NATIONAL LEAGUE
Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer in the eighth as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Florida Marlins 4-1 on Friday to clinch their first division title since 1982.
Prince Fielder also homered for Milwaukee, who came in needing a win and a St Louis loss to clinch the NL Central Division. The Cardinals lost to the Cubs later on Friday.
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Photo: Reuters
Braun homered off Clay Hensley (6-7) to end a 1 for 16 hitting skid.
Yovani Gallardo pitched into the eighth, setting two team records for strikeouts.
He reached 200 strikeouts for the third straight year, surpassing Teddy Higuera as the only other player in team history to have consecutive seasons with at least that many. He also became the first pitcher to have three straight games of at least 10 strikeouts.
Photo: AFP
Francisco Rodriguez (6-2) got the win for Milwaukee.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, GIANTS 1
In Phoenix, Arizona, Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run triple in the eighth inning as Arizona beat San Francisco to win their first NL West title in four years.
The loss dropped defending World Series champions the Giants five games behind Atlanta for the NL wild-card spot with five games left.
Ryan Roberts got the eighth-inning run started with a double off Matt Cain (12-11) before Goldschmidt got his first career triple off Sergio Romo.
David Hernandez (5-3) struck out two after allowing a one-out single in the eighth and J.J. Putz finished for his 44th save.
CUBS 5, CARDINALS 1
In St Louis, Missouri, Alfonso Soriano hit his first homer of the month to lift Chicago over St Louis, dealing the Cardinals wild-card playoff hopes a serious blow.
The loss dropped the Cardinals three games behind Atlanta for the NL wild card.
St Louis starter Chris Carpenter was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh after throwing 93 pitches. Soriano then hit his 24th homer, connecting off Kyle McClellan (12-7).
St Louis grounded into three double plays, the last in the eighth after getting two hits off Jeff Samardzija (8-4), and lead the majors with 165.
BRAVES 7, NATIONALS 4
In Washington, Dan Uggla had three hits and two RBIs to lead Atlanta past the Nationals, giving the Braves a boost in their playoff push.
Tim Hudson (16-10) pitched into the sixth for the Braves, who had lost eight of their past 12 games.
Stephen Strasburg (0-1) struggled in his return from reconstructive elbow surgery, allowing four hits and three runs in the first inning alone.
Craig Kimbrel got the final three outs for his 46th save in 53 chances.
In other NL games, it was:
‧ Pirates 4, Reds 3
‧ Astros 11, Rockies 2
‧ Dodgers 2, Padres 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ARLINGTON, TEXAS
Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre hit long home runs and Craig Gentry had an inside-the-park homer as the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 5-3 on Friday to capture their second consecutive AL West title.
The Rangers needed a loss by the Los Angeles Angels to clinch the division. The Angels fell to Oakland 3-1 on Friday.
Matt Harrison (14-9) worked six innings for the Rangers, allowing three runs and walking two. The left-hander is 4-0 this month.
Rookie Anthony Vasquez (1-5) gave up three homers and seven hits over 3-1/3 innings.
ATHLETICS 3, ANGELS 1
In Anaheim, California, Jemile Weeks and David DeJesus homered to lead Oakland past Los Angeles, eliminating the Angels from the AL West race.
The loss dropped Los Angeles three-and-a-half games behind Boston in the AL wild-card race. The Angels lost for the fifth time in eight games.
The score was 1-all in the eighth when Kurt Suzuki led off with a single against Jered Weaver (18-8). Suzuki moved up on a sacrifice by Scott Sizemore, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a fielding error by third baseman Maicer Izturis on Weeks’ grounder.
Gio Gonzalez (15-12) allowed a run and three hits in 7-1/3 innings.
BLUE JAYS 5, RAYS 1
In St Petersburg, Florida, Brandon Morrow pitched seven scoreless innings as Toronto further dampened Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes.
The Rays have lost four of five and dropped two-and-a-half games behind Boston in the AL wild-card race. The Red Sox were rained out at New York.
A night after getting 17 hits in a 15-8 romp over the Yankees, the Rays were limited to Matt Joyce’s second-inning single until Casey Kotchman singled in the seventh off Morrow (11-11).
Morrow allowed two hits, walked four and struck out nine.
Kelly Johnson had a RBI single in the third and a solo homer in the sixth, both off David Price (12-13).
In other AL games, it was:
‧ Indians 6, Twins 5
‧ Tigers 4, Orioles 3, 11 innings
‧ Royals 11, White Sox 1
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