Dell Sports – MLB News

Cardinals edge Reds

Cardinals edge Reds

Jordan Walker went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the visiting Cincinnati Reds 4-3 Sunday in their season finale.

Nick Martini hit a homer for the Reds (82-80) and Stuart Fairchild had two doubles, a run and an RBI.

Winning pitcher Miles Mikolas (9-13) allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out 10 batters and walked none.

Ryan Helsley closed out the ninth inning for the Cardinals (71-91) for his 14th save.

In his final game before retiring, Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright struck out as a pinch-hitter.

Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene (4-7) allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings. He struck out six batters and walked one.

In possibly his last game for the Reds, first baseman Joey Votto was ejected for protesting ball-and-strike calls after striking out in the first inning.

Martini led off the game with a homer to give the Reds a quick 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals tied the game 1-1 in the second inning. Richie Palacios hit a double, Andrew Knizner was hit by a pitch, Jose Fermin bunted the runners over and Irving Lopez hit a sacrifice fly.

Cincinnati moved ahead 2-1 in the third inning on doubles by Fairchild and Elly De La Cruz. But the Cardinals responded by taking a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Tommy Edman hit a single, stole second base and scored on Walker's double. Luken Baker followed with an RBI double and Fermin hit a run-scoring single.

The Reds cut their deficit to 4-3 in the seventh inning as Will Benson hit a single and scored on Fairchild's double off the left field wall.

Noelvi Marte hit a one-out double in the ninth inning, extending his hitting streak to 16 games. Marte moved to third on a single by Benson, who then stole second base.

But Helsley struck out the next two batters to seal the victory.

Royals blast three homers, dump Yankees in finale

Royals blast three homers, dump Yankees in finale

The Kansas City Royals put on a power display in the season finale, hammering three solo homers in support of Zack Greinke during a 5-2 win over the visiting New York Yankees on Sunday.

In possibly the final appearance of his 20-year career, Greinke (2-15) threw five-plus innings of one-run ball. He allowed four hits and two walks while striking out two.

MJ Melendez, Edward Olivares and Dairon Blanco went deep off Michael King (4-8), helping the Royal build a 4-0 lead and chasing New York starter after four innings. King surrendered eight hits and a season-high four runs with one strikeout and no walks.

Greinke was treated rudely at the start by the Yankees, who opened the game with three straight singles, but he escaped the jam with a double-play grounder.

Throwing first-pitch strikes to 15 of 19 batters, Greinke pitched into the sixth inning for the first time since July 4. After walking DJ LeMahieu to open the sixth, Greinke exited to a standing ovation from the home crowd.

Melendez connected for his 16th home run leading off the second before Nick Pratto added a two-out RBI single for a 2-0 Kansas City lead.

Olivares, his 12th, and Blanco, his third, went deep in the fourth, expanding Kansas City's lead to 4-0. Blanco had three hits and two stolen bases while scoring twice.

Bobby Witt Jr. tripled leading off the fifth, his major-league-leading 11th, and scored on Salvador Perez's sacrifice fly for a 5-0 advantage.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa's two-out, two-run single in the sixth cut the deficit to 5-2.

Three Royals relievers allowed one run over four innings, as James McArthur earned his fourth save with two scoreless innings, fanning four.

Witt was caught stealing in the third inning, and he finished the season with 30 homers and 49 steals. He fell just short of being the first player ever with at least 30 homers, 50 steals and 10 triples in a season.

Despite ending the season winning five of their last six series, Kansas City (56-106) matched a franchise record for losses (2005).

The Royals won a series against the Yankees for the first time since May 15-17, 2015, breaking a streak of 15 straight series losses.

Austin Wells had three of the Yankees' seven hits.

New York (82-80) finished with its worst winning percentage since 1992 while missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Rockies end 103-loss season with win over Twins

Rockies end 103-loss season with win over Twins

Nolan Jones and Sean Bouchard each hit home runs and the Colorado Rockies beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 in 11 innings Sunday at Denver.

Brenton Doyle scored the game-winning run in the 11th inning as he attempted a steal of third base and continued home on a wild pitch by Twins position player Jordan Luplow.

Gavin Hollowell (2-0) pitched the 11th inning to earn the win for the Rockies (59-103), who manged just four hits while capping the worst season in franchise history.

Ryan Jeffers, Donovan Solano and Alex Kirilloff had two hits each for Minnesota (87-75), which will open the American League wild-card round against the Toronto Blue Jays at home on Tuesday.

Luplow (0-1) got his chance to pitch the 11th, with the playoff field decided and the result holding no meaning. He got Charlie Blackmon to pop out to start but his wild pitch allowed Doyle to score as the automatic runner.

Colorado used an opener for the second consecutive game and Brent Suter got through a clean first inning. Minnesota got to Rockies right-hander Connor Seabold in the second.

Max Kepler, Jeffers and Edouard Julien led off with singles to bring home the first run. After Willi Castro struck out, Kirilloff singled to left to drive in Jeffers and give the Twins a 2-0 lead.

Minnesota starter Bailey Ober retired the first 11 batters he faced but Jones got to him with two outs in the fourth with a 468-foot blast into the Twins' bullpen. It was his 20th home run of the season to become the second Rockies player to reach 20 or more this season along with Ryan McMahon (23).

It was Colorado's lone hit until Doyle reached on a bunt single with one out in the sixth. Ober left after striking out the first two batters of the seventh inning. He allowed one run on one hit and struck out nine.

