Dodgers first to clinch playoffs
The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the pandemic-shortened season, beating the San Diego Padres 7-5 Wednesday behind Dustin May’s gutty effort out of the bullpen and home runs from AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor.
Will Smith drove in three runs for the seven-time defending NL West champion Dodgers, who opened a 3 1/2-game lead in the division by winning two of three in the matchup of the NL’s two best teams.
Mookie Betts tied his career high with three stolen bases, had two hits and scored a run.
At 35-15, the Dodgers breezed into the expanded 16-team postseason field. Los Angeles is seeking its first World Series title since 1988.
San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr., who had been considered the NL MVP frontrunner recently, went 0 for 4 to extend his slump to 2 for 27 over eight games. His average has dropped from .314 to .281.
Cardinals 4, Brewers 2 — Adam Wainwright shook off an early home run and pitched a four-hitter, leading the St. Louis Cardinals past the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of a doubleheader.
Wainwright (5-1) struck out nine in the seven-inning complete game as the Cardinals reached .500 in their bid for a spot in the expanded playoff field.
Tyler O’Neill hit a solo homer in the second and Brad Miller’s seventh homer, a solo drive in the sixth, put the Cardinals up 4-2.
Mets 5, Phillies 4 — New York Mets ace Jacob de Grom left his start against the Philadelphia Phillies after two innings night with a hamstring spasm, but New York held on for the win.
He exited after a surprisingly rough two innings that could put a wrinkle in his bid for a third straight NL Cy Young Award.
The right-hander, who struck out 12 Phillies on Sept. 6, was pulled after only 40 pitches and one strikeout.
He allowed three runs.
Reds 1, Pirates 0 — Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo pitched a masterful seven innings, Shogo Akiyama drove in the game’s only run, and the Reds moved into a virtual tie for second place in the National League Central Division with a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Castillo (3-5), coming off his first career complete game in a 3-1 win at St. Louis on Friday, retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced and gave up only three hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts, helping the Reds extend their winning streak to a season-high five games.
American League
Yankees 13, Blue Jays 2 — Kyle Higashioka hit a careerhigh three home runs, DJ LeMahieu connected twice and the resurgent New York Yankees hit a season-best seven homers in another Bronx air show, thumping the Toronto Blue Jays.
Luke Voit lofted a threerun drive for his major league-leading 19th homer and Clint Frazier added a solo shot as the Yankees won their seventh straight game following a 5-15 slide.
New York moved 1 1/2 games ahead of Toronto for second place in the AL East.
Royals 4, Tigers 0 — Brady Singer was stellar for a second straight start, allowing two hits in six innings, and the Kansas City Royals blanked the Detroit Tigers.
Singer pitched eight onehit innings in his previous outing at Cleveland. The rookie right-hander struck out the first five Detroit hitters and retired the first 10.
Singer (3-4) struck out eight with one walk. Salvador Perez homered and drove in three runs for the Royals.
Interleague
Nationals 4, Rays 2 — Rookie Luis García hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Washington Nationals beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
With Carter Kieboom on second base to start extra innings, the 20-year-old García hit a leadoff drive on the first pitch from Nick Anderson (1-1).
Anderson had not allowed a run in his previous 14 appearances this season.
Brandon Lowe got the Rays even at 2 when he hit a solo homer off Daniel Hudson (2-2) on a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the ninth.
Kyle McGowin struck out three in the 10th to get his first save.
Athletics 3, Rockies 1 — Mike Fiers threw six sharp innings before turning it over to a lights-out bullpen and the Oakland Athletics snapped a six-game skid against the Colorado Rockies.
Fiers (6-2) may not throw hard — his fastball routinely hits the upper 80s — but he limited Colorado to a run by mixing in an effective slider and change-up. The Rockies were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position against the 35-year-old Fiers.
The bullpen with the best ERA in baseball took it home. Jake Diekman struck out three over 1 1/3 innings. He hasn’t allowed a run in 17 1/3 innings this season. Liam Hendriks got the final five outs to pick up his 13th save in 14 chances.
Orioles 5, Braves 1 — Cole Hamels finally got on the mound in an Atlanta uniform, allowing three runs to the Baltimore Orioles before reaching his predetermined pitch count in the fourth inning, and the Braves struggled offensively.
Rookie Keegan Akin struck out nine over five scoreless innings to earn his first big league victory and help the Orioles win the deciding matchup of a threegame set against the NL East leaders.