Royals Shrink Magic Number To One, Reds Eliminate Brewers

Royals Shrink Magic Number To One

(Chicago, IL) -- Eric Hosmer homered and drove in two as the Royals reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to one with a 6-3 win over the White Sox in Chicago. Lorenzo Cain went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored for KC, which remains two games behind Detroit for first in the AL Central and is now one game ahead of Oakland for the top Wild Card spot. Kelvin Herrera got the win and Greg Holland earned his 45th save. Josh Phegley hit a two-run homer for the Sox, who have dropped three straight. Jose Quintana was tagged for five runs in 7 1/3 frames to dip to 9-11 with the loss.

Reds Eliminate Brewers From Playoff Contention

(Cincinnati, OH) -- Yorman Rodriguez snapped a 2-all tie with an RBI single in the fifth inning and Brandon Phillips belted a two-run homer in the sixth as the Reds beat the Brewers 5-3 at Great American Ball Park.  The loss eliminated Milwaukee from playoff contention. Jay Bruce also singled in a run for Cincinnati, which took two of three in the series  David Holmberg pitched six innings of two-run ball to even his record at 2-2 for the Reds. Aroldis Chapman closed it out for his 35th save. Yovani Gallardo took the loss for the Brewers. Rickie Weeks homered to highlight the Milwaukee attack.

Cardinals At Diamondbacks Tonight

(Phoenix, AZ) -- The Cardinals begin their final series of the regular season tonight in Arizona. Michael Wacha takes the mound for St. Louis, while the Diamondbacks counter with Trevor Cahill. The Cardinals' magic number to clinch the National League Central is three.

Jon Jay is expected to be back with the Cardinals tonight. The center fielder missed Wednesday's series finale in Chicago as he left the team to attend to a personal matter. Manager Mike Matheny said the club knew about the situation ahead of time. Peter Bourjos started in his place.

Cubs At Brewers Tonight

(Milwaukee, WI) -- The Cubs close out the season with a series in Milwaukee starting tonight. Eric Jokisch takes the ball for Chicago, while the Brewers start former Cubs hurler Matt Garza. Chicago is last in the NL Central at 71-88. Milwaukee was eliminated from playoff contention this week.

Mets, Nationals Split Doubleheader

(Washington, DC) -- Matt den Dekker singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Mets went on to beat the Nationals 7-4 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at Nationals Park. Curtis Granderson went 3-for-4 with three RBI for New York, which had 15 hits in all. Wilmer Flores also went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Mets. Carlos Torres pitched a scoreless inning of relief to get the win. Tyler Clippard took the loss for Washington. Nate Schierholtz had an RBI singled and Michael Taylor singled in two more for the Nats. The twinbill was made necessary by a rainout on Wednesday.

Gio Gonzalez and two relievers combined on a three-hit shutout as the Nationals blanked the Mets 3-0 to split the doubleheader at Nationals Park. Gonzalez struck out 12 while giving up just one hit and two walks over seven scoreless innings as he ended his season 10-10. Drew Storen closed it out for his 11th save. Anthony Rendon and Tyler Moore plated a run each during a three-run fourth inning for the Nats, who took two of three in the series and now lead the Dodgers by two-and-a-half games for the best record in the National League. Zach Wheeler fanned seven in five frames but allowed all three runs to fall to 11-11 with the loss.

Marlins Rally Past Phillies

(Miami, FL) -- Casey McGehee hit a go-ahead two-run double to cap a four-run seventh inning as the Marlins rallied past the Phillies 6-4 in the finale of a three-game series at Marlins Park. McGehee drove in three runs total, while Donovan Solano also plated a run in the seventh and scored twice for the Fish, who have won two of three since a four-game skid. Tom Koehler struck out seven over seven innings of four-run ball to even his record at 10-10. Steve Cishek closed it out for his 39th save. Chase Utley and Domonic Brown knocked in two runs apiece for the Phils, who have dropped five of seven. Jake Diekman suffered the loss.

Pirates Crush Braves

(Atlanta, GA) -- Neil Walker's two-run home run in the eighth capped a Pirates 10-1 victory over the Braves as they took three of four at Turner Field. Josh Harrison had three hits and scored three runs, while Andrew McCutchen drove in three. Edinson Volquez improved to 13-7 striking out 10 over seven shutout innings. Pittsburgh is a game back of the Cardinals in the NL Central, but has already clinched at least a playoff spot. Ramiro Pena drove in the only run for Atlanta. David Hale took the loss allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings. The Braves sit at 77-82.