Ober was denied the win when Bouchard hit a pinch-hit home run off of Jorge Alcala with two outs in the eighth inning to tie the game 2-2. It was the fourth of the season for Bouchard, with all of them coming in the past five games.

Mariners win, dent Rangers' AL West title hopes

Mariners win, dent Rangers' AL West title hopes

George Kirby pitched six scoreless innings as the Seattle Mariners defeated visiting Texas 1-0 in the regular-season finale Sunday afternoon, spoiling the Rangers' bid to claim the American League West title.

The loss leaves the Rangers (90-72) leaves in a probable tie with Houston atop the division as the Astros held an 8-0 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks through seven innings. Texas lost the tiebreaker based on the season series between the clubs (the Astros went 9-4 against their Lone Star State rivals).

If the result holds, the Rangers would head into the playoffs as the AL's second wild-card team and travel to Tampa Bay for the opening round.

The Mariners (88-74), who were eliminated from postseason contention Saturday, finished third in the AL West. Seattle would finish a game behind Toronto for the third and final wild-card berth if the Blue Jays lose Sunday.

Kirby (13-10) allowed three hits. The right-hander didn't walk a batter and struck out seven.

Kirby retired the first eight batters he faced before Evan Carter doubled to right field with two outs in the third. The only other hits Kirby allowed were a two-out single by Adolis Garcia in the fourth and a one-out single to Jonah Heim in the fifth.

Rookie right-hander Prelander Berroa, called up from Double-A Arkansas earlier in the day, relieved Kirby and struck out both Garcia and Nathaniel Lowe in the seventh.

Trent Thornton pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Isaiah Campbell worked the ninth for his first career save despite allowing a leadoff single to Carter.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth off Rangers starter Dane Dunning. With one out, Eugenio Suarez grounded a single into center field, Jarred Kelenic lined a single to left and

Ty France walked to load the bases. Lefty Martin Perez relieved Dunning and got Dominic Canzone to hit a soft grounder to first baseman Lowe, who stepped on the bag and threw home in an attempt to turn an inning-ending double play. Catcher Heim's blind swipe missed as Suarez slid safely under the tag.

Dunning (12-7) allowed one run on four hits over 3 1/3 innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out four.

Phillies pound Mets, face Marlins in wild-card round

Phillies pound Mets, face Marlins in wild-card round

Nick Nelson tossed 5 1/3 solid innings of bulk relief Sunday afternoon for the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, who prepared for the postseason by beating the New York Mets 9-1.

Alec Bohm hit the go-ahead homer for the defending National League champion Phillies (90-72), who will host the Miami Marlins in a best-of-three National League wild-card series beginning Tuesday.

Tim Locastro homered for the Mets (74-87), who announced the firing of manager Buck Showalter before the game. With David Stearns likely to join the team as president of baseball operations on Monday, owner Steve Cohen issued a statement in which he said he "let Buck know we'll be parting ways" shortly after Showalter said he was stepping aside in his pregame press conference.

The Mets are at 161 games because their contest against the Marlins was suspended due to rain in the ninth inning Thursday with Miami ahead 2-1. The game won't be completed because it won't impact playoff seeding.

Nelson (1-0), the second of five Phillies pitchers, gave up one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three after Matt Strahm threw a 1-2-3 first. It was Nelson's first appearance in the majors since he pitched in Game 3 of last year's World Series.

Seranthony Dominguez, Gregory Soto and Michael Lorenzen combined to retire the final eight batters.

Bryson Stott had an RBI single in the third and Bohm snapped the tie with his 20th homer in the sixth. The Phillies added an insurance run in the eighth, when Brandon Marsh laced a run-scoring single, before turning the game into a rout with a six-run ninth. Johan Rojas had an RBI triple, Garrett Stubbs delivered a run-scoring single and Bohm lofted a sacrifice fly before Marsh hit a three-run homer.

Jose Butto (1-4) took the loss for the Mets after allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings.

Ronny Mauricio had the Mets' other hit, a fourth-inning single.

Padres edge White Sox in 11, end with 5 straight wins

Padres edge White Sox in 11, end with 5 straight wins

Jurickson Profar hit a go-ahead single in the top of the 11th inning and the San Diego Padres held on for a 2-1 win over the host Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Ha-Seong Kim drove in a run in the 10th inning for San Diego (82-80), which fell short of the playoffs but closed out its season with five wins in a row.

Zach Remillard knocked in a tying run in the 10th inning for Chicago (61-101). The White Sox dropped five of their final six contests and matched the third-highest, single-season loss total in franchise history.

Padres left-hander Rich Hill (8-14) earned the win. He pitched two innings of relief, allowing one unearned run on two hits and striking out three.

White Sox right-hander Declan Cronin (0-1) gave up one unearned run on two hits in one inning.

The Padres broke a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the 10th.

Eguy Rosario started the inning on second base an advanced to third on a groundout by Brett Sullivan. After Matthew Batten walked, Rosario scored on Kim's sacrifice fly to right field.

The White Sox responded quickly to even the score in the bottom of the 10th.

Remillard opened the inning with a single to right to drive in automatic runner Elvis Andrus. Chicago could not tack on a winning run as Yasmani Grandal grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Profar put the Padres on top for good with a leadoff single in the 11th to drive in automatic runner Jose Azocar.

