NATIONAL LEAGUE
Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to put the Atlanta Braves back in the playoffs with a 4-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
Freeman’s drive off Mike Dunn clinched at least a National League wild-card berth for the Braves, who squandered a big lead in the wild-card race with a huge collapse in September last year.
Photo: Reuters
Longtime star Chipper Jones, who plans to retire at the end of the season, led off the ninth with a double. He moved to third on a wild pitch by Dunn (0-3) and scored when Freeman’s 22nd homer easily cleared the center-field wall.
Craig Kimbrel (3-1) worked a scoreless inning to help the Braves win their 22nd straight game started by Kris Medlen. The streak is the longest in the majors since the New York Yankees won 22 consecutive games started by Whitey Ford in 1950 and 1953.
REDS 4, BREWERS 2
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Johnny Cueto pitched seven solid innings as the Cincinnati Reds stayed in the chase for the National League’s top record by beating Milwaukee after learning they will be without their manager for the rest of the week.
The Brewers dropped back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month and they fell to 4.5 games behind St Louis for the final National League wild-card spot as the Cardinals later beat Houston 4-0.
Reds manager Dusty Baker met players before the game and revealed he suffered a mini-stroke in addition to being treated for an irregular heartbeat last week. The 63-year-old manager hopes to return to the dugout next week.
The Brewers could not do much against Cueto (19-9), who is rounding back into form as the playoffs approach.
Mike Fiers (9-9) gave up nine hits and four runs in 4-1/3 innings for Milwaukee.
DIAMONDBACKS 7, GIANTS 2
In San Francisco, Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer and a pair of sacrifice flies for a career-high five RBIs.
Goldschmidt on his own gave Josh Collmenter (5-3) plenty of support as Arizona won for the seventh time in their last nine games. The Diamondbacks are trying to keep their slim National League wild-card hopes alive.
Aaron Hill had three hits and scored three runs, while Arizona scored two of their runs on wild pitches on a cool night featuring swirling mist above the field in the early innings.
Tim Lincecum (10-15) had his start pushed back two games from Sunday after San Francisco clinched their second division crown in three years with a win against San Diego on Saturday night.
The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner lost for the first time in five starts since Aug. 26 in Atlanta, Georgia. He had won his previous two outings and three straight decisions.
PADRES 2, DODGERS 1
In San Diego, California, Josh Beckett lost for the third time in six starts with Los Angeles, whose playoff chances were dealt a blow.
With eight games to play, the Dodgers are tied with Milwaukee, 4.5 games behind St Louis for the National League’s second wild-card spot.
The Padres scratched out two runs against Beckett (1-3) and made two nice defensive plays. Left fielder Chris Denorfia threw out Shane Victorino at the plate in the second inning and third baseman Chase Headley made a heads-up play that helped erase Matt Kemp in the sixth, when the Dodgers failed to score after loading the bases with two outs.
Padres closer Huston Street got in and out of trouble in the ninth for his 23rd straight save.
Street allowed A.J. Ellis’ RBI double to the gap in right-center and then put runners on the corners with one out. He struck out Andre Ethier and got Kemp to fly out to right to end it.
Edinson Volquez (11-11) allowed six hits in seven innings, struck out four and walked two.
PHILLIES 6, NATIONALS 3
In Philadelphia, Darin Ruf homered for his first major league hit, while Carlos Ruiz and Domonic Brown also went deep as Philadelphia beat playoff-bound Washington.
Cole Hamels (16-6) overcame five shaky innings to set a career high in wins and help the five-time defending National League East champions keep their faint post-season hopes alive. Hamels allowed three runs and seven hits, tying his shortest outing of the year.
Philadelphia remained 5.5 games behind St Louis for the National League’s second wild-card spot. Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Dodgers also are ahead of the Phillies in the standings with eight games remaining.
The Nationals’ magic number for winning their first division title in franchise history remained at five because Atlanta beat Miami 4-3. Their lead over the Braves dropped to four games with eight left.
PIRATES 10, METS 6
In New York, Pedro Alvarez hit his 30th homer and drove in four runs as Pittsburgh ended the Mets’ four-game winning streak.
Pittsburgh avoided elimination in the playoff race, remaining mathematically in contention for the second National League wild-card spot. The Pirates posted their 76th victory, the team’s most since 1999 when they won 78.
Alvarez hit a three-run shot that made it 4-0 in the first inning. He drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth, helping the Pirates win for just the sixth time in 24 games.
Garrett Jones hit his 25th homer and drove in three runs for the Pirates. Wandy Rodriguez (12-13) improved to 5-4 since being traded from Houston to Pittsburgh in late July.
David Wright homered and added a two-run single, tying the Mets’ career record of 1,418 hits set by Ed Kranepool.
The Mets’ Collin McHugh (0-3) was pulled soon after Josh Harrison’s two-run triple in the second.
