NEW YORK: Hector Gomez pinch ran in the ninth and scored the tying run and then blooped a two-out single to right in the top of the 12th to score the go-ahead run as the Milwaukee Brewers’ won 3-2 over the St. Louis Cardinals.
It was the fifth win in six games for the Brewers (79-72), who pulled within four games of the first-place Cardinals in the National League Central and stayed 1-1/2 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second NL wild card spot.
St. Louis (83-68) lost for just the sixth time in 26 home games and had their division lead over Pittsburgh dipped to 2-1/2 games.
Nationals 3, Braves 0
Shortstop Ian Desmond hit a long two-run homer and right-hander Tanner Roark pitched seven scoreless innings as the Washington Nationals clinched the National League East championship with a 3-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.
Desmond ripped his 23rd homer deep in the left-center field stands at Turner Field against Atlanta right-hander Aaron Harang in the sixth inning to break up a scoreless game and give the Nationals the only runs they would need.
Orioles 8, Blue Jays 2
Steve Pearce and Jimmy Paredes both homered early while Alejandro De Aza added a three-run triple as the Baltimore Orioles wrapped up their first American League East division title in 17 years with an 8-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Pirates 4, Red Sox 0
Charlie Morton pitched five scoreless innings and the surging Pittsburgh Pirates blanked the Boston Red Sox 4-0.
Morton (6-12) notched his first win since July 2 and helped the Pirates (80-70) to their ninth victory in 11 games.
The Pirates remain ahead of Milwaukee for the second National League wild card and closed in to 2-1/2 games behind St. Louis for the NL Central.
Twins 4, Tigers 3
Aaron Hicks’ walk-off RBI infield single lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the first-place Detroit Tigers.
Down one after closer Glen Perkins blew a two-run lead in the top of the ninth, the Twins rallied to upset the American League Central leaders, allowing Kansas City a chance to reel in their division lead.
REUTERS
