Pinch hitter Pavin Smith hit a two-run, walk-off homer with one out in the ninth and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees 5-3 on Saturday in Phoenix on a night the franchise celebrated the 25th anniversary of their 2001 World Series victory over the Yankees.
Ildemaro Vargas walked to lead off the ninth off Michael Fulmer (0-1), reaching base after he appealed the 3-2 pitch that originally was called a strike. After a strikeout, Smith hit a 391-foot homer to right center for the D-backs’ 46th comeback win of the season
Heliot Ramos and Austin Wells hit bases-empty homers for the Yankees, who had won four of five and eight of 10. Wells and Jose Caballero had two hits apiece.
Nolan Arenado had two hits and Jordan Lawlar added a two-run triple for the D-backs, who had lost three in a row and five of six.
The Yankees (89-65), who have clinched a playoff berth, fell five games behind Tampa Bay (94-60) in the American League East and remained 5 1/2 games ahead of Boston (84-71) for the top AL wild-card spot. The Yankees and Rays play a four-game series in Yankee Stadium beginning with a split doubleheader Tuesday.
White Sox 3, Tigers 1
Sean Burke hurled six quality innings and Miguel Vargas homered to help Chicago earn a victory over visiting Detroit.
Burke (10-7) allowed one run on five hits for Chicago, which remained a game behind American League Central-leading Cleveland. Sam Antonacci and Munetaka Murakami both drove in a run and Grant Taylor delivered a four-out save, his 10th overall this season.
Jackson Jobe (2-3) threw six innings of three-run, four-hit ball, striking out nine for Detroit, which remains barely alive in AL Central contention. The Tigers’ wild-card elimination magic number is down to one. Kevin McGonigle drove in Detroit’s lone run.
Mets 10, Phillies 3
Francisco Alvarez had two hits, including the go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth, as host New York routed skidding Philadelphia.
Carson Benge was 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBIs for the Mets. Brett Baty had two hits, including a run-scoring single, while Benge, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette each had RBI singles during a four-run eighth.
Alec Bohm had RBI singles in the fourth and fifth for the Phillies, who missed a chance to take over the top National League wild card, at least temporarily. The Cubs and Padres both won to remain tied atop the NL wild-card race.
Brewers 1, Orioles 0
Robert Gasser pitched seven shutout innings as the first of three Milwaukee pitchers in a victory against host Baltimore.
It marked the second shutout for Milwaukee pitchers in an eight-game stretch, needing only four strikeouts for the latest accomplishment. The Brewers scored on Gary Sanchez’s second-inning groundout to knock in Joey Ortiz, who tripled with one out.
Baltimore has lost the first two games of the series following a three-game winning streak, further damaging its American League playoff hopes. Orioles starter Trevor Rogers (10-11) lasted eight innings, allowing one run and three hits.
Rangers 6, Blue Jays 2
Texas won for the sixth time in its past seven games, defeating Toronto in Arlington, Texas.
Rangers starting pitcher Cal Quantrill left the game after 1 1/3 innings with right lat tightness. Jordan Montgomery (1-0) replaced him and held Toronto hitless through 3 2/3 innings. Josh Jung gave Texas a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a home run to right field.
Jose Soriano (12-8) gave up six runs (five earned) on four hits and struck out eight in five-plus innings for the Blue Jays, who dropped to three games behind the Chicago White Sox for the final wild-card berth in the American League.
Rays 2, Red Sox 1
Richie Palacios produced a two-out, walk-off single in the ninth inning as Tampa Bay edged Boston in St. Petersburg, Fla., to even their final home series of the regular season.
Against Garrett Whitlock (7-2), Palacios looped a 1-2 sinker into right to score Junior Caminero as the Rays hit their third walk-off winner during their nine-game homestand. Jonathan Aranda homered while Liam Hicks and Chandler Simpson posted two hits apiece.
Caleb Durbin stroked two doubles and scored for the Red Sox, who lost for the first time in three games. Starting pitcher Brayan Bello went a season-best eight innings and allowed one run on five hits with a career high-tying 11 strikeouts.
Guardians 12, Athletics 6
Angel Martinez homered from both sides of the plate and drove in four runs in host Cleveland’s win over the Athletics which helped maintain its one-game lead in the American League Central.
Martinez was also 4-for-5 with a double and three runs scored and Chase DeLauter also homered for the Guardians, who won their fourth straight. Slade Cecconi (5-7) got the win in relief with two scoreless innings after Tanner Bibee lasted 4 2/3 innings and surrendered six runs on 12 hits.
