NATIONAL LEAGUE
The New York Mets squandered a four-run advantage and dropped back into a tie for the National League wild card with a 9-6 loss in extra innings to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.
The Mets (87-71) are now tied with the Milwaukee Brewers (87-71), who defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2, in the race for a NL postseason berth.
“It is critical that we do a better job,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel told reporters. “At this juncture, it was probably our toughest defeat.”
The Cubs, who won the NL Central title last Saturday, scored three runs in the 10th inning to break the 6-6 tie.
The Mets had let their own chances slip away, though, stranding three runners in the bottom of the ninth, where third baseman Daniel Murphy led off with a triple.
Murphy, representing the game-winning run, was unable to score after Chicago reliever Bob Howry intentionally walked two batters, then jammed Ryan Church into an infield hit that forced Murphy out at home plate.
“I had a situation to come through and just didn’t do it,” Church said.
New York had also left a runner stranded on third during each of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
Carlos Delgado’s third-inning grand slam put the Mets on top 5-1, but starter Oliver Perez lost it in the fifth inning where he allowed four runs.
With just four games remaining, New York is in danger of repeating last year’s late-season collapse when they lost a seven-game division lead and missed out on the playoffs.
Despite losing 10-4 to the Atlanta Braves, the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies (89-70) retained a 1.5-game divisional lead over the Mets.
In other NL games it was:
• Dodgers 12, Padres 4
• Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 2
• Braves 10, Phillies 4
• Brewers 4, Pirates 2
• Astros 5, Reds 0
• Marlins 9, Nationals 4
• Rockies 15, Giants 6
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Tampa Bay rallied from a six-run deficit to beat Baltimore 11-6 and reduce its magic number to clinch their first division title to one.
The Rays, who trailed 5-0 in the first inning, didn’t clinch the American League East because Boston beat Cleveland 5-4 to remain three games behind. The Rays open a four-game series in Detroit on Thursday.
Akinori Iwamura had two hits and three RBIs for the Rays, who completed a four-game sweep. It was the ninth time this season the Orioles blew a four-run lead, most in the majors, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Baltimore has lost nine straight and 28 of 34. The Orioles went 3-15 against Tampa Bay this season, losing the last 12.
In other AL games it was:
• Red Sox 5, Indians 4
• Twins 3, White Sox 2
• Yankees 6, Blue Jays 2,
10 innings
• Royals 10, Tigers 4
• Rangers 14, Athletics 4
• Angels 6, Mariners 5
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