CARDINALS 4, ASTROS 0
In Houston, Texas, Jaime Garcia pitched seven sharp innings and Jon Jay drove in two runs to help St Louis improve their playoff chances.
The Cardinals won their fourth straight and extended their winning streak over the last-placed Astros to a franchise-best 10 games. They also moved 4.5 games ahead of Milwaukee in the race for the second National League wild-card spot.
With seven games remaining, St Louis are closing in on the National League’s final available post-season spot.
Tuesday’s other result:
‧ Rockies 10, Cubs 5, 6-1/2 innings
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, DETROIT, Michigan
Anibal Sanchez threw his first shutout in over a year as Detroit moved into a tie for first place in the American League Central with a 2-0 victory over Kansas City on Tuesday night.
Detroit pulled even with Chicago with eight games to play after the White Sox lost 4-3 to Cleveland earlier in the day.
Sanchez (4-6) retired the first 11 hitters he faced and allowed only three hits. He struck out 10 and walked one.
He threw 105 pitches in his first shutout since Sept. 10 last year when he tossed a one-hitter for Florida at Pittsburgh.
Bruce Chen (11-13) gave up RBI singles by Prince Fielder and Delmon Young in the first inning.
The Tigers trailed the White Sox by three games on Wednesday morning, but they have made up the ground and will have a chance to win a second straight division title if they can finish strongly.
Chen allowed two runs and 10 hits in 6-2/3 innings.
Sanchez has six quality starts in his last seven outings.
INDIANS 4, WHITE SOX 3
In Chicago, the White Sox gave Detroit an opening to tie for the American League Central lead when Gordon Beckham hit into a game-ending forceout with the potential tying run on second base in the loss to last-placed Cleveland.
Down 4-0, the White Sox closed when A.J. Pierzynski and Dayan Viciedo hit consecutive fifth-inning home runs off Corey Kluber (2-4) and then pulled within a run when Paul Konerko homered off Chris Perez leading off the ninth.
Perez walked two batters with two outs and Beckham grounded to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who threw to second baseman Jason Kipnis for the force.
Chicago (82-72) had held sole possession of the division lead since Sept. 3.
Francisco Liriano (6-12) allowed all four runs and seven hits in 3-2/3 innings. He is 1-2 with a 6.30 ERA in his last seven appearances.
Kluber (2-4) gave up four hits in seven innings, retiring nine of his last 10 batters. Vinnie Pestano and Perez completed the six-hitter, with Perez gaining his 37th save in 41 chances.
Russ Canzler had three hits and homered for the second straight game, putting Cleveland ahead in the second.
TWINS 5, YANKEES 4
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Phil Hughes ran out of gas in the seventh inning and Boone Logan could not hold the lead for him as New York missed a chance to go 2.5 games up on Baltimore.
Hughes (16-13) was strong through six innings and the Yankees took a 3-1 lead, but he left with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh. Logan let one run score on a wild pitch, before giving up a two-run double to Denard Span that put the Twins in front.
Joe Mauer followed with his third single of the game to cap the four-run seventh as the Twins held on to keep the Orioles, who lost to Toronto earlier on Tuesday, 1.5 games behind New York in the American League East.
Nick Swisher homered for the third straight game, Russell Martin also went deep and Andruw Jones hit a pinch-hit solo shot off closer Glen Perkins in the ninth inning for the Yankees, but Perkins struck out Jayson Nix for his 15th save.
Martin’s soaring shot in the seventh off Casey Fien (2-1) was his 19th this season, which ties a career high, and it gave New York a 3-1 lead.
BLUE JAYS 4, ORIOLES 0
In Baltimore, Maryland, Aaron Laffey and five relievers combined on a six-hitter as Toronto beat Baltimore for the second straight game.
Laffey (4-6) allowed five singles in 5-2/3 innings as he won his first game since Aug. 5. He had been winless in his previous six starts. He neither walked nor struck out a batter.
The Orioles had won seven of their previous nine. They had not been shut out since Aug. 3.
Joe Saunders (2-3) pitched 6-1/3 innings, allowing four runs — three earned — and 11 hits. He struck out two and walked none.
RAYS 5, RED SOX 2
In Boston, David Price struck out a season-high 13 and Jeff Keppinger hit a three-run homer as Tampa Bay extending their winning streak to six games and kept their playoff hopes alive.
Tampa Bay entered the day three games behind Oakland for the American League’s second wild-card spot.
The Rays got to Boston starter Clay Buchholz (11-7) quickly on Keppinger’s three-run homer in the second and Price (19-5) was able to preserve the lead, despite balking with a runner on third to pull Boston to 3-2.
Price pitched his second complete game of the season, scattering seven hits and walking none. He tied his career high with his 19th win and is scheduled for one more chance to reach 20 for the first time in his career.
Buchholz lasted six innings, allowing eight hits and five runs, four earned. He struck out five and walked two.
Tuesday’s other results:
‧ Athletics 3, Rangers 2, 10 innings
‧ Angels 5, Mariners 4
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