MLB roundup: Triple play sends Padres to postseason

Jake Cronenworth hit a two-run home run and helped turn an around-the-horn triple play to end the game as the visiting San Diego Padres clinched a spot in the National League playoffs with a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Cronenworth had two hits and three RBIs as the Padres secured their eighth playoff appearance all time and third since 2020. San Diego moved two games behind Los Angeles in the chase for the NL West title, with two games remaining in the series and five in the season.

San Diego starter Michael King (13-9) gave up just an unearned run on three hits in five innings and Suarez ended up with his 35th save as the Padres improved to 8-3 against the Dodgers this year.

Shohei Ohtani doubled, walked and scored a run for the Dodgers, whose magic number for clinching their 11th division title in 12 seasons remained at four. Los Angeles clinched a playoff spot on Friday. Rookie right-hander Landon Knack (3-5) gave up four runs on five hits over four innings.

Astros 4, Mariners 3

Jason Heyward delivered a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning and Houston clinched a fourth straight American League West title, beating visiting Seattle.

Josh Hader notched a four-out save for Houston, which captured its seventh division crown in the past eight years. Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker also homered for the Astros, who got 5 2/3 innings of three-run ball from Framber Valdez (15-7).

Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (8-12) surrendered four runs on five hits, including three home runs, over six innings.

Orioles 5, Yankees 3

Anthony Santander, Ramon Urias and Colton Cowser homered as visiting Baltimore held off New York, which was unable to clinch the American League East title.

A short time later, the Orioles clinched their second straight postseason berth when the Minnesota Twins lost to the Miami Marlins. The Orioles hold a four-game lead for the top AL wild card with five games to play.

Aaron Judge hit his major-league-leading 56th homer, but the Yankees had their magic number to clinch a second division title in three seasons remain at one.

Guardians 6, Reds 1

Tanner Bibee allowed one run over seven strong innings, Kyle Manzardo hit a solo homer and Lane Thomas added a two-run shot as Cleveland clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win over visiting Cincinnati.

Thomas totaled three RBIs, and Josh Naylor had two hits and two RBIs for the American League Central champion Guardians.

Spencer Steer had an RBI single for the Reds in their first game since manager David Bell was fired near the end of his sixth season with the club.

Braves 5, Mets 1

Michael Harris II had three hits and two RBIs to support right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach and help host Atlanta beat New York in the opener of a three-game series.

The win pulled the Braves within a game of the Mets in the race for the second wild-card spot in the National League and a half-game of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL wild-card spot.

Schwellenbach (8-7) yielded one run on three hits in seven innings. New York starter Luis Severino (11-7) lasted only four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits.

White Sox 3, Angels 2

Andrew Benintendi capped a three-run eighth inning with a go-ahead single as host Chicago edged Los Angeles to end a five-game losing streak.

Handcuffed by Angels rookie right-hander Jack Kochanowicz for seven innings, Chicago rallied to remain tied with the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in a single season in modern major league history. It was Chicago’s first win this year when trailing after seven innings.

Kochanowicz limited the White Sox to three singles and no runs. Angels second baseman Jack Lopez hit his first major league homer.

Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5 (10 innings)

Trevor Story’s RBI double broke a 3-3 tie and ignited a three-run 10th inning, and visiting Boston beat Toronto.

Vaughn Grissom had three hits, including an RBI single in the 10th, for the Red Sox. Chris Martin (3-1) earned the win, and Chase Shugart got the last two outs for his first major league save.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run double and Davis Schneider scored twice for the Blue Jays. Bowden Francis allowed three hits in five scoreless innings.

Giants 11, Diamondbacks 0

Michael Conforto and Brett Wisely slugged three-run homers and San Francisco scored 10 runs on five homers while blasting Arizona in Phoenix.

Tyler Fitzgerald hit a two-run homer and Patrick Bailey and Heliot Ramos added solo shots as San Francisco won its fifth straight game. Logan Webb (13-10) gave up four hits and one walk in six innings for the Giants.

Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each had two hits for Arizona, which lost its third straight game. Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt (10-10) served up two homers and lasted just 2 2/3 innings.

Marlins 4, Twins 1

Xavier Edwards went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Miami held on to beat Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Jonah Bride finished 3-for-5 with a solo homer for the Marlins, who won the opener of a three-game series. Nick Fortes went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Royce Lewis drove in the lone run for Minnesota. The Twins have lost three games in a row and five of their past six to fall two games behind the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals for the final two American League wild-card spots.

A’s 5, Rangers 4

Jacob Wilson singled home Zack Gelof from second base in the bottom of the ninth inning as Oakland opened its three-day going-away party with a victory over defending champion Texas.

After closer Mason Miller (2-2) worked out of a first-and-third, one-out jam to preserve a tie in the top of the inning, Gelof led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off Josh Sborz (2-2).

Gelof stole second as Seth Brown was striking out before Wilson drilled Sborz’s next pitch into center field to complete the walk-off win.

Brewers 7, Pirates 2

Joey Ortiz drove in three runs to help visiting Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series.

Willy Adames had two hits, two runs and an RBI, Jackson Chourio contributed two hits and a run and Sal Frelick added two RBIs for the Brewers, who have won two in a row following a three-game skid.

Pirates starter Bailey Falter (8-9) surrendered four runs and five hits in five innings. Jared Triolo had three hits and an RBI and Joey Bart had two hits and a run for Pittsburgh, which has dropped three of four.

Tigers 2, Rays 1

Tarik Skubal tossed seven shutout innings, Wenceel Perez had a two-run double and streaking Detroit edged visiting Tampa Bay.

Skubal (18-4) limited the Rays to two hits and one walk while striking out seven. Beau Brieske pitched the last two innings to notch his first save for the Tigers, who have won seven of their past eight.

Rays starter Ryan Pepiot (8-7) gave up two runs and three hits in five innings. Tampa Bay reliever Mason Montgomery struck out all six batters he faced.

Royals 1, Nationals 0 (10 innings)

Five Kansas City pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout and the visiting Royals scored an unearned run to beat Washington in 10 innings, snapping a seven-game losing streak.

A throwing error by Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez scored the game’s lone run. Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits for the Royals.

Angel Zerpa (2-0) pitched one inning for the win and Lucas Erceg tossed a perfect inning for his 12th save. Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan (3-7) took the loss.

Cubs 10, Phillies 4

Cody Bellinger drove in four runs and Seiya Suzuki knocked in a pair as Chicago cruised over Philadelphia.

Nico Hoerner and Bellinger each collected three hits for the Cubs, while Dansby Swanson, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya and Suzuki chipped in with two hits apiece. The Cubs outhit the Phillies 15-7.

One night after they clinched the National League East with a 6-2 win over the Cubs, the Phillies watched their first three pitchers struggle. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber homered in a losing effort.

Cardinals 7, Rockies 3

Masyn Winn hit a two-run homer and drove in two more with a double in St. Louis’ four-run eighth inning, leading the Cardinals past Colorado in Denver.

Lars Nootbaar walked three times and scored twice and Andrew Kittredge (5-5) tossed a scoreless inning of relief for the Cardinals, who earned their third win in a row.

Aaron Schunk homered and singled while Charlie Blackmon tripled and doubled for Colorado. The Rockies fell for the fourth time in five games.

–Field Level Media