Mariners Edge Blue Jays, Keep Postseason Hopes Alive

(Toronto, Ontario) -- Logan Morrison hit a pair of homers and drove in four as the Mariners edged the Blue Jays 7-5 at Rogers Centre and kept their slim postseason hopes alive. Seattle stopped a five-game losing streak and sits two games back of the Athletics for the second Wild Card spot with just three games left. Mike Zunino also went deep while Kyle Seager was 2-for-4 with two RBI in the win. Yoervis Medina logged the win in relief while Fernando Rodney notched his 47th save. Kevin Pillar hit a solo homer for Toronto while Aaron Loup took the loss. The Jays had won three straight.

Jeter Lifts Yankees Past Orioles In Ninth

(Bronx, NY) -- Derek Jeter wrote the perfect script for his final home game, hitting a walk-off RBI single in the ninth to send the Yankees to a 6-5 win over the Orioles at the Stadium. The Captain finished 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run.  Brian McCann also drove in two while David Robertson notched the win despite allowing three runs in the top of the ninth and blowing a save. Hiroki Kuroda struck out nine over eight innings of two-run ball in the start for New York, which had lost three of five. Nick Markakis and Alejandro De Aza led off the game with back-to-back homers while Adam Jones lifted a two-run shot and Steve Pearce tied the game in the ninth with long balls for Baltimore. Evan Meek was charged with the loss for the O's, who had won three of five.

Tigers Double Up Twins

(Detroit, MI) -- Victor Martinez belted a two-run homer and Miguel Cabrera added a solo shot as the Tigers doubled up the Twins 4-2 in the first of four at Comerica Park. Rajai Davis doubled in the other run for the Tigers, who have won three straight and are two up on the Royals for first in the AL Central.  Max Scherzer struck out nine over six innings of two-run ball to pick up the win and finish the regular season 18-5. Joe Nathan closed it out for his 34th save. Joe Mauer hit a two-run double for Minnesota's only runs. Trevor May allowed three runs in six frames as he fell to 3-6.

Red Sox Stomp Rays

(Boston, MA) -- Christian Vazquez was 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI as the Red Sox smoked the Rays, 11-1, to take two of three at Fenway Park.  Rusney Castillo added a three-run shot and two hits, while Allen Webster improved to 5-and-3 with seven innings of one-run ball. Boston wraps up the season with a three-game home series against the Yankees starting on Friday. Ben Zobrist drove in the only run for Tampa Bay. Jeremy Hellickson took the loss, giving up six runs without making it out of the third inning. The Rays season closes out with a three-game set at the Indians.

Beltre Gives Rangers Walkoff Win Over Athletics

(Arlington, TX) -- Adrian Beltre hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to give Texas a 2-1 walkoff win over the Athletics at Globe Life Park.  Beltre collected his 2,600th career hit and Elvis Andrus added the other RBI. Colby Lewis pitched seven innings, allowing one earned run with seven strikeouts. Neftali Feliz earned the win in relief, Texas' fifth straight. Oakland scored on a squeeze bunt laid down by Geovany Soto. Jason Hammel gave up one run in six-plus innings before Luke Gregerson took the loss in relief. The A's are two games up on Seattle for the second AL Wild Card spot.

Thursday, September 25 Scoreboard

MLB National League

Cincinnati Reds 5, Milwaukee Brewers 3

New York Mets 7, Washington Nationals 4

Miami Marlins 6, Philadelphia Phillies 4

Washington Nationals 3, New York Mets 0

Pittsburgh Pirates 10, Atlanta Braves 1

San Francisco Giants 9, San Diego Padres 8

MLB American League

Seattle Mariners 7, Toronto Blue Jays 5

New York Yankees 6, Baltimore Orioles 5

Detroit Tigers 4, Minnesota Twins 2

Boston Red Sox 11, Tampa Bay Rays 1

Texas Rangers 2, Oakland Athletics 1

Kansas City Royals 6, Chicago White Sox 3

MLB Interleague

No Games Scheduled

Friday, September 26 Schedule (All Times Central)

MLB National League

12:05 p.m. - Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals (G1)

6:05 p.m. - Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies

6:05 p.m. - Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals (G2)

6:10 p.m. - Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds

7:10 p.m. - Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers

8:40 p.m. - St. Louis Cardinals at Arizona Diamondbacks

9:10 p.m. - Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers

9:15 p.m. - San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants

MLB American League

6:05 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Indians

6:07 p.m. - Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

6:08 p.m. - Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers

6:10 p.m. - New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

7:05 p.m. - Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers

7:10 p.m. - Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox

9:10 p.m. - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Seattle Mariners

MLB Interleague

6:10 p.m. - Houston Astros at New York Mets