Sale reaches 300 Ks; Red Sox sweep Orioles
BALTIMORE — Chris Sale struck out 13 to become the first AL pitcher in 18 years to reach the 300 mark, and the Boston Red Sox moved to the brink of clinching a playoff berth by beating the Baltimore Orioles 9-0 on Wednesday night. Sale (17-7) reached the milestone on his last pitch, a called third strike against Ryan Flaherty to end the eighth inning. The last AL pitcher to fan 300 batters in a season was Boston’s Pedro Martinez in 1999, when he set a club record with 313.
After winning two straight 11-inning games over the skidding Orioles, Boston jumped to a 6-0 lead in the fifth and coasted to its 11th win in 14 games.
YANKEES 11, TWINS 3
In New York, Aaron Judge hit his AL-leading 45th home run and topped 100 RBIs, Didi Gregorius surpassed Derek Jeter for the most home runs by a Yankees shortstop and New York beat Minnesota for a three-game sweep.
The game was briefly halted in the fifth inning when a foul ball down the third-base line off the bat of Todd Frazier struck a young girl, who was carried out of the stands, given first aid and taken to a hospital.
Frazier knelt down and covered his head, and many other Yankees and Twins watched in stunned silence as the fan was helped.
The Yankees, who have won 10 of 12, opened a seven-game advantage over the Twins for the top AL wild card with 10 games remaining.
RAYS 8, CUBS 1
In St. Petersburg, Fla., Blake Snell gave up two hits in seven shutout innings, and Tampa Bay ended Chicago’s season-best seven-game winning streak.
The Cubs, who had not lost since being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in a threegame series in Chicago on Sept. 8-10, are scheduled to open a four-game series in Milwaukee on Thursday night. They lead the Brewers by 3½ games in the NL Central.
PHILLIES 7, DODGERS 5
In Philadelphia, Aaron Altherr hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the eighth after launching a tying, two-run homer an inning earlier, and Philadelphia beat slumping Los Angeles.
The Dodgers have lost four straight and 20 of 25 and will have to wait to wrap up the NL West.
The Phillies have won eight of 10 and are 32-33 since the All-Star break, climbing out of last place in the majors.
PIRATES 6, BREWERS 4
In Pittsburgh, Adam Frazier hit a two-run homer off Milwaukee closer Corey Knebel with two outs in the ninth inning to lift Pittsburgh to the victory.
The Pirates tied it in the eighth on a throwing error by Knebel then ended a seven-game losing streak when Frazier homered into the first row of seats in the right-field stands.
Jesus Aguilar and Domingo Santana homered for the Brewers but Milwaukee missed a chance to pull into a tie with Colorado for the second wild-card spot in the National League.
ROYALS 15, BLUE JAYS 5
In Toronto, Mike Moustakas hit his 37th home run of the season, breaking Steve Balboni’s Royals record, Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield also connected and Kansas City routed Toronto.
Rookie right-hander Jakob Junis (8-2) allowed four runs, two earned, in 6⅓ innings, improving to 5-0 with a 2.42 ERA over his past eight starts.
GIANTS 4, ROCKIES 0
In San Francisco, Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood dug himself an early hole against the Giants and now the Rockies’ lead for the second NL wild card is in jeopardy after a loss to lastplace San Francisco, the club’s third straight defeat.
After two straight 4-3, walkoff setbacks, the Rockies lost for the fifth time in seven games overall following a six-game winning streak.
CARDINALS 9, REDS 2
In Cincinnati, Dexter Fowler homered for the third straight game while Matt Carpenter and Paul DeJong also homered as St. Louis gained ground in its playoff push with a win over Cincinnati.
Tommy Pham finished with two doubles, a single and two RBIs and Yadier Molina added a two-run double as the third-place Cardinals (79-72) gained a game on Colorado in the wildcard race to move within 2½ games. St. Louis sits five games behind the Cubs in the NL Central chase.
NATIONALS 7, BRAVES 3
In Atlanta, Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino issued three bases-loaded walks in the six-run eighth, Gio Gonzalez pitched seven strong innings and Washington beat Atlanta.
Gonzalez (15-7) allowed two runs, three hits and one walk to enjoy some rare good luck in the series. The left-hander, who struck out eight, began the night 4-11 with a 5.27 ERA in 20 career starts against the Braves.
ASTROS 4, WHITE SOX 3
In Houston, Yuli Gurriel had three hits, including a two-run double, Brad Peacock threw six solid innings and Houston extended its winning streak to six games with a win over Chicago.
Peacock (12-2) allowed two runs on one hit with six strikeouts. The right-hander continues to throw well, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last five starts.
MARLINS 5, METS 4 (10 INNINGS)
In Miami, J.T. Realmuto homered in the 10th inning, and Miami beat New York after rallying for three runs in the ninth against former teammate A.J. Ramos.
Major league home run leader Giancarlo Stanton walked a season-high four times and struck out in his only at-bat to remain at 55 homers with 11 games to go.
ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 2
In Detroit, Daniel Mengden pitched seven scoreless innings, and Marcus Semien homered and drove in three runs, leading Oakland to a 3-2 win and three-game sweep of Detroit.
Mengden (2-1) allowed seven hits and struck out four, extending his scoreless streak to 16⅓ innings and helping the A’s to their fourth consecutive win.