On Tuesday, the sixth playoff team of the season was determined – the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates edged the Braves 3-2 after a dominant performance by Gerrit Cole, clinching at least one of the two NL Wild Card berths. If the season ended today, the Pirates would be hosting the game, but they have their sights set higher than that – they’re just a game and a half back of the Cardinals for the NL Central crown. Winning the division title is a tall order, but this a club that definitely can do it – they might just be out of time.
Game of the Night: Tigers 4, White Sox 3. Detroit finally broke through after getting stymied earlier on by Scott Carroll, and led 3-0 after seven innings. David Price was dominating Chicago in the interim, and went to the ninth looking to finish off his complete game shutout. Naturally, it didn’t go so well. Adam Eaton led off with a single and Alexei Ramirez followed up with a double to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Jose Abreu. Abreu struck out, but Avisail Garcia singled to score a pair and make it 3-2. Price continued to dangle on the vine, even after getting Dayan Viciedo to fly out for the second out and allowing a single to Paul Konerko to put the go-ahead run on base. Marcus Semien singled in Garcia to tie the game at three, and that was all for Price. Joe Nathan ended the threat, and the Tigers made short work of Jake Petricka in the ninth. Ian Kinsler led off with a single, Petricka walked Torii Hunter, and Miguel Cabrera singled in Kinsler to end the game in favor of the home team and keep the Tigers a game ahead of the Royals in the AL Central.
Pitching Lines of the Night: In Cincinnati’s 3-1 win over Milwaukee, Johnny Cueto allowed one run on four hits in eight innings, walking one and striking out seven. Sonny Gray allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in seven innings, walking three and striking out 12 in Oakland’s 2-0 loss to the Angels. Yordano Ventura tossed seven shutout innings in the Royals’ 7-1 win over the Indians, allowing four hits, walking four, and striking out six. In Miami’s 2-0 win over Philadelphia, Henderson Alvarez gave up five hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings, walking one and striking out two. Nick Martinez pitched the Rangers to a 2-1 win over the Astros, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless frames, allowing five hits, and striking out five without a walk. In Minnesota’s 6-3 win over Arizona, Kyle Gibson gave up one run on seven hits in seven innings, striking out eight without a walk. Gerrit Cole gave up two runs on four hits in seven innings in Pittsburgh’s clincher over Atlanta, striking out eight and walking two. The Dodgers beat the Giants 4-2, and Zack Greinke allowed two runs on six hits in eight innings, striking out five without a walk.
Hitting Lines of the Night: In Baltimore’s 5-4 win over the Yankees, Nick Markakis went 4/5 with a homer and three RBI. Nelson Cruz and Kelly Johnson each went 3/5 with a solo homer in the win for the Orioles, while Brian McCann went 2/4 with a homer, two runs, and two RBI in the loss for New York. Justin Turner went 2/4 with a pair of solo homers in the Dodgers’ win over the Giants. In Toronto’s 10-2 thrashing of Seattle, Edwin Encarnacion went 2/3 with a homer, two runs, four RBI, and a walk. Adam LaRoche went 2/3 with a homer, a walk, and three RBI in Washington’s win over the Mets.
Other Games: The Rays beat the Red Sox 6-2. The Cubs walked off on the Cardinals 4-3 in ten innings. The Rockies edged the Padres 3-2.
Today’s Games: Chris Sale and Justin Verlander will duel in Detroit. Phil Hughes and the Twins host the Diamondbacks. Jon Lester gets the nod for the A’s against the Angels. Julio Teherea and the Braves battle the Pirates. Gio Gonzalez and the Nationals take on the Mets. Jason Vargas starts for the Royals in Cleveland against Trevor Bauer. Jake Odorizzi starts for the Rays in Boston. Jake Arrieta and the Cubs host the Cardinals. Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers look to clinch the NL West against Tim Hudson and the Giants.
National TV: White Sox-Tigers (1 PM, MLB Network), Orioles-Yankees (1 PM, MLB Network), Angels-Athletics (4 PM, MLB Network, joined in progress), Royals-Indians (7 PM, ESPN), Giants-Dodgers (10 PM, ESPN)
Enjoy your day of baseball, everyone.