Donovan Walton hit a home run and was 3-for-3 with four RBIs for the Athletics, who have lost five in a row. Athletics starter and loser Jacob Lopez (6-5) was blitzed for 10 runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Nationals 8, Cardinals 5 (11 innings)
Jose Tena’s two-run double keyed a four-run 11th inning and Washington beat the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Jorbit Vivas had four hits and Daylen Lile homered for Washington, which has won six of seven. Riley Cornelio (3-2) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the win.
At the top of the order, Jose Fermin and Ivan Herrera had three hits each for St. Louis, which has lost four straight.
Cubs 5, Reds 2
Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson hit solo home runs to lift visiting Chicago to a win over Cincinnati.
The win allowed the Cubs to pull a full game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for the top wild-card playoff spot in the National League. The Phillies lost 10-3 to the Mets earlier. The San Diego Padres also won to remain tied with the Cubs.
The teams will play the rubber game of the series Sunday. Cubs starter Matthew Boyd (9-5) gave up two hits and two runs (one earned) in five innings. Reds starter Nick Lodolo (3-6) gave up seven hits and three runs in seven innings.
Pirates 6, Royals 5
Brandon Lowe launched a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning to power Pittsburgh to a victory over visiting Kansas City.
Ronny Simon and Jake Mangum each hit two-run homers, while Oneil Cruz, Rafael Flores Jr. and Lowe each had two hits for the Pirates. Right-hander Luke Weaver (3-1) threw a scoreless eighth with one strikeout, and left-hander Mason Montgomery earned his 15th save of the season after working around a walk with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth.
Nick Loftin had four hits, while Bobby Witt Jr. went 3-for-5 with two runs and extended his on-base streak to 17 games for the Royals. Carter Jensen hit a solo homer, while Jac Caglianone and Vinnie Pasquantino each had two hits for Kansas City.
Braves 6, Astros 3
Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a grand slam, Grant Holmes produced a quality start and Atlanta lowered its magic number to one to clinch the National League East by defeating host Houston.
The Braves secured this three-game interleague series and set the table to win the NL East for the seventh time in nine seasons with a victory in the series finale on Sunday. Holmes (10-5) allowed two runs on eight hits over six innings. Closer Raisel Iglesias notched his 34th save for Atlanta.
The Astros dropped a game behind the Rangers in the AL West after Texas beat Toronto. Astros reliever AJ Blubaugh (5-3) loaded the bases and was replaced by Bryan Abreu, who gave up Acuna’s homer in the seventh inning for a 5-2 Braves lead.
Rockies 5, Mariners 3
Cole Carrigg delivered a go-ahead two-run single in a four-run seventh inning as Colorado edged Seattle in Denver.
Juan Mejia (4-6) pitched two scoreless innings and Brennan Bernardino got the final three outs for his second save for Colorado. Jake McCarthy and TJ Rumfield each produced an RBI.
Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena homered and Julio Rodriguez and Michael Arroyo had two hits each for Seattle, which is on the brink of elimination in the AL wild-card race.
Padres 6, Marlins 5 (10 innings)
Rookie Ethan Salas stroked an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning and San Diego edged visiting Miami.
Salas’ hit scored Jake Cronenworth, who started the inning as the automatic runner at second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Josh Ekness (2-4). David Morgan (4-1) stranded runners at first and second in the top of the 10th to earn the win, San Diego’s 12th in 13 games.
The Padres tied the Chicago Cubs for the top wild-card spot in the National League at 86-69. Miami forced extra innings when pinch hitter Griffin Conine pulled a 102 mph fastball from closer Mason Miller for a game-tying homer with one out in the ninth.
Dodgers 10, Giants 4
Mookie Betts tied a season high with four hits, Tommy Edman delivered a go-ahead two-run single and Los Angeles stayed within two games of the best record in the National League with a victory over visiting San Francisco.
Betts has 10 hits over his past three games, including seven in the past two while operating out of the leadoff spot in place of an injured Shohei Ohtani. Will Smith homered as the Dodgers won for the fifth time in six games and improved to 13-3 since Sept. 3. Tarik Skubal (11-7) gave up four runs on eight hits over five innings.
Victor Bericoto hit a home run among his two hits for the Giants while Yunior Marte (0-1) gave up six runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings in his fourth career appearance and second start.
Angels 6, Twins 5 (11 innings)
Christian Moore singled in automatic runner Zach Neto with a bases-loaded comebacker off pitcher Taylor Rogers’ leg with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning as Los Angeles edged Minnesota in Anaheim, Calif.
Moore drilled a first-pitch sweeper that caromed off the leg of Rogers (6-4) and back toward the third base line as Neto sprinted home. Tayler Saucedo (1-1) struck out two during a scoreless inning of relief for the Angels, who tied it at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth on Vaughn Grissom’s homer.
Ryan Kreidler hit a home run, Victor Caratini went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, Walker Jenkins had two hits and a run and Josh Bell and Royce Lewis each had two hits for the Twins.