Both teams' offenses struggled to get anything going in their final game.

Padres right-hander Pedro Avila scattered three hits in five scoreless innings. He walked none and struck out seven, which matched his career high.

Ray Kerr, Scott Barlow, Tom Cosgrove and Josh Hader pitched one scoreless inning apiece out of the bullpen to help the Padres get to extra innings.

White Sox right-hander Jose Urena tossed six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, walking three and striking out three.

Relievers Yohan Ramirez, Garrett Crochet and Bryan Shaw each recorded one scoreless inning for the White Sox.

Tigers top Guardians in Miguel Cabrera's final game

Tigers top Guardians in Miguel Cabrera's final game

Matt Vierling had three hits, including a two-run homer, and the host Detroit Tigers defeated the Cleveland Guardians 5-2 in the final game of Miguel Cabrera's career on Sunday.

The Tigers' longtime designated hitter, who is retiring after 21 seasons in the majors at age 40, went 0-for-3 with a walk.

It also marked the final game of Terry Francona's managerial career with the Guardians. He also is retiring.

Winning pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (13-9) held Cleveland to two runs -- one earned -- and four hits in seven innings. Alex Lange recorded his 26th save.

Andy Ibanez and Kerry Carpenter drove in a run apiece for the Tigers (78-84).

Cleveland starter Lucas Giolito (8-15) gave up five runs in five innings. Tyler Freeman homered for the Guardians (76-86).

The Tigers' Parker Meadows walked and Spencer Torkelson singled in the first. Giolito struck out Cabrera before Carpenter ripped an opposite-field single to score Meadows.

Rodriguez struck out two batters in the second. Akil Baddoo led off the bottom of the inning with a double. Javier Baez followed with a ground-rule double to knock in Baddoo.

Cleveland had two baserunners with two outs in the third, but Josh Naylor grounded out.

Cabrera struck out again in the bottom of the inning. Vierling smacked a two-out double and Ibanez singled to center to bring him home for a 3-0 advantage.

The Guardians scored a run in the fourth. Ramon Laureano reached on a Rodriguez error, stole second and moved to third on a flyout. He scored on Brayan Rocchio's groundout.

Cabrera popped up with two on and two outs in the bottom of the inning.

Freeman led off the fifth with his fourth homer to cut Detroit's lead to one run.

The Tigers made it 5-2 in the bottom of the inning when Carpenter walked and Vierling smacked his 10th homer over the left-field wall.

Cabrera walked on four pitches leading off the seventh. Carpenter then bounced into a double play.

Cabrera came in to play first base in the eighth and recorded the putout on a Steven Kwan grounder. He was then removed from the game as the capacity crowd cheered and chanted his name.

Adrian Houser, Brewers blank Cubs to enter playoffs on a roll

Adrian Houser, Brewers blank Cubs to enter playoffs on a roll

Adrian Houser struck out five over five innings and Tyrone Taylor clubbed a solo home run as the playoff-bound Milwaukee Brewers closed the regular season with a 4-0 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Houser (8-5) continued his strong finish to the season while yielding three hits and two walks. The veteran right-hander has allowed five earned runs over 21 innings to go 3-1 in four starts since coming off the injured list with an elbow issue for the NL Central champion Brewers (92-70), who enter the postseason winners in four of five.

Christopher Morel had two of the five hits by the Cubs (83-79), who rested most of their everyday players to end the club's first winning season in three years.

Chicago, eliminated from the postseason race on Saturday, was 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Brewers on Sept. 6, along with holding a seemingly solid wild-card position. The Cubs then lost 15 of the final 22, including 10 of 12 on the road.

Houser loaded the bases in the first inning on two singles and a two-out walk, but he struck out Patrick Wisdom to strand all three runners.

After the Cubs failed to take advantage of that scoring opportunity, Milwaukee did not waste its chance in the bottom of the frame against Drew Smyly (11-11), who started in place of staff ace Justin Steele and lasted all of six batters.

The veteran left-hander opened the inning with a walk to Christian Yelich, who went to second on William Contreras' infield single that extended his hitting streak to 18 games. Yelich scored when Mark Canha dropped a one-out single into right field. Back-to-back walks to Willy Adames and Josh Donaldson gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

Smyly was charged with his third run on Garrett Mitchell's sacrifice fly to close the first-inning scoring for the Brewers.

Taylor added some insurance in the sixth with a towering drive into the left field seats off Chicago's Tyler Duffey for his 10th homer. It marked the third straight season that Taylor has recorded double-digit home runs.

Astros sweep Diamondbacks, capture AL West title

Astros sweep Diamondbacks, capture AL West title

Behind home runs by Alex Bregman and Jose Abreu, the Houston Astros claimed the American League West title with their 8-1 victory Sunday over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a completion of a three-game sweep in Phoenix to conclude the regular season.

The win by Houston (90-72) matched with the Texas Rangers' 1-0 loss at the Seattle Mariners gave the Astros the AL West championship.

The Rangers are also 90-72 but the Astros won the season series 9-4 between the teams.

The division title, Houston's sixth in the last seven years, gives the Astros a bye through the wild-card round. They will begin postseason play Saturday.

Houston's Kyle Tucker came close to achieving the first 30-home run and 30-stole base season in his career with a potential inside-the-park home run in the top of the fifth inning that gave Houston a 6-0 lead.

Tucker, in his sixth season, was first ruled to have a triple with an error on shortstop Jordan Lawlar for not completing the relay throw.

