eNewMexican

Final five playoff spots clinched

PITTSBURGH — Jazz Chisholm hit his 19th home run, Josh Bell delivered a late two-run double and the Marlins clinched the fourth playoff berth in franchise history with a 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

The final five playoff berths were clinched Saturday by the Marlins, Rangers, Astros, Blue Jays and Diamondbacks. The field of 12 is now set, with only the first-round matchups to be decided Sunday.

A.J. Puk (7-5) and seven other relievers kept the Pirates in check, rendering any scoreboard-watching pointless.

Closer Tanner Scott wrapped up his 12th save by striking out the side in the ninth, setting off a celebration on the field and behind the Miami dugout, where a small clutch of fans chanted “Lets Go Marlins” in the ninth.

RANGERS 6, MARINERS 1

In Seattle, Texas is back in the postseason for the first time since 2016, the Mariners Seattle to clinch a playoff spot in the American League.

Texas can claim the AL West title and the No. 2 seed in the AL playoffs with a win over the Mariners in the regular-season finale or a loss by Houston at Arizona on Sunday.

The Rangers put together a four-run third inning against Luis Castillo, highlighted by two-out hits from Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim and Leody Tavares that all plated runs.

ASTROS 1, DIAMONDBACKS 0

In Phoenix, Justin Verlander threw five innings, José Abreu hit a run-scoring double and Houston beat Arizona as both teams clinched spots in the upcoming playoffs.

Arizona’s seeding could still change depending on Sunday’s results, which also could determine whether the Marlins have to fly back to New York on Monday to finish a suspended game with the Mets.

RAYS 7, BLUE JAYS 5, 10 INNINGS

In Toronto, the Blue Jays clinched a playoff spot despite their lost to Taylor Walls and Tampa Bay.

Walls lifted the Rays to a 6-4 lead with a two-run single off Jordan Hicks (3-9) with two out in the 10th. Junior Caminero then drove in Raimel Tapia with an infield single.

BRAVES 5, NATIONALS 3

In Atlanta, Marcell Ozuna hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the fifth inning, Spencer Strider shook off a shaky first inning to get his 20th win and the major league-leading Braves beat Washington.

ORIOLES 5, RED SOX 2

In Baltimore, Ryan Mountcastle hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and scored on an infield hit to lead the AL East champion Orioles over last-place Boston for its 101st win.

Baltimore (101-60), which hosts an AL Division Series starting Oct. 7, is finishing its winningest season since going 102-57 in 1979.

GIANTS 2, DODGERS 1

In San Francisco, Clayton Kershaw lost for the first time since May, allowing the go-ahead run when Max Muncy misplayed a potential inning-ending double-play grounder in a 2-1 defeat to the Giants that left Los Angeles one win shy of 100 going into their season finale.

CUBS 10, BREWERS 6

In Milwaukee, Yan Gomes hit a grand slam, but Chicago was eliminated from postseason contention during its victory over Milwaukee.

Chicago’s game was going into the eighth inning when Miami secured an NL wild card and knocked the Cubs out of the playoff race.

Chicago spent the top of the first inning taking out its frustration on Eric Lauer (4-6).

TWINS 14, ROCKIES 6

In Denver, Trevor Larnach hit his first career grand slam, one of Minnesota’s four home runs, and the playoff-bound Twins beat Colorado.

Edouard Julien had three hits, including his 16th home run, and Max Kepler and Matt Wallner also went deep for AL Central Division champion Minnesota.

METS 4, PHILLIES 3, GAME 1 METS 11, PHILLIES 4, GAME 2

In New York, Francisco Álvarez drove in a career-high six runs with his first big league grand slam and a two-run homer Saturday night, powering the Mets to a doubleheader sweep of playoff-bound Philadelphia.

CARDINALS 15, REDS 6

In St. Louis, Cincinnati’s bid to become just the third team to make the playoffs following a 100-loss season ended in game No. 161 when they were eliminated during the seventh inning of a loss to St. Louis.

YANKEES 5, ROYALS 2

In Kansas City, Mo., Frankie Montas earned the win out of the bullpen in his season debut for New York, which clinched its 31st straight winning season with one game left.

PADRES 6, WHITE SOX 1

In Chicago, Ha-Seong Kim had four hits to lead San Diego over the White Sox, which lost 100 games for the first time since 2018.

TIGERS 8, GUARDIANS 0

In Detroit, Miguel Cabrera followed a pregame retirement celebration by scoring the first run and driving in another, helping the Tigers beat Cleveland to clinch second place in the AL Central.

The start of the game was delayed 33 minutes by the retirement celebration of Cabrera, the 40-year-old, 12-time All-Star who is playing his 21st and last big league season.

ATHLETICS 7, ANGELS 3

In Anaheim, Calif., Shea Langeliers hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the Athletics’ five-run eighth inning, leading Oakland over Los Angeles.

Zack Gelof homered and added two late RBI singles for the 111-loss A’s.

SPORTS

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2023-10-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-10-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://enewmexican.com/article/282033331829843

Santa Fe New Mexican