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Yanks fall as Bosox, Jays win

By WJBD Staff Oct 2, 2021 | 7:12 AM

UNDATED (AP) — The American League wild-card race continues to change form. The latest standings have the New York Yankees leading the first wild card by one game over Boston, with the Blue Jays and Mariners one game behind the Red Sox for the second wild-card.

Rookie Wander Franco hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to give the Rays a 4-1 lead in a 4-3 victory over the Yankees. Nelson Cruz Jr. hit his 32st home run and Kevin Kiermaier hit a go-ahead single in the second inning to put Tampa Bay ahead to stay.

Joey Gallo and Brett Gardner slapped RBI singles in the ninth before Andrew Kittredge struck out Gary Sanchez and Rougned Odor (ROOG’-nehd oh-DOHR’) to complete Tampa Bay’s AL-leading 99th win.

Hunter Renfroe and Bobby Dalbec hit back-to-back home runs in a four-run sixth that pushed the Red Sox past Washington, 4-2. Renfroe’s three-run homer opened the scoring. Eduardo Rodriguez went 5-plus scoreless innings, allowing five fits as Boston won for just the second time in seven games.

The Blue Jays knocked off the Orioles, 6-4 as Danny Jansen smacked a two-run homer and collected three RBIs.

Steven Matz pitched seven solid innings and improved to 5-0 with a 2.90 ERA in nine starts since Aug. 10. Kelvin Gutierrez spoiled Matz’s shutout bid with a leadoff homer in the eighth.

In Seattle, Jose Suarez threw five strong innings and Brandon Marsh delivered a two-run double for the Angels in a 2-1 victory over the Mariners. Kyle Seager led off the Seattle ninth with a double, but Raisel Iglesius recovered to get Luis Torrens, Abraham Toro and Jarred Kelenic for his 34th save.

The M’s lost for just the second time in a dozen games despite Kelenic’s RBI double.

Checking out the rest of Friday’s major league schedule:

— The Giants blanked the Padres, 3-0 to maintain their two-game lead over the Dodgers atop the NL West. Darin Ruf hit a first-inning home run and Mike Yastrzemski added an RBI single to send San Francisco to its franchise record-tying 106th victory. Anthony DeSclafani struck out three and didn’t walk a batter, allowing four hits over five scoreless innings of his 13th win.

— The Dodgers kept pace with the Giants as Trea Turner hit a grand slam and solo home run in their 8-6 decision over the Brewers. Turner’s fourth career grand slam off Eric Lauer tied it at 5 in the fifth. Pinch-hitter Matt Beaty launched a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning to send Los Angeles to its 13th straight home win.

— Matt Olson and Chad Pinder each homered in the Athletics’ 8-6 win over Houston, cutting the Astros’ lead over the White Sox to one game for home-field advantage in the division series. Sean Manaea permitted two runs on seven hits through in 5 2/3 innings as the A’s ended a three-game losing streak.

— The Cardinals won for the 19th time in 20 games by knocking off the Cubs, 4-3 on Paul Goldschmidt’s walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. Tyler O’Neill homered twice and threw out the potential go-ahead run in the ninth inning for St. Louis.

— The Mets ended the Braves’ six-game winning streak as Brandon Nimmo homered twice to lead New York’s 4-3 victory over the NL East champs. Tylor Megill allowed one hit in five scoreless innings as the Mets won for the fourth time in five games.

— Lance Lynn picked up his first win since July 25 by tossing one-run ball over five innings of the White Sox’s 8-1 trouncing of the Tigers. José Abreu homered and drove in four runs for the AL Central champs.

— Bryce Harper had three hits, including a homer and double in the Phillies’ 5-0 shutout of the Marlins. Ranger Suárez pitched seven scoreless innings, extending his string without allowing a run to 21 and lowering his ERA to 1.35.

— Cole Tucker made a spectacular diving catch, then hit his first career grand slam to cap an eight-run eighth inning that sent the Pirates over the Reds, 9-2. Tucker also led off the first inning with a triple and made a spectacular catch in short right field.

— Austin Hedges and Bobby Bradley homered before Jose Ramirez finished with three RBIs in the Indians’ 9-4 drubbing of the Rangers. Eli Morgan allowed four runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings to win his third straight start.

— Hunter Dozier and Whit Merrifield each had three hits, with Dozier homering in the Royals’ 11-6 decision over the Twins. Salvador Perez was the lone Kansas City starter without a hit, leaving him with major league highs of 48 home runs and 121 RBIs.

— The Rockies rallied from a seven-run deficit to beat the Diamondbacks, 9-7. Trevor Story hit a go-ahead single in the ninth after pinch-hitter Dom Nunez tied it with a solo homer.