The official scorekeeper changed the call to a home run because Lawlar did not commit a throwing error.

Minutes later, the call was changed to a triple and a fielder's choice.

Arizona (84-78) scored only two runs in the three losses to the Astros in the series.

The Diamondbacks reached the postseason as a wild card in the National League on Saturday when the Cincinnati Reds lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Houston sent its entire lineup to the plate in the first inning Sunday when it scored four runs to take early control of the game.

Bregman hit a two-run home run with no outs off starter Kyle Nelson (7-4) to start the rally.

Houston's lead became 5-0 when Tucker hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning, scoring Bregman, who earlier tripled.

Abreu hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to put Houston ahead 8-0.

Houston starter Cristian Javier (10-5) was the winning pitcher, allowing three hits in six scoreless innings. He struck out four and walked two.

The Diamondbacks' lone run occurred on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s RBI double in the eighth inning.

Jonathan Aranda (6 RBIs), Rays outlast Blue Jays 12-8

Jonathan Aranda (6 RBIs), Rays outlast Blue Jays 12-8

Jonathan Aranda hit a grand slam and had six RBIs as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 12-8 Sunday afternoon.

It was the first career grand slam for Aranda, who also had an RBI single and an RBI double.

Manuel Margot and Junior Caminero added solo homers for the Rays (99-63) in the rubber match of the three-game series that ended the regular season. Both teams had clinched wild-card spots before Sunday.

Tyler Heineman had three RBIs for the Blue Jays (89-73) and Brandon Belt had a solo homer.

Toronto right-hander Wes Parsons (0-1), whose contract was selected for the game, allowed nine runs and 10 hits in four innings.

Rays left-hander Jacob Lopez (1-0), also promoted for the game, allowed six runs (five earned) and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Rays scored once in the first when Harold Ramirez singled, Isaac Paredes walked and Aranda singled home Ramirez, all with two outs.

Tampa Bay added seven runs in the second. After two singles and a stolen base, Caminero stroked an RBI single, Josh Lowe hit an RBI double and Caminero scored on a wild pitch. A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases before Aranda hit his second homer of the season.

Toronto scored three in the bottom of the second, two on Heineman's triple and another on a wild pitch.

Margot hit his fourth homer of the season in the fourth. Caminero hit his first career homer against Tim Mayza in the fifth.

Paredes and Aranda had doubles in the sixth against Trevor Richards to increase the lead to 11-3.

Toronto scored three in the bottom of the sixth. Cavan Biggio, Daulton Varsho and Heineman each had RBI singles.

Ramirez had an RBI double for the Rays in the seventh against Genesis Cabrera. Varsho answered with an RBI single against Kevin Kelly in the home seventh.

Belt hit his 19th homer of the season against Taj Bradley in the eighth to trim the margin to 12-8.

Cam Eden singled for the Blue Jays in the second for his first career major league hit.

Brandon Drury powers Angels past Athletics

Brandon Drury powers Angels past Athletics

Brandon Drury went 3-for-4 with two homers and drove in three runs as the Los Angeles Angels beat the visiting Oakland Athletics 7-3 Sunday as the teams finished their 2023 seasons in Anaheim, Calif.

Both teams had forgettable campaigns.

Oakland finished the year 50-112, last in the American League West, with the second-worst mark in franchise history behind the 1916 Philadelphia A's lost 117 games.

However, Oakland's Esteury Ruiz set the AL record for stolen bases by a rookie with 67 when he stole third in the third inning, breaking Kenny Lofton's 1982 mark.

The fourth-place Angels ended up 73-89. They fell from contention with a 17-38 record since Aug. 1. The Angels took the season series 7-6 between the teams, as Drury was in the center of nearly everything offensively for his team.

He put Los Angeles up 1-0 in the first when he turned on a 3-1 fastball from A's left-hander JP Sears and drove it 401 feet into the Angels' bullpen beyond the left-field wall.

The Angels made it 2-0 in the third on Randal Grichuk's 16th homer of the year, a 409-foot blast which landed in nearly the same spot as Drury's.

Drury scored on an error in the fourth for a 3-0 lead. The next inning, Drury ripped a two-run opposite-field homer to right and Eduardo Escobar added an RBI single as the Angels stretched the lead to 6-0. It was Drury's 26th blast of the season.

David Fletcher scored on a wild pitch in the sixth to cap the Angels' scoring.

The A's broke the shutout on a seventh-inning RBI single from Nick Allen, before All-Star Brent Rooker hit his 30th homer, a 400-footer, in the eighth. Ruiz added an RBI single in the ninth.

Angels right-hander Carson Fulmer (1-1) got his first MLB win since 2019, allowing two hits over five scoreless innings with three walks and three strikeouts.

Sears (5-14) lasted just four innings, giving up three runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Shohei Ohtani, an impending free agent and the probable AL MVP in November, cheered from the Angels dugout before walking off the field with his teammates after the win.

Red Sox close season with combined two-hitter to beat O's

Red Sox close season with combined two-hitter to beat O's

Tanner Houck and three relievers combined on a two-hitter and the visiting Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 in the teams' regular-season finale on Sunday.

Boston earned a split of the four-game series and finished 78-84 for the second straight season.

Houck (6-10) allowed one hit over six shutout innings. He struck out six and walked three.

It was a somber day for the Red Sox as knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who spent 17 of his 19 seasons with Boston and was part of two World Series champions, passed away at the age of 57.

