Rays beat deGrom, Mets to close in on AL East crown

Nate Lowe homered and scored both runs against NL Cy Young Award contender Jacob deGrom, and the Tampa Bay Rays overcame 16 strikeouts to move closer to an AL East title by beating the New York Mets 2-1 Monday night.

The Rays can lock up their first division crown since 2010 with a win today or a loss by the Yankees against Toronto. Tampa Bay leads New York by 41/2 games with six days left in the regular season.

“We’re getting closer,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We just have to keep wining. As much momentum as possible.”

DeGrom (4-2) pitched seven innings of tworun ball, striking out 14 to match his career high for the second time this season.

ANGELS 8, RANGERS 5 >> Jared Walsh hit his first career grand slam during the Angels’ sevenrun fourth inning in a win over visiting Texas.

INDIANS 7, WHITE SOX 4 >> Carlos Santana’s tworun homer snapped a fifth-inning tie and José Ramírez homered again as Cleveland moved closer to clinching a postseason spot — and slowed Chicago’s push for the AL Central title.

NATIONALS 5, PHILLIES 1 >> Bryce Harper was hitless in his return from back stiffness and Philadelpia manager Joe Girardi was ejected in the third inning of a loss to host Washington that dropped the Phillies back to .500 and hurt their playoff hopes.

REDS 6, BREWERS 3 >> Eugenio Suárez hit a two-run homer, Luis Castillo won his fourth straight start, and streaking Cincinnati moved above .500 for the first time since opening day, beating Milwaukee.

CUBS5,PIRATES0>> Jon Lester scattered four hits over six innings and visiting Chicago inched closer to their first NL Central title since 2017 against Pittsburgh.

ROCKIES SHUT DOWN ARENADO >> The Colorado Rockies placed Nolan Arenado on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder injury, likely ending the season of their star third baseman. The Rockies have just eight games left.

PLAYERS, MLB COMMIT $10 MILLION TO PLAYERS ALLIANCE >> Major League Baseball and the Players Association jointly committed $10 million to The Players Alliance on Monday to help boost the participation of Black Americans in all levels of the sport. The Players Alliance, a nonprofit organization comprised of active and former players, will use the money to fund annual grants through 2024 to improve access to the sport from the youth level all the way to MLB front offices.

DODGERS REINSTATE PEDERSON; BUEHLER CLOSE >> The Los Angeles Dodgers will beef up their roster in advance of the playoffs, activating outfielder Joc Pederson from the family medical emergency list, while right-hander Walker Buehler is close to returning as well.