CHICAGO (AP) — Sean Burke pitched six effective innings, Miguel Vargas homered and the Chicago White Sox topped the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Saturday for a sorely needed victory.
Chicago dropped into second in the AL Central after it blew a six-run lead in an 11-8 loss to Detroit on Friday night. Heading into Saturday’s action, the White Sox were one game behind Cleveland in the division and third in the wild-card standings, one game better than Texas.
The White Sox (79-76) dropped at least 101 games in each of the last three years. They could become the first big league team to make the playoffs after finishing with at least 100 losses in each of the previous two seasons.
Burke (10-7) allowed one run and five hits in his second straight win. Grant Taylor got four outs for his 10th save.
BREWERS 1, ORIOLES 0
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers tied a team record with their 97th win of the season, beating Baltimore with the help of a fly ball lost in the sun by Orioles right fielder Rece Hinds.
Already assured of their fourth straight NL Central title and eighth playoff berth in nine season, the big league-best Brewers (97-58) matched the wins total of last year’s team that finished 97-65.
Baltimore (75-80) fell four games behind the Chicago White Sox for the AL’s last wild card with seven to play.
Robert Gasser (5-5) allowed three hits over seven innings, Abner Uribe worked around a leadoff single in the eighth, and Aaron Ashby pitched a perfect ninth for his third save, finishing the Brewers’ 11th shutout this season and first 1-0 win.
RAYS 2, RED SOX 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Richie Palacios dropped a fly ball into shallow right in the ninth inning to score Junior Caminero and give Tampa Bay a victory over Boston.
Tampa Bay, which has three walk-off wins on its current homestand, lowered its magic number to clinch the AL East to five games. The second-place Yankees are in Arizona on Saturday night.
Prior to Palacios’ single, the Rays were 0 for 17 with runners in scoring position over the first two games of the series. The postseason-bound Rays, who’ve won seven of their last eight, capitalized on two fortuitous bounces in the ninth.
First, Caminero’s foul popup bounced off the Tropicana Field catwalk and out of the reach of third baseman Caleb Durbin. Caminero then lined the next pitch from Garrett Whitlock (7-2) into left. Three batters later, after Chandler Simpson singled, Connor Wong’s passed ball moved Caminero to third.
The Red Sox squandered a prime opportunity in the top of the ninth.
METS 10, PHILLIES 3
NEW YORK (AP) — Carson Benge had three hits to break Pete Alonso’s Mets season rookie record, homering along with Francisco Alvarez as New York again prevented Philadelphia from gaining ground in the NL wild card race with a win Saturday.
Benge raised his hits total to 156, one more than Pete Alonso in 2019.
Alec Bohm had a pair of run-scoring singles and Bryce Harper delivered a sacrifice fly for the Phillies (85-70), who entered Saturday tied with the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres for the three NL wild cards, five games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Alvarez’s three-run homer off Andrew Painter (3-10) put the Mets ahead for good in the fifth.
Benge doffed his cap to an ovation from the crowd of 37,468 following the record-breaking hit, an RBI infield single in the eighth.
Painter and Mets starter Christian Scott both attended Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Scott was in the class of 2018 and Painter in the class of 2021.
Painter allowed four runs and four hits with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, leaving him with a 5.59 ERA.
GUARDIANS 12, ATHLETICS 6
CLEVELAND (AP) — Angel Martínez homered from both sides of the plate as part of his second career four-hit game, Chase DeLauter had a three-run homer, and Cleveland remained in first place in the AL Central with a victory over the Athletics.
It is the second time this month a Guardians’ hitter has homered from both sides of the plate. Brayan Rocchio did it on Sept. 4 against Detroit.
Martínez, who also drove in four runs, had a two-run homer during a five-run first inning and a solo shot in the fourth as the Guardians won their fourth straight. Cleveland (80-75) has a one-game lead over the Chicago White Sox, who defeated Detroit 3-1.
The Guardians also scored five runs in the third on the strength of four doubles, including David Fry’s two-run line drive.
Cleveland had five players with at least two hits. Slade Cecconi (5-7) worked the last two innings to get the win.
CUBS 5, REDS 2
CINCINNATI (AP) — Matthew Boyd ended a six-start winless streak, Dansby Swanson hit his first home run since coming off the injured list and Chicago moved closer to their second straight playoff berth by beating Cincinnati.