The Orioles, who have already secured the top playoff seed in the American League, committed three errors and finished the year with a 101-61 mark.

Baltimore reliever Danny Coulombe (5-3) took the loss, allowing two runs -- one earned -- in one inning of work.

The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead in the third. Enmanuel Valdez opened the inning with an infield single and went to second on Alex Verdugo's one-out single. Valdez stole third and scored when third baseman Jordan Westburg couldn't handle the throw from catcher James McCann. With the infield in, shortstop Gunnar Henderson misplayed a grounder by Rafael Devers and Verdugo scored to make it 2-0.

Henderson walked with one out in the Baltimore sixth. With two outs, Anthony Santander singled for the Orioles' first hit, but Houck retired Ryan Mountcastle to end the inning.

The Red Sox broke it open in the seventh inning against Cionel Perez. Valdez led off with a walk and Rob Refsnyder and Pablo Reyes walked with one out to load the bases. Pinch hitter Reese McGuire's grounder went under Henderson's glove and two runs scored to make it 4-0. With runners on second and third, Trevor Story and Wilyer Abreu hit back-to-back singles to increase the lead to 6-0.

Adley Rutschman singled home McCann in the bottom of the eighth for Baltimore to avert the shutout.

Marlins, shut out by Pirates, await word on D-backs' game

Marlins, shut out by Pirates, await word on D-backs' game

Miguel Andujar hit an RBI double in the eighth inning and Jack Suwinski followed with a two-run double as the Pittsburgh Pirates topped the visiting Miami Marlins 3-0 on Sunday to avoid being swept in a three-game series.

Five Pirates pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout.

The Marlins (84-77), who clinched a playoff spot with their win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, awaited word on whether they would have to go to New York on Monday to complete a game against the Mets that was suspended on Thursday.

If the Diamondbacks (84-77) defeat the Houston Astros on Sunday, then the Marlins would finish their contest against the Mets, needing a win to secure the National League's second wild card. An Arizona loss would lock Miami into the No. 2 wild card.

With the game scoreless in the eighth, Connor Joe doubled to left with one out against Bryan Hoeing (2-3). Jared Triolo walked, and Andujar drove in Joe with a double to the wall in left. Suwinski then doubled inside the left field line to make it 3-0.

The Pirates finished 76-86, a 14-win improvement over 2022.

Pittsburgh starter Andre Jackson pitched four scoreless innings, giving up one hit, striking out two and walking one.

Dauri Moreta (5-2) struck out the side in the eighth for the win. David Bednar fanned two in a perfect ninth for his 39th save.

Miami starter Ryan Weathers, recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville, pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks. He struck out five.

The Pirates missed a couple of chances to take the lead early.

In the second, Henry Davis drew a one-out walk. He was caught attempting to steal second, costly because Liover Peguero followed with his first career triple. The threat ended when Nick Gonzales grounded out.

In the third, Ji Hwan Bae walked to lead off for the Pirates. He went to second when Jason Delay reached on third baseman Jon Berti's error. Bae, however, was thrown out attempting to steal third and the threat fizzled.

Meanwhile, Miami's only hits through six innings were Jesus Sanchez's two-out single in the first and Xavier Edwards' two-out single in the sixth.

In the Miami seventh, Garrett Hampson singled to left -- again with two outs -- and went to second on Kyle Nicolas' wild pitch, but Joey Wendle struck out to end the frame.

Gonzales doubled to left-center with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Huascar Brazoban got Bae for his third strikeout of the inning.

Dodgers get past Giants 5-2 for another 100-win season

Dodgers get past Giants 5-2 for another 100-win season

Enrique Hernandez belted a three-run home run as part of a five-run uprising after San Francisco starter Kyle Harrison was pulled while throwing a no-hitter and the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers recorded their 100th win with a 5-2 triumph Sunday afternoon.

In reaching triple digits in wins for the fourth consecutive regulation-length season, the Dodgers (100-62) gathered a bit of momentum heading into the National League playoffs, where they earned a bye into the division series.

San Francisco infielder Brandon Crawford departed to a standing ovation in the ninth inning after an 0-for-4 day in what could have been his final game in a Giants uniform after 13 seasons. Crawford (hamstring) was activated from the injured list before the game.

The loss by the Giants (79-83) was the second in three games under interim manager Kai Correa, who replaced a fired Gabe Kapler at the start of the series. Correa ended Harrison's day after the rookie threw 94 pitches in five no-hit innings.

Harrison gave up two walks, hit three batters with pitches and struck out four after he missed a scheduled start earlier in the week while battling a respiratory illness.

With the game still scoreless, Will Smith singled to left field on reliever John Brebbia's second pitch to ignite the sixth-inning scoring burst.

Brebbia (3-5) walked Max Muncy with one out and was lifted in favor of Taylor Rogers, who struck out Kolten Wong before serving up consecutive RBI singles to Amed Rosario and James Outman.

Hernandez delivered his 11th homer of the season to left field, increasing the advantage to 5-0.

Rookie Casey Schmitt accounted for both San Francisco runs with a pair of solo homers, his fourth and fifth of the season. Each came off the third Dodgers pitcher, Ryan Pepiot, after Bobby Miller and Victor Gonzalez had combined for five shutout innings.

