MLB roundup: D-backs clip Cubs as NL wild-card race tightens

MLB roundup: D-backs clip Cubs as NL wild-card race tightens


Tommy Pham hit what proved to be the game-winning, run-scoring single in the 10th inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cubs 3-2 on Saturday to take their second one-run road decision from Chicago in as many days.

Arizona managed just one run in seven innings against Chicago starter Justin Steele. But Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly limited the Cubs to one run over 5 2/3 innings, and relievers Ryan Thompson, Andrew Saalfrank and Kevin Ginkel (8-0) combined to hold Chicago scoreless over 3 1/3 innings to force extras.

In the top of the 10th, Gabriel Moreno scored on Daniel Palencia’s wild pitch and Pham then singled to left, scoring Jordan Lawlar for a 3-1 lead. The two-run cushion proved necessary, as Chicago halved the deficit on Cody Bellinger’s two-out RBI single that scored Mike Tauchman.

Arizona heads into Sunday’s finale looking for a sweep in the four-game set. The three-game skid has sliced the Cubs’ lead over the Diamondbacks in the wild-card race to one game.

Nationals 7, Dodgers 6 (11 innings)

Washington scored on a wild pitch by Gus Varland with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat visiting Los Angeles on a long day at the ballpark.

Enrique Hernandez’s two-out single in the top of the 10th inning gave the Dodgers the lead. Keibert Ruiz tied it with a single in the bottom of the inning.

The game began after a weather delay that lasted more than four hours. This came after the teams waited through a long seventh-inning rain delay Friday night.

Orioles 13, Red Sox 12

James McCann hit two home runs to help visiting Baltimore stretch its winning streak to seven games by beating Boston.

McCann belted a two-run home run in the fourth inning and a solo shot in the sixth. Aaron Hicks hit his eighth homer of the season, Jordan Westburg added his third and Gunnar Henderson smacked his 24th for the Orioles. Baltimore’s seven consecutive victories have all come on the road.

The Red Sox scored three runs against Yennier Cano in the bottom of the ninth but stranded the tying run on third base. Boston has lost four games in a row overall and has dropped its last six home games. Wilyer Abreu collected five of Boston’s 23 hits in the loss.

Twins 8, Mets 4

Max Kepler had a pinch-hit, three-run triple and Willi Castro went 3-for-4 with a homer, a double and two runs to lead Minnesota to a victory over New York in Minneapolis.

Kyle Farmer went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and Donovan Solano had a two-run single for the Twins, who have won four of their last five games. Kenta Maeda (4-7) picked up the win, allowing two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and DJ Stewart all homered for New York, which lost its third straight game. David Peterson (3-8) suffered the loss while allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings.

Blue Jays 5, Royals 1

George Springer had two homers and four RBIs, Kevin Gausman struck out 10 in eight dominant innings and Toronto defeated visiting Kansas City.

Springer hit two solo home runs and a two-run single in going 3-for-4. Gausman (11-8) allowed one run on two hits and one walk. The Blue Jays are 9-5 on their stretch of 15 games against teams with sub-.500 records.

Edward Olivares hit a solo home run for the Royals, who have lost three games in a row.

Rays 7, Mariners 5

Yandy Diaz hit a walk-off, two-run homer as Tampa Bay rallied to beat Seattle in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tampa Bay trailed 4-1 after two innings but emerged with the win after Diaz’s two-run blast off Tayler Saucedo (3-2). Diaz finished with three RBIs for the Rays, who moved a season-high 31 games over .500.

Julio Rodriguez set a career high with his 29th homer and Ty France singled in two runs for Seattle. Colin Poche (11-3) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the win.

Brewers 9, Yankees 2

Tyrone Taylor hit a go-ahead homer to spark a three-run eighth inning and Milwaukee pulled away for a victory over host New York after a long rain delay.

The Brewers produced five straight hits to open the eighth. William Contreras added a two-run single in the ninth. Jonathan Loaisiga (0-2), who gave up Taylor’s home run, took the loss.

The Yankees lost their third straight game following a five-game winning streak. Trying to avoid its first losing season since 1992, New York dropped two games under .500 and was held to four hits.

Phillies 8, Marlins 4

Kyle Schwarber homered and drove in three runs to lift host Philadelphia past Miami.

