Around the Horn

Around the Horn

Friday’s other MLB games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Blue Jays 8, Yankees 1

TORONTO

Ryan Goins successfully pulled off a hidden-ball trick and hit his second career grand slam, leading Toronto over Masahiro Tanaka (12-12) and ensuring New York had to wait at least one more day to clinch a playoff berth. With Todd Frazier on base following a leadoff double in the third, Jose Bautista made a running catch just in front of the right field warning track on Jacoby Ellsbury’s one-out drive. Goins caught Bautista’s throw while standing near second base, then pretended to toss the ball to pitcher Marco Estrada (10-8) while slipping in into his glove. Goins turned his back to Frazier, who had returned to the base, and when Frazier briefly lifted his left foot off the base, Goins tagged him on the left thigh. Frazier insisted he had maintained contact with the base, but umpire Mark Carlson called him out to end the inning.

Astros 3, Angels 0

HOUSTON

Justin Verlander pitched one-hit ball over seven innings to remain perfect with Houston and Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer to propel the Astros. Verlander (14-8) walked two and struck out six to improve to 4-0 since being traded from Detroit on Aug. 31. Gurriel connected off Yusmeiro Petit (5-2) on his 18th home run to give Houston a 3-0 lead in the seventh.

Twins 7, Tigers 3

DETROIT

Max Kepler and Brian Dozier homered, Byron Buxton had three hits and playoff-chasing Minnesota beat Detroit. Buxton’s two-run double in the fourth put the Twins ahead to stay against a Detroit team that announced before the game that manager Brad Ausmus will not be back in 2018. Minnesota came into the night leading the race for the American League’s second wild card by 2 1/2 games over Texas and the Los Angeles Angels.

White Sox 7, Royals 6

CHICAGO

Matt Davidson drove in three runs with his 26th homer and a double, Yoan Moncada hit a two-run drive and Chicago overcame a four-run deficit to beat Kansas City. The Royals dropped 41/2 games behind Minnesota for the second AL wild card with nine games left. Jason Hammel (8-13) allowed seven runs and eight hits in 31/3 innings.

Rays 8, Orioles 3

BALTIMORE

Wilson Ramos hit his third career grand slam, Evan Longoria also went deep and Tampa Bay throttled Ubaldo Jimenez and Baltimore. Alex Cobb (12-10) earned his career-high 12th win for the Rays, who interrupted a 4-9 slide and kept alive their slim playoff hopes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cubs 5, Brewers 4

MILWAUKEE

Pinch-hitter Tommy La Stella drew a bases-loaded walk off All-Star closer Corey Knebel with one out in the 10th inning, helping Chicago tighten its grip on the NL Central. The Cubs hold a five-game lead with nine days left in the regular season after winning their second straight tense game over the Brewers. Milwaukee dropped into third in the division, 51/2 games behind Chicago, after St. Louis beat Pittsburgh. The Brewers had the tying run at first with one out in the bottom of the 10th, but Eric Sogard was called out at second trying to advance on a ball in the dirt. Shortstop Addison Russell appeared to hold the tag as Sogard’s foot lifted off second for a split-second, and the call was confirmed on review.

Mets 7, Nationals 6

NEW YORK

Travis d’Arnaud hit two home runs and New York ended a three-game skid, rallying past a watered-down Washington lineup. Nationals manager Dusty Baker said he needed to “give my big boys much needed rest” with the playoffs nearing, and not a single regular started for the NL East champions. Star Daniel Murphy pinch hit in the eighth and flied out. Nori Aoki had three hits for the Mets.

Braves 7, Phillies 2

ATLANTA

Kurt Suzuki homered twice, Nick Markakis drove in three runs and Atlanta beat Philadelphia.

INTERLEAGUE

Red Sox 5, Reds 4

CINCINNATI

Rafael Devers hit a three-run homer and Boston extended its AL East lead to four games by overcoming Scooter Gennett’s fourth grand slam of the season.

Associated Press