Miller went four innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four and is expected to make his next start in Game 2 of the NLDS. Gonzalez (3-3) was credited with the win after throwing a hitless fifth.

Smith had two hits for the Dodgers, who won the season series 7-6.

Blake Sabol's third-inning single was the only hit other than Schmitt's homers for the Giants, who finished in fourth place in the NL West.

The Dodgers' Chris Taylor departed in the fourth inning after he was hit by a Harison pitch.

Nats edge Braves, who await NLDS opponent

Nats edge Braves, who await NLDS opponent

Jacob Young's ninth-inning, two-run single was the difference as the visiting Washington Nationals downed the Atlanta Braves 10-9 to close the regular season Sunday afternoon.

The Braves, who hold home-field advantage throughout the postseason, have a first-round bye before their National League Division Series. They will face the winner of the best-of-three NL wild-card series between two of their division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins, which starts Tuesday in Philadelphia.

After Orlando Arcia put the hosts up with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the eighth, Atlanta (104-58) watched Michael Tonkin (7-3) blow a save opportunity in the top of the ninth, walking in Michael Chavis to knot the contest at 8-8.

Young's hit, which scored Luis Garcia and Dominic Smith, ensured that Marcell Ozuna's second homer of the day and 40th of the season, a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth, wasn't enough.

Hunter Harvey (4-4) earned the win in relief and Kyle Finnegan notched his 28th save for the Nationals, who won 16 more games than they did last season.

The Nationals (71-91) pinned four runs on the board in the first inning, beginning with Joey Meneses' RBI double. A Keibert Ruiz two-run, ground-rule double ensued, then Ruiz was brought around on Alex Call's two-out infield single.

Matt Olson roped a single to right in the bottom of that frame, plating Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley.

Ruiz's third RBI pushed across Lane Thomas, stretching Washington's lead to three. That advantage was wiped away in the bottom third on Ozuna's 432-foot blast to center, which also scored Albies and Nicky Lopez.

On Michael Harris II's two-run infield single in the seventh, Atlanta went ahead for the first time. This time, it was Washington's turn to pull back even, courtesy of a run-scoring groundout by Young and a hit by CJ Abrams in the eighth.

Left-handed starter Dylan Dodd turned in six innings for the Braves, allowing five earned runs on nine hits. His counterpart, Jackson Rutledge, gave up five earned runs on five hits in five innings for the Nationals.

Former Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield dies at 57

Former Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield dies at 57

Tim Wakefield, a two-time World Series champion who was known for his use of the knuckleball, died on Sunday following his bout with brain cancer. He was 57.

Wakefield spent 17 of his 19 major league seasons with Boston. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2016.

"Tim's kindness and indomitable spirit were as legendary as his knuckleball," Red Sox owner John Henry said in a statement. "He not only captivated us on the field but was the rare athlete whose legacy extended beyond the record books to the countless lives he touched with his warmth and genuine spirit. He had a remarkable ability to uplift, inspire, and connect with others in a way that showed us the true definition of greatness. He embodied the very best of what it means to be a member of the Boston Red Sox and his loss is felt deeply by all of us."

Wakefield was selected to the All-Star Game in 2009 and won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010 for combining good play with strong work in the community.

"It's one thing to be an outstanding athlete; it's another to be an extraordinary human being. Tim was both," Red Sox chairman Tom Werner said. "He was a role model on and off the field, giving endlessly to the Red Sox Foundation and being a force for good for everyone he encountered. I felt fortunate to call him a close friend and along with all of us in Red Sox Nation, I know the world was made better because he was in it."

Wakefield posted a 14-12 record with a 4.17 ERA in his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1992-93) before climbing to third in career wins in Red Sox franchise history. The right-hander had a record of 186-168 with a 4.43 ERA in 590 games (430 starts) with Boston. He is second in Red Sox history in innings pitched (3,006), second in strikeouts (2,046) and third in games pitched (590).

The native of Melbourne, Fla., won the World Series with the 2004 and 2007 Boston teams.

"Our hearts are broken with the loss of Tim Wakefield," the Red Sox wrote on Twitter.

"Wake embodied true goodness; a devoted husband, father, and teammate, beloved broadcaster, and the ultimate community leader. He gave so much to the game and all of Red Sox Nation.

"Our deepest love and thoughts are with Stacy, Trevor, Brianna, and the Wakefield family."

Braves place RHP Jackson Stephens (elbow) on injured list

Braves place RHP Jackson Stephens (elbow) on injured list

The Atlanta Braves on Sunday placed right-hander Jackson Stephens on the 15-day injured list and recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd from Triple-A Gwinnett, with Dodd starting the regular-season finale against the Washington Nationals.

Stephens, who pitched two scoreless innings Friday against Washington, has inflammation in his right elbow. The move was retroactive to Saturday, with Stephens not eligible to return until mid-October if the Braves are able to advance to the World Series.

Stephens, 29, has pitched 12 innings for Atlanta and has a 3.00 ERA with five walks and 11 strikeouts in five appearances.

Dodd, 25, made his major league debut on April 4. He entered Sunday with a 2-2 record and 7.62 ERA, 11 walks and 14 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings over six games (all starts).

The Braves won their sixth straight National League East Division title and start their postseason in the NL Division Series, which begins on Oct. 7.

Buck Showalter will not return as Mets manager in 2024

Buck Showalter will not return as Mets manager in 2024

Manager Buck Showalter told reporters Sunday that he is not returning to manage the New York Mets next season.

