NATIONAL LEAGUE
In his season finale, Miami Marlins rookie Jose Fernandez pitched seven innings, hit his first major league homer and engaged in a standoff with the annoyed Atlanta Braves that cleared both benches and bullpens.
When he had completed his eventful evening, Fernandez slowly walked off the mound one last time, removing his cap as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Two relievers pitched the final two innings, and the woeful Marlins beat the playoff-bound Braves 5-2.
The game was the last of the season for the demonstrative 21-year-old Fernandez because he passed his 170-inning limit set by the Marlins. A top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, he finished 12-6 with an ERA of 2.19, second-lowest in the majors behind only the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw.
Fernandez homered in the sixth inning, and after slowly circling the bases he engaged in a heated exchange with catcher Brian McCann, which prompted the other players to join them. Shoves were swapped, but no punches were evident, and no one was ejected.
Mike Minor (13-7) allowed five runs, four earned, and 11 hits in six innings for Atlanta.
NATIONALS 3, METS 0
In New York, Dan Haren pitched one-hit ball for six innings, while Ryan Zimmerman homered as Washington earned their fifth consecutive win.
The Nationals improved to 22-9 in their late charge toward a playoff spot. They remained six games behind Cincinnati for the final NL wild-card spot with only 17 to play.
Haren (9-13) and the Washington bullpen held an overmatched New York lineup to three singles. Rafael Soriano got three outs for his 41st save.
The night was full of Sept. 11, 2001, tributes. Mets manager Terry Collins wore an NYPD hat during batting practice, and there were several remembrances on the field, on the scoreboard and over the public-address system of those affected by the terror attacks 12 years ago.
Zack Wheeler (7-5) gave up one run and eight hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one. He wound up with his third loss in four starts.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, DODGERS 1
In Los Angeles, Paul Goldschmidt had four hits and two RBIs, helping the Diamondbacks snap a five-game skid against the Dodgers.
Patrick Corbin (14-6) ended a three-game losing streak while improving to 2-0 in three starts at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander allowed one run and eight hits in 6-1/3 innings.
Brad Ziegler pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances.
Dodgers left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin (13-6) gave up three runs and 10 hits — his second-most this season — in his first start since Aug. 30. The left-hander missed his scheduled start on Friday last week because of a stiff back.
Los Angeles got their only run on Yasiel Puig’s 16th homer in the seventh.
CARDINALS 5, BREWERS 1
In St Louis, Missouri, Matt Adams hit a two-run homer in St Louis’ four-run eighth inning, helping the Cardinals to their fifth consecutive win.
Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday had two hits apiece for the Cardinals, who maintained a one-game lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central.
Brewers reliever Brandon Kintzler (3-2) was charged with three runs and recorded two outs.
Carlos Beltran’s sacrifice fly off Michael Gonzalez scored Carpenter to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. An error by catcher Jonathan Lucroy allowed Jon Jay to score and Adams followed with his 12th homer.
Trevor Rosenthal (2-3) had a hitless eighth inning for the win.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Reds 6, Cubs 0
‧ Phillies 4, Padres 2
‧ Giants 4, Rockies 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, St Petersburg, Florida
Mike Carp connected for a pinch-hit grand slam in the 10th inning as AL East-leading Boston beat Tampa Bay 7-3 on Wednesday night.
Carp sent a drive over the center-field fence on the first pitch from Roberto Hernandez. It was the first pinch-hit grand slam for Boston since Kevin Millar hit one at Milwaukee on June 7, 2003.
Dustin Pedroia opened the 10th with a walk against Joel Peralta (2-7) and went to second on Shane Victorino’s bunt. After David Ortiz was intentionally walked, Hernandez replaced Peralta and walked Mike Napoli on four pitches before Carp connected for his ninth homer.
Boston closer Koji Uehara (4-0) struck out two during a perfect ninth.
He has retired his last 34 batters.
James Loney homered for the Rays, who trail the Red Sox by 9.5 games in the division race, to tie it in the eighth. Tampa Bay, who have lost 13 of 17, saw their lead drop to one game over New York for the second AL wild-card spot.
YANKEES 5, ORIOLES 4
In Baltimore, Maryland, Robinson Cano hit a tiebreaking homer leading off the ninth inning, and New York also got solo shots from Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson.
The Yankees moved past Baltimore and Cleveland in the AL wild-card hunt. New York have hit eight home runs in winning two of three in the four-game series that was to conclude last night.
The Yankees trailed 3-1 before Granderson homered in the fifth — New York’s first hit — and Rodriguez tied it in the sixth with his 653rd career home run.
In the ninth, after Cano connected off Tommy Hunter (4-4), Granderson tripled with one out and scored on an infield hit by Lyle Overbay.
David Robertson (5-1) worked the eighth and Mariano Rivera gave up a run-scoring single to Brian Roberts before securing his 43rd save, tied for the major league lead with Baltimore’s Jim Johnson.
Chris Davis drove in two runs with a double, making him the first player in Orioles history to have 40 doubles and 40 homers in a season. Danny Valencia tied a career high with four hits, and Roberts had three singles.
Baltimore outhit New York 13-6.
Before the game, the Yankees announced that shortstop Derek Jeter would miss the rest of the season with an injured left ankle.
TIGERS 1, WHITE SOX 0
In Chicago, Anibal Sanchez struck out 10 for Detroit.
Sanchez (14-7) allowed five hits and walked four in 7-1/3 innings, while lowering his AL-best ERA to 2.50.
Joaquin Benoit got three outs for his 18th save in as many opportunities, completing a five-hitter for Detroit’s 11th shutout of the season.
Omar Infante drove in the game’s only run with a two-out single against Matt Lindstrom (2-4) in the eighth inning.
White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana pitched seven innings of five-hit ball.
He remained winless over his past five starts, despite a 3.03 ERA.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Athletics 18, Twins 3
‧ Royals 6, Indians 2
‧ Angels 5, Blue Jays 4
‧ Astros 6, Mariners 1
In interleague play, it was:
‧ Pirates 7, Rangers 5
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