Brandon Marsh hit a three-run double and a single and Nick Castellanos added two hits and two RBIs for the Phillies. Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola tossed 4 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and four runs. Jeff Hoffman (4-2) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief.

Garrett Hampson homered and singled twice and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added two hits for the Marlins. Starter Johnny Cueto (1-4) lasted only 3 2/3 innings and gave up five hits and five runs.

Tigers 3, White Sox 1

Tarik Skubal tossed five strong innings, Matt Vierling homered and host Detroit topped Chicago.

Skubal (5-3) allowed only two hits while striking out nine. Alex Lange retired all four batters he faced to collect his 22nd save.

Luis Robert Jr. drove in the lone run for the White Sox. Jose Urena (0-5), making his Chicago debut after being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte, gave up one run in four innings.

Cardinals 4, Reds 3

Willson Contreras hit a homer and drove in three runs as visiting St. Louis edged Cincinnati.

Harrison Bader went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI for the Reds, who lost their third straight game. Tyler Stephenson and Alejo Lopez drove in the other Cincinnati runs.

Starting pitcher Zack Thompson (5-5) allowed three runs on five hits for the Cardinals, who won for the fifth time in six games. Thompson struck out six and walked three.

Rangers 3, Athletics 2

Robbie Grossman scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning and Texas held on for a win over Oakland in the second game of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.

Leody Taveras had two hits and an RBI for Texas, which ended a four-game losing streak. Oakland reliever Lucas Erceg (3-4) got the first two batters out in the seventh, but then issued three straight walks. Francisco Perez came in and bounced an 0-2 slider to Jonathan Ornelas and the ball got away, allowing Grossman to score for a 3-2 lead.

Zack Gelof hit a game-tying, two-run homer in the seventh for the A’s, who had won two games in a row and five of their last seven.

Astros 7, Padres 5

Kyle Tucker hit a two-run double as part of a five-run fifth inning and Houston beat visiting San Diego to end a six-game home losing skid.

The Astros extended their lead in the American League West to 1 1/2 games over the Seattle Mariners by sending 10 batters to the plate while recording eight hits in the fifth.

Houston chased Padres starter Seth Lugo in the process and added another run off reliever Nick Martinez when four consecutive batters recorded singles to flip a two-run deficit into a 7-4 lead.

Pirates 8, Braves 4

Bryan Reynolds went 3-for-5 with a homer as visiting Pittsburgh downed Atlanta.

Liover Peguero also homered, Ke’Bryan Hayes added an RBI double and four players — Endy Rodriguez, Jack Suwinski, Ji Hwan Bae and Miguel Andujar — hit RBI singles for the Pirates, who have won eight of their last 11 games.

Matt Olson homered and hit an RBI single, and Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies each added a run-scoring single for the Braves, who missed a chance to clinch a playoff spot.

Giants 9, Rockies 1

Thairo Estrada hit Chase Anderson’s third pitch of the game for a two-run home run, Logan Webb shut out visiting Colorado for six innings and San Francisco made it two straight wins over its National League West rival.

Mike Yastrzemski collected two doubles, two singles, two runs and two RBIs for the Giants, who remained 2 1/2 games out of the NL’s final wild-card spot.

After Yastrzemski belted Anderson’s first pitch of the game off the center field wall for a double, Estrada took a ball before ripping his 11th homer of the season to left field for a lead the Giants never relinquished.

Angels 6, Guardians 2

Tyler Anderson threw eight strong innings and Los Angeles hit four homers to beat visiting Cleveland and take a series lead in the third contest of a four-game set in Anaheim, Calif.

The depleted Angels, without injured slugger Shohei Ohtani for the sixth straight game, started three rookies. Despite the absence of Ohtani (44 homers), the Angels and Guardians exchanged five long balls in the first four innings.

Anderson (6-6) pitched his longest outing of the season. He scattered four hits and a walk, giving up two runs. Lucas Giolito (7-13) made his second start for the Guardians since being acquired on waivers from the Angels on Aug. 31. He gave up four runs on four hits in seven innings.

—Field Level Media



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About the Author

Anthony Barnett
Anthony is the author of the Science & Technology section of ANH.