Showalter announced the decision prior to the Mets' regular-season finale against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. He will manage the game for New York, which entered Sunday's contest with a 74-86 record to reside in fourth place in the National League East.

Mets owner Steve Cohen confirmed that the team is "heading in a new direction" shortly after Showalter's announcement.

"We let Buck know we'll be parting ways. We will begin the search for a new manager immediately," Cohen said. "Buck is a generational manager, and we value what he has done for our team, including leading us to a 101-win season and postseason berth last year. The commitment and heart that Buck brings to the game will be felt by our organization for years to come. We wish Buck all the best in the next chapter of his career."

The Mets are prepared to introduce new president of baseball operations David Stearns on Monday.

Showalter was named the 2022 Manager of the Year, becoming the first man to win the honor four times with four different teams (New York Yankees in 1994, Texas Rangers in 2004, Baltimore Orioles in 2014). He joined Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa as the only four-time winners of the award in history.

Showalter, 67, posted a 175-147 record in his two seasons with the Mets.

"I was honored to get a chance to manage a second New York team. I'm proud of what the Mets did," Showalter said. "We won close to 180 games in two years. Especially last year, as much fun as I've ever had in the game. It reminded me of why I always loved this kind of work."

Showalter owns a 1,726-1,664 record in his managerial career with the Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, Rangers, Orioles and Mets.

Twins reinstate RHP Jorge Alcala from rehab assignment

Twins reinstate RHP Jorge Alcala from rehab assignment

The Minnesota Twins announced Sunday that they have reinstated right-handed pitcher Jorge Alcala from his rebab assignment.

To make room, the Twins put left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel on the 15-day injured list because of a right calf strain.

The Twins also designated outfielder Gilberto Celestino for release or assignment.

Alcala, coming off the 60-day IL and originally placed on the 15-day IL in May with a right forearm extensor muscle strain, appeared in five games on rehab assignment with three minor league clubs in September.

The 28-year-old allowed two runs on four hits in six innings pitched with one walk and 10 strikeouts over stints with Low-A Fort Myers, Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul.

In 10 major league appearances this season (none since May 14), Alcala notched a 6.46 ERA with 12 strikeouts and eight walks.

Keuchel, 35, has nine appearances with six starts this season, going 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA over 35 innings.

Celestino, 24, has a career batting average of .222 with four home runs and 27 RBIs in 370 at-bats.

MLB roundup: Astros, D-backs punch tickets to postseason

MLB roundup: Astros, D-backs punch tickets to postseason

Arizona and Houston each celebrated a postseason berth on Saturday night after the Astros defeated the Diamondbacks 1-0 in Phoenix.

Houston solidified a spot in the American League playoffs with the victory, clinching at least a wild-card spot. Arizona currently owns the third and final National League wild card thanks to the Cincinnati Reds' 15-6 loss against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Saturday's contest was a pitchers' duel between Houston's Justin Verlander and Arizona's Merrill Kelly until Verlander was relieved by Phil Maton to start the Diamondbacks' half of the sixth inning.

Verlander (13-8) allowed two hits in five scoreless innings, while Kelly (12-8) went seven innings and allowed five hits and one run. Jose Abreu provided the game's lone run with an RBI double.

Marlins 7, Pirates 3

Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered and added an RBI single for visiting Miami, which beat Pittsburgh to clinch an NL wild-card spot.

Josh Bell added a two-run double and sacrifice fly, and Bryan De La Cruz an RBI single for the Marlins.

Endy Rodriguez and Bryan Reynolds each hit an RBI single for the Pirates.

Rangers 6, Mariners 1

Andrew Heaney came out of the bullpen to make a spot start, pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings as Texas clinched a postseason berth with a victory against host Seattle.

Jonah Heim drove in three runs for the Rangers, who guaranteed themselves at least one of the three AL wild-card spots. Texas is headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Eugenio Suarez homered for the Mariners, who were eliminated from the playoff race when Houston beat Arizona later Saturday night.

Braves 5, Nationals 3

Right-hander Spencer Strider set the franchise record for most strikeouts in a season, Marcell Ozuna hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and the Braves beat visiting Washington.

Strider (20-5), who now has 281 strikeouts on the season, fanned seven batters in five innings to break the Braves' modern-era, single-season strikeout record of 276 set by John Smoltz in 1996. Strider gave up three runs on six hits with three walks while throwing 94 pitches.

Washington jumped on Strider for three runs on four hits in the first inning. CJ Abrams singled to begin the game, stole second base and scored on Keibert Ruiz's one-out double. Joey Meneses followed with an RBI single and scored on Luis Garcia's double.

Tigers 8, Guardians 0

Andy Ibanez, Akil Baddoo and Carson Kelly drove in two runs apiece and host Detroit rolled past Cleveland in the second-to-last game of retiring slugger Miguel Cabrera's career.

The Tigers, who moved a game ahead of the Guardians into second place in the AL Central, used seven pitchers for their 15th shutout this season. Cabrera went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

Beau Brieske (2-3), who pitched 2 1/3 innings, was credited with the victory. Starting pitcher Triston McKenzie (0-3) gave up one run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings for the Guardians.

Rays 7, Blue Jays 5 (10 innings)

Taylor Walls hit a tiebreaking two-run single in a three-run 10th inning and visiting Tampa Bay defeated Toronto.

The Blue Jays could have clinched a playoff spot with a win.

