was a no-doubter of a home run to left field.

Ivan Nova (11-12) allowed two runs and eight hits in five innings for Chicago and three relievers finished. Alex Colomé gave up a run in the ninth but held on for his 29th save in 31 chances.

Detroit (45-109) matched the 1996 Tigers for the second-most losses in franchise history behind 119 in 2003.

WHITE SOX 5, TIGERS 3

DETROIT — Tim Anderson homered in a three-run fifth inning, and the Chicago White Sox went on to a victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Anderson went 1 for 4, lowering his American League-leading average to .335, but the one hit was a no-doubter of a home run to left field.

Iván Nova (11-12) allowed two runs and eight hits in five innings for Chicago and three relievers finished. Alex Colomé gave up a run in the ninth but held on for his 29th save in 31 chances.

RAYS 5, RED SOX 4, 11 INNINGS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nate Lowe hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox to move one game ahead of Cleveland for the second AL wild card.

Tampa Bay won its third straight game, all in 11 innings.

A day after the defending World Series champion Red Sox were mathematically eliminated, Mitch Moreland put Boston ahead 4-3 with a two-out homer in the 11th off Diego Castillo (5-8).

Travis d’Arnaud doubled off Josh Smith (0-3) in the bottom half, and Lowe sent an opposite-field drive down the left-field line.

ROYALS 12, TWINS 5

MINNEAPOLIS — Closer Taylor Rogers got tagged during a seven-run ninth inning and Minnesota missed a chance to add to its AL Central lead in a loss to Kansas City.

The Twins remained four games ahead of Cleveland, which lost at home to Philadelphia.

Pinch-hitter Cheslor Cuthbert lined a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Rogers (2-4) to begin the Royals’ big burst. Rogers gave up three runs on three hits while getting just one out.