Boston’s big inning sets back Mariners
Kyle Schwarber and Christian Vazquez drove in two runs apiece in the 10th inning, and the Red Sox beat the Mariners 9-4 on Wednesday in Seattle to keep pace in the AL wild-card race.
Designated runner Jack Lopez scored on Tom Murphy’s passed ball to start the scoring in the six-run 10th to break open a 3-3 game. J.D. Martinez, Schwarber and Vazquez added run-scoring hits as Boston beat the Mariners for the second day in a row.
All three games in the series between playoff contenders were decided in the eighth inning or later.
“It was playoff baseball,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “It feels that way. It’s fun, to be honest with you.”
The Red Sox, Toronto and theYankees remained in a virtual tie for the two AL wild-card spots. Seattle fell four games back of the leaders.
Alex Verdugo singled against Eric Swanson to lead off the 10th, moving Lopez to third. Swanson threw a chest-high fastball on his first pitch to Hunter Renfroe, but the ball skipped off the top of Murphy’s glove to the backstop to make it 4-3.
One out later, Martinez made it 5-3 with an RBI single.
Blue Jays 6, Rays 3: Bo Bichette homered and drove in five runs, Robbie Ray fanned 13 over seven innings to claim the major-league strikeout lead and Toronto beat visiting Tampa Bay.
Yankees 4, Orioles 3: Brett Gardner’s pop-up fell in behind the drawn-in Baltimore defense in the top of the ninth inning, scoring two runs and putting New York in the lead for good.
Astros 7, Rangers 2: Jake Meyers and Marwin Gonzalez hit consecutive homers in a three-run second inning, and Jose Urquidy allowed one run and two hits in six innings as Houston won on the road.
Tigers 4, Brewers 1: Dustin Garneau homered, rookie Matt Manning combined with the bullpen on a three-hitter and Detroit completed a two-game home sweep.
Angels 3, White Sox 2: Brandon Marsh hit a tie-breaking solo homer off Michael Kopech in the eighth inning, and Los Angeles beat host Chicago.
Cardinals 11, Mets 4: Paul Goldschmidt hit one of St. Louis’ four homers and had three of the Cardinals’ 16 hits in a rout at New York.
Phillies 6, Cubs 5: Cal alum Andrew Knapp scored on Robinson Chirinos’ passed ball in the bottom of the ninth inning to win it for Philadelphia.
Pirates 5, Reds 4: Wilmer Difo scored on a groundout from Colin Moran with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Pittsburgh handed Cincinnati its seventh loss in nine games.
Rockies 3, Braves 2: Raimel Tapia hit a tie-breaking single off A.J. Minter in the 10th inning, scoring Colton Welker and lifting visiting Colorado to the win.
Marlins 8, Nationals 6: Jesus Sanchez’s second two-run homer of the day capped a four-run ninth inning and Miami rallied past host Washington.
Indians 12, Twins 3: Oscar Mercado, Bobby Bradley and Franmil Reyes homered to help ignite a lagging Cleveland lineup in a win in Minnesota.