The Rays already clinched the first AL wild-card spot before the three-game series with the Blue Jays. The teams have split the first two games.

Mets 4, Phillies 3 (Game 1)

Tylor Megill carried a shutout into the eighth inning as host New York withstood a late comeback attempt by Philadelphia to earn a victory in the opener of a doubleheader.

Edmundo Sosa had a run-scoring single in the eighth while Brandon Marsh (double) and Weston Wilson (single) each had RBIs in the ninth for the Phillies, who will be the top NL wild card when the playoffs begin next week.

Megill (9-8) surrendered one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over 7 1/3 innings. Brooks Raley got the final two outs of the eighth before Adam Ottavino notched his 12th save despite giving up the ninth-inning runs.

Yankees 5, Royals 2

New York rallied for five unanswered runs in beating host Kansas City, giving Frankie Montas a win in his season debut.

Estevan Florial delivered a go-ahead single with two outs in the sixth, breaking a 2-all tie, before Gleyber Torres' bases-loaded, two-run single capped the decisive three-run inning. Montas (1-0), who had right shoulder surgery at the beginning of spring training, recorded four outs while allowing two hits and a walk with one strikeout.

The Yankees sealed their 31st consecutive winning season, the second-longest stretch in major league history behind their own 39-season winning streak from 1926 to 1964. Kansas City (55-106) matched its franchise record for most losses in a season, set in 2005.

Cubs 10, Brewers 6

Yan Gomes hit a first-inning grand slam and had five RBIs as visiting Chicago overcame blowing an early six-run lead to snap its nine-game road losing streak with a win over Milwaukee.

Gomes' slam highlighted a six-run first, and he also had an RBI groundout for the Cubs, who lost that 6-0 lead after two innings.

Meanwhile, Willy Adames had three hits and William Contreras added two to extend his hitting streak to 17 games for Milwaukee. Blake Perkins and Carlos Santana homered for the NL Central-champion Brewers, who had won three straight games.

Padres 6, White Sox 1

Michael Wacha pitched seven scoreless innings in his final start of the season and Jurickson Profar notched a season-high four RBIs as San Diego cruised to a win over host Chicago.

Ji Man Choi and Juan Soto added one RBI apiece for San Diego, which won its fourth straight game. Wacha (14-4) scattered three hits, walked one and struck out seven to notch his third victory in a row.

Lenyn Sosa hit a solo homer to provide the lone run for Chicago, which reached triple digits in losses for only the fifth time in franchise history.

Orioles 5, Red Sox 2

Anthony Santander's two-run single capped a three-run eighth inning and Baltimore beat visiting Boston.

Kyle Gibson blanked Boston for five innings while allowing seven hits. Baltimore led 2-1 going to the bottom of the eighth. Reliever Bruce Zimmermann (2-0) pitched two innings for the win.

Adam Duvall had a triple and a single for the Red Sox. Boston starter Kutter Crawford tossed six innings of one-hit ball, striking out seven batters without a walk.

Cardinals 15, Reds 6

Lars Nootbaar hit a three-run homer and Jose Fermin drove in three runs as host St. Louis routed Cincinnati to eliminate the Reds from the NL wild-card race.

Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, Luken Baker and Masyn Winn each drove in two runs for the Cardinals, who snapped a three-game skid.

Noelvi Marte hit a homer and a two-run double for the Reds, who fell short of the third NL wild-card berth by losing six of their past nine games. Cincinnati starter Connor Phillips (1-1) faced just three batters and walked each of them on four pitches.

Mets 11, Phillies 4 (Game 2)

Francisco Alvarez homered twice and finished with six RBIs for host New York, which completed a doubleheader sweep by beating Philadelphia.

The Mets improved to 13-13 this month. The Phillies have lost three straight games since a seven-game winning streak.

Kyle Schwarber, who hit his 47th homer of the season, and Johan Rojas had two hits apiece for Philadelphia.

Twins 14, Rockies 6

Trevor Larnach hit a grand slam, Edouard Julien homered among his three hits and Minnesota clobbered Colorado in Denver.

Matt Wallner homered and doubled, Max Kepler also went deep and Christian Vazquez had two hits for Minnesota. Chris Paddack (1-0) pitched three innings for his first win since May 2, 2022.

Brenton Doyle and Sean Bouchard homered and each had two hits, Elehuris Montero also homered and Nolan Jones and Alan Trejo had two hits apiece for Colorado. Karl Kauffmann (2-5) allowed eight runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Giants 2, Dodgers 1

Rookie Tristan Beck won a pitchers' duel against Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Fitzgerald homered and San Francisco denied visiting Los Angeles its 100th win of the season for at least one more day.

In presenting interim manager Kai Correa with his first major league win, the Giants scored the go-ahead run on a Max Muncy error in the sixth inning.

Making his final start before the upcoming playoffs, Kershaw (13-5) worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Athletics 7, Angels 3

Shea Langeliers hit a three-run homer to break a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning and rookie Joe Boyle took a no-hitter into the seventh as Oakland rallied to beat Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.

Zack Gelof had three hits and three RBIs for Oakland (50-111), which has the most losses in a single season since the Detroit Tigers recorded 114 in 2019.

Boyle (2-0) faced the minimum through six innings in his third major league start. Brandon Drury broke up the no-hit bid with one out in the seventh with a double to right field before Mike Moustakas tied things at 1-1 with a sacrifice fly.