MAJOR LEAGUES
The Baltimore Orioles won their first American League East crown since 1997, using home runs by Steve Pearce and Jimmy Paredes to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-2 on Tuesday.
With their ninth win in 10 games, the Orioles clinched their second playoff appearance in three years following a run of 14 consecutive losing seasons. It was Baltimore’s ninth AL East title and only their second since 1983, when the Orioles last won the World Series.
The franchise has enjoyed a rebirth under the guidance of manager Buck Showalter, whose 1,254th victory thrust him past mentor Billy Martin into sole possession of 36th place on the career list.
Ubaldo Jimenez (5-9) survived a rocky start to limit the Blue Jays to two runs and two hits over five innings in his third start since July 5.
Pearce provided the Orioles with the lead for good with a three-run drive off Drew Hutchison (10-12) in the first inning. Pearce has 18 home runs this year, one more than he had in 290 games as a part-timer from 2007 to last year.
Paredes hit a solo shot in the second to make it 4-2. It was his second homer in 10 games with Baltimore.
NATIONALS 3, BRAVES 0
The Washington Nationals are again champions of the National League East, wrapping up their second division title in three years against the team who knocked them out of the top spot last season.
Tanner Roark pitched five-hit ball over seven innings and Ian Desmond’s two-run homer broke a scoreless tie as the Nationals celebrated another trip to the playoffs with a victory over Atlanta.
The clinching victory was especially sweet coming against the Braves, who finished 10 games ahead of the Nationals last year. The roles were reserved this season as Washington steadily pulled away down the stretch.
Atlanta (75-76) lost for the 11th time in 14 games, further damaging their hopes of making a third straight playoff appearance as a wild-card. The Braves have lost five straight and are below .500 for the first time since losing on opening day.
Roark (14-10) pitched around four leadoff singles by Atlanta, who never got a runner past second base. Tyler Clippard worked a scoreless eighth, and Drew Storen finished for his seventh save.
CUBS 7, REDS 0
Jake Arrieta took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning before giving up Brandon Phillips’ one-out double, the only blemish for the Chicago Cubs pitcher in a win over Cincinnati.
Arrieta (9-5) struck out 13 and walked one in his first career complete game. He was five outs from the first no-hitter at Wrigley Field in 42 years when Phillips drove an 0-2 pitch to deep left-center, just beyond the desperate dive of center fielder Matt Szczur on the warning track.
Chicago gave Arrieta plenty of run support against Reds ace Johnny Cueto (18-9). Chris Coghlan capped a five-run sixth inning with a three-run double, and Jorge Soler homered in the seventh.
Arrieta retired 21 of the first 22 batters he faced before allowing Phillips’ double. He issued a leadoff walk in the fourth to Billy Hamilton, who was caught stealing on the next pitch.
Cueto yielded six runs and five hits in 5-2/3 innings.
BREWERS 3, CARDINALS 2 (12)
Carlos Gomez walked, stole second and third and scored the go-ahead run on a bloop hit by rookie Hector Gomez in the 12th inning as Milwaukee ended NL Central-leading St Louis’ three-game winning streak.
Brandon Kintzler (3-3) got the last out in the 11th, and Francisco Rodriguez closed for his 42nd save in 47 chances. The third-place Brewers have won five of six and are four games behind St Louis, who have a 2.5-game lead on Pittsburgh with 11 to go.
Gerardo Parra homered and rookie Matt Clark’s sacrifice fly tied it against Trevor Rosenthal in the ninth. The Cardinals were blanked on four hits over the last 11 innings after jumping on Wily Peralta for two quick runs in the first.
Lance Lynn worked seven strong innings for St Louis, before Rosenthal was saddled with his sixth blown save in 50 chances.
In other games on Tuesday, it was:
‧ Rockies 10, Dodgers 4
‧ Giants 2, Diamondbacks 1
‧ White Sox 7, Royals 5
‧ Pirates 4, Red Sox 0
‧ Rays 6, Yankees 1
‧ Indians 4, Astros 2
‧ Twins 4, Tigers 3
‧ Mets 9, Marlins 1
‧ Mariners 13, Angels 2
‧ Rangers 6, Athletics 3
‧ Padres 5, Phillies 4
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