MAJOR LEAGUES
Seattle held off fast-finishing Oakland to win 6-5 on Tuesday, keeping up their bid for a wild-card berth, while hurting the A’s chances of achieving something better than that.
The Mariners are now 4.5 games behind Oakland, who are the same margin behind the American League West-leading Los Angeles Angels. The Athletics have a provisional hold on the top wild-card spot, and five losses in six games makes it increasingly likely they will need that position, as their divisional title ambitions are fading.
Photo: AFP
Seattle are 1.5 games off the second wild-card berth, currently held by Detroit, who beat Cleveland, but made up no ground on AL Central leader Kansas City, who also won. Baltimore won again to extend their already huge lead atop the AL East.
In the big National League clash, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated Washington in a clash of divisional leaders.
Seattle starter James Paxton (5-1) held Oakland scoreless through seven innings to build a 6-0 lead, but was pulled during a three-run eighth inning.
Seattle closer Fernando Rodney quickly retired the first two batters in the ninth, but consecutive doubles scored two runs to make it 6-5. Josh Reddick hit a ground ball that led to the final out.
Detroit’s J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Tigers to a 4-2 win at Cleveland.
In the ninth, Torii Hunter drew a leadoff walk from Cody Allen (5-4), Miguel Cabrera singled, and after a fly-out for the first out of the inning, Martinez sent a pitch over the center-field wall.
The Tigers remained half a game behind Kansas City, who edged Texas 2-1. The winning run came when Salvador Perez hit a scorching line drive that went off the glove of the third baseman for a safe-hit single.
Baltimore’s Bud Norris pitched six scoreless innings to set up a 5-4 win over Cincinnati.
Nelson Cruz notched his career-high 91st RBI during a four-run first inning and Jonathan Schoop homered for the Orioles, who extended their lead in the AL East to a season-high 9.5 games.
Jay Bruce hit a grand slam in the eighth inning to cut the margin to one run, but Baltimore hung on, with Zach Britton pitching the ninth inning for his 32nd save of the season.
Dodgers’ pitcher Clayton Kershaw pitched eight strong innings for his major league-leading 17th win, steering Los Angeles to a 4-1 win against Washington.
He did give up a homer to a left-handed batter for the first time this season when Bryce Harper went long, but still guided the Dodgers to a victory that moved them within one win of the Nationals for the NL lead.
St Louis’ Adam Wainwright earned his 16th win and matched his career-best by driving in three runs with the bat, carrying the Cardinals to a 6-4 victory over Pittsburgh.
Wainwright (16-9) prevailed despite allowing three home runs to match his career worst. He left after Starling Marte’s two-run shot shaved the lead to 5-4 with none out in the seventh.
The bottom of the St Louis batting order was the difference in the fourth win in a row for the NL Central leaders. Eighth-place hitter Peter Bourjos singled twice and drove in a run, and seventh-place hitter Daniel Descalso walked twice and scored twice.
Houston’s Jose Altuve had four hits for the second straight game, powering the Astros to an 8-3 win against the majors-leading Los Angeles Angels.
Altuve became the first Astro to accomplish that feat since Lance Berkman in May 2008. Altuve’s homer in the third extended Houston’s lead to 4-0 and was his sixth straight plate appearance with a hit.
Houston starter Brad Peacock (4-8) conceded only four hits in 6-1/3 solid innings for his first win in almost two months.
Toronto’s Jose Reyes hit a three-run homer to power the Blue Jays past Tampa Bay 8-2.
Reyes’ home run broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning and sent the Blue Jays to their third win in a row.
Toronto starter R.A. Dickey (11-12) gave up two hits in seven innings to take the win.
Philadelphia’s Kyle Kendrick pitched seven scoreless innings as the Phillies shut out struggling Atlanta 4-0.
One day after the Phillies staff recorded the first combined no-hitter in Phillies history, Kendrick (8-11) and relievers Ken Giles and Antonio Bastardo were dominant in the three-hit shutout.
Carlos Ruiz homered and drove in two runs for the Phillies.
Chicago’s Jake Arrieta pitched six solid innings as the Cubs won 7-1 and sent Milwaukee to their seventh straight loss.
New York’s David Wright broke out of his slump with three hits and three RBIs, leading the Mets to an 8-6 victory over Miami.
Boston’s Xander Bogaerts homered among his four hits and fellow rookie Mookie Betts also went deep, lifting the Red Sox to a 9-4 win over the New York Yankees.
San Francisco’s Buster Posey homered, doubled twice and drove in four runs, rallying the Giants to a 12-7 win at Colorado.
Chicago’s Tyler Flowers had his first multi-homer game as the White Sox edged Minnesota 6-3 in 10 innings.
San Diego’s Cory Spangenberg hit his first home run in the majors, coming in as a pinch-hitter and launching the first pitch he saw in the ninth inning, giving the Padres a 2-1 win over Arizona.
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