Michael Busch hit a tiebreaking home run off Nick Lodolo (3-6) in the sixth inning for a 3-2 lead, reaching 20 homers for the third time in four seasons.
Swanson added a ninth-inning drive against Zach McCambley, Swanson’s home run and first since Aug. 12. Swanson returned Friday from a strained left oblique that had sidelined him since Aug. 16.
Chicago (86-69), which leads the major leagues with 214 home runs, began the day tied with Philadelphia and San Diego for the three NL wild cards.
Boyd (9-5) had been been 0-4 since beating Kansas City on Aug. 9. He allowed two runs — one earned — and two hits in five innings as part of a four-hitter.
Lodolo gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings for the Reds, who have lost nine of 12.
PIRATES 6, ROYALS 5
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth to lift Pittsburgh to a victory over Kansas City.
Lowe jumped on a pitch from Steven Cruz (2-4) and sent it into the seats in right field for his 33rd homer of the season, the second-most by a player in their first year with the Pirates. The two-time All-Star was acquired by Pittsburgh last winter.
The home run was also the 96th at PNC Park this year for the Pirates, a club record for most homers at home in a season. The 1947 club hit 95 round-trippers when the team called Forbes Field home.
Pittsburgh rookie outfielder Ronnie Simon hit his first career homer. Jake Mangum added his fifth of the season as the Pirates won their third straight to improve to 78-77. The franchise is seeking its first winning season since 2018.
Lowe, Rafael Flores and Oneil Cruz had two hits each for the Pirates. Luke Weaver (3-1) picked up the win by pitching a scoreless eighth. Mason Montgomery worked the ninth for his 15th save. Montgomery hasn’t allowed a run in 22 2/3 innings, the second-longest streak ever by a Pittsburgh reliever.
RANGERS 6, BLUE JAYS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Five relievers held Toronto to six hits after Cal Quantrill left 12 pitches in because of right lat tightness, and the Rangers moved into sole possession of the AL West lead for the first time since late August with a win over the Blue Jays.
Texas (78-77) has won six of seven and moved a half-game ahead of Houston (77-78), which holds the tiebreaker. The Rangers have a winning record for the first time since before play on Aug. 11.
Jordan Montgomery (1-0) got his first win since Aug. 14, 2024, pitching 3 2/3 hitless innings. He returned from Tommy John surgery this past Aug. 9.
Davis Schneider hit a pinch-homer for the AL champion Blue Jays (76-79), who have lost eight of 12. They trail the Chicago White Sox by three games for the AL’s final wild card.
BRAVES 6, ASTROS 3
HOUSTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning, and Atlanta beat Houston t to drop the Astros out of the AL West lead.
Houston (77-78) fell one game behind Texas (78-77) and trails the Chicago White Sox (79-76) by two games for the last AL wild card. The Astros had held at least a share of the division lead each day since Aug. 25.
Atlanta assured its eighth playoff berth in nine seasons on Friday and is in position to clinch its first NL East title since 2023 on Sunday.
Trailing 2-1, Atlanta loaded the bases against AJ Blubaugh (5-3) and Acuña homered off Bryan Abreu for his second grand slam this season and the fifth of his big league career.
Acuña singled and walked twice in his first three plate appearances. He has homered in three of his last four games.
Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 34th save in 37 chances.
NATIONALS 8, CARDINALS 5
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Washington successfully challenged for catcher’s interference with the bases loaded in a four-run 11th inning in the Nationals’ victory over St. Louis.
After Washington took the lead on the interference call, Jose Tena had a two-run double and Dylan Crews followed with an RBI sacrifice fly.
J.J. Wetherholt led off the bottom of the 11th with an RBI single, and St. Louis loaded the bases with no outs, but did not score again. Washington reliever Will Dion got the final out for his first career save.
Riley Cornelio (3-2) was the winner. Gordon Graceffo (8-2) took the loss.
The Nationals (73-82) have won six of their last seven following a seven-game losing streak. The Cardinals (75-80) have lost four straight games.
ROCKIES 5, MARINERS 3
DENVER (AP) — Cole Carrigg hit a go-ahead two-run single during a four-run seventh inning, lifting Colorado to a win over Seattle and moving the Mariners to the brink of elimination.
Seattle (72-83) is seven games behind the Chicago White Sox for the last AL wild card with seven games to play.
