Jackson, Rizzo Bats Guide Cubs, Yankees Clinch

Evidence of the Reds' growing pains showed in a decisive pitch by rookie John Lamb to Austin Jackson that led to another loss.

Jackson hit a three-run homer in the third inning, Anthony Rizzo added an RBI double and the Chicago Cubs kept alive their slim hopes for home-field advantage in the wild-card game with a 5-3 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday. It was the Reds' 12th straight loss.

"Austin Jackson got hot in this series and did some damage," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He got the second slider in the sequence and hit it out."

The Reds acquired Lamb (1-5) in a trade with Kansas City for Johnny Cueto. Lamb got his first taste of the big leagues.

"It might be perceived as one pitch but a couple walks preceded the home run," Lamb said. "I don't know why things happen but when I fall behind it doesn't up our chances. I need to be prepared to pitch. I need to do what got me here and find a way to believe in myself."

Chris Denorfia also drove in a run and the Cubs overcame two errors to move within two games of idle Pittsburgh in the race for home field in Wednesday's NL wild-card playoff game. Both teams have three to play -- Chicago in Milwaukee and the Pirates against the Reds in Pittsburgh.

Joey Votto's seventh-inning RBI single extended to 47 his streak of consecutive games in which he's reached base at least once, the longest since Kevin Millar's 52-game stretch in 2007. Votto's streak is second-longest in Cincinnati franchise history to Pete Rose's 48-game stretch in 1978, when he tied the NL record with a 44-game hitting streak.

Royals 6, White Sox 4

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost was sitting in his office in the visiting clubhouse when White Sox broadcaster Ken Harrelson walked in and offered him a lucky gold coin.

Yost accepted the present with a big grin. After all, he could use a little help with all of the Royals' bumps and bruises.

Jonny Gomes drove in three runs, and the banged-up Royals moved into a tie with Toronto for the AL's best record with a 6-4 victory over Chicago on Thursday.

Kansas City played without outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Rios on a windy, cold night, and designated hitter Kendrys Morales (left quad tightness) and catcher Salvador Perez (swelling in right thumb) both departed during the game. Cain was sidelined by a sore right knee, and Rios was scratched because of a stiff back.

Yost used Ryan Madson in the ninth because he said closer Wade Davis had a bit of a stiff back. But he said none of the injuries were serious.

Yankees 4, Red Sox 1

CC Sabathia stood near his locker in the back of the oval Yankees clubhouse while excited teammates celebrated New York's return to the postseason.

"It feels like an eternity," he said, not trying to hide his relief.

With some help from one of the old guard, the next generation of Yankees will have a chance to make their mark in the playoffs.

Ending a rare two-year absence from the postseason, New York clinched a wild-card berth with three games to spare by beating the Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Thursday night for the franchise's 10,000th regular-season win.

Putting behind the venerated teams of Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, New York (87-72) opens its 52nd postseason with a winner-take-all game Tuesday. Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees most likely will face the Houston Astros or Los Angeles Angels.

Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees could face Houston -- which leads the race for the second wild card -- or the Angels or Minnesota, tied a game behind the Astros.

Thursday, October 1 Scoreboard

Baltimore 6, Toronto 4

Philadelphia 3, New York Mets 0

Chicago Cubs 5, Cincinnati 3

Los Angeles Dodgers 3, San Francisco 2

San Diego 3, Milwaukee 1

New York Yankees 4, Boston 1

Minnesota 4, Cleveland 2

Washington 3, Atlanta 0

Tampa Bay 4, Miami 1

Texas 5, Los Angeles Angels 3

Kansas City 6, Chicago White Sox 4

Arizona 8, Colorado 6

Friday, October 2 Schedule (All Times Central)

New York at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

Miami at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Boston at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Washington at New York, 6:10 p.m.

Toronto at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Atlanta, 6:35 p.m.

Los Angeles at Texas, 7:00 p.m.

Detroit at Chicago, 7:10 p.m.

Chicago at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.

Kansas City at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

Houston at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

Oakland at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

San Diego at Los Angeles, 9:10 p.m.

Colorado at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.