Colorado (57-98) must win at least six of its remaining seven games to avoid becoming the first team to lose 100 games in four straight seasons since the 1962-65 New York Mets.
Before the game, the Rockies unveiled a bronze statue of Todd Helton, three weeks after honoring Larry Walker with his own statue. Helton’s statue depicts the Hall of Fame first baseman shouting to the sky after catching a relay from shortstop Troy Tulowitzki for the last out of the 2007 NL Championship Series and what remains the Rockies’ only World Series appearance.
Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer in the first, a 459-foot drive to left-center, and Randy Arozarena homered in the third for a 3-0 lead.
Colorado’s Jose Quintana, who made his first start since May 24 after recovering from a strained left elbow. Quintana gave up three runs and five hits in four innings.
Colorado’s bullpen pitched five scoreless innings, two by Juan Mejia (4-6). Brennan Bernardino got three outs for his second save.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, YANKEES 3
PHOENIX (AP) — Pavin Smith hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift Arizona over New York, giving the D-backs’ slim playoff hopes a boost.
Ildemaro Vargas started the ninth with a walk, winning an ABS challenge on a full-count pitch initially called a strike. After Jordan Lawlar struck out, Smith pinch hit and drove a cutter from Michael Fulmer (0-1) into the right-field seats.
Arizona pulled within four games of Philadelphia for the final NL wild card with seven games remaining, snapping a three-game losing streak on a night the franchise celebrated the 25th anniversary of its 2001 World Series win over the Yankees.
Juan Morillo (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings. D-backs right-hander Brandon Pfaadt gave up one run on four hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings, striking out three.
New York’s 11 walk-off losses are one behind San Francisco, which has the most in the major leagues.
PADRES 6, MARLINS 5
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ty France hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run rally in the fifth inning and San Diego beat Miami to pull into a tie with Philadelphia and Chicago for the top National League wild card.
The Cubs and Phillies both lost just around first pitch in San Diego. Then the Padres erased a 1-0 deficit to win for the 11th time in 12 games.
Chicago, Philadelphia and San Diego are even at 85-69 for the three NL wild cards — five games ahead of Arizona with eight to play. But the Padres would lose tiebreakers against the Cubs and Phillies for the No. 1 spot and the right to host an opening round. The Cubs beat the Padres 2-1 in the wild-card round in Chicago last season.
Miami (76-78) was eliminated from the postseason race.
DODGERS 10, GIANTS 4
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts went 4 for 4 with three doubles, Will Smith added three hits including a home run, and Los Angeles beat San Francisco.
Tommy Edman’s two-run, two-out single off reliever Philip Abner snapped a 4-all tie in the fifth. Pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas followed with an RBI single for a 7-4 lead, with Edman thrown out at home to end the inning.
Every Dodger had at least one hit, except for struggling Freddie Freeman who was 0 for 5. Betts tied his season high for hits and the team outslugged the Giants, 15-8. The former AL MVP was hitting .249 a week ago, and has since raised his average to .261.
The Dodgers scored runs in six straight innings to start a game for the first time in 10 years. They’ve scored 15 runs in their last seven offensive innings, including a four-homer eighth off Abner in Friday’s series opener.
The NL West champions (95-60) won their 95th game to move a season-high 35 games above .500.
ANGELS 6, TWINS 5, 11 INNINGS
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Christian Moore hit an infield single with two outs and the bases loaded that bounded off reliever Taylor Rogers’ leg to score Zach Neto and give Los Angeles an 11-inning victory over Minnesota.
Vaughn Grissom hit a solo homer in the ninth off Twins reliever A.J. Minter to tie it at 5.
In the 10th with one out, the Twins Royce Lewis hit a shallow fly ball out to Angels right fielder Josh Lowe. Ben Ross tagged at third, but Lowe’s strong one-bounce throw got to catcher Moisés Ballesteros in time for a sweeping tag-out of Ross out at home to end Minnesota’s threat.
In the eighth, Angels’ pinch-hitter Adam Frazier doubled down the right-field line against reliever Yoendrys Gomez to drive in two runs to narrow the Twins’ lead to 5-4.
Angels reliever Tayler Saucedo (1-1) got the win an inning of scoreless relief. Rogers (6-4) took the loss in 1 2/3 innings of work.
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