⚾ Headlines Around the League
Mariners 7, Astros 3 — Crawford slam, Raleigh HR fuel sweep
Blue Jays 8, Royals 5 — Toronto clinches postseason with AL East still in sight
Cardinals 5, Brewers 1 — Milwaukee clinches division despite loss
Reds 1, Cubs 0 — Cincinnati completes sweep to grab Wild Card spot
Yankees 7, Orioles 1 — Rice’s slam powers extra-inning surge
📊 Final Scores and Highlights
Mariners 7, Astros 3
The Mariners erupted for seven runs in the 2nd inning, highlighted by a J.P. Crawford grand slam and Cal Raleigh’s 58th homer, to complete a decisive sweep of the Astros on Sunday Night Baseball. Seattle extended its division lead and pushed Houston outside the playoff picture.
🔑 Key Moments
Small ball sparked the 2nd — Josh Naylor dropped a bunt single, Jorge Polanco beat out an infield hit, and Eugenio Suárez lined a single to load the bases.
Victor Robles worked a bases-loaded walk to force in the game’s first run. Mariners up 1–0.
On the next pitch, J.P. Crawford crushed a grand slam into the right-field bleachers, blowing the game open at 5–0.
Cal Raleigh immediately followed with a two-run shot, his 58th of the year, making it 7–0 and chasing starter Jason Alexander.
Zach Cole put Houston on the board with a solo homer in the 3rd, cutting it to 7–1.
In the 8th, Isaac Paredes added a solo blast, but the Mariners’ bullpen closed it out for a commanding 7–3 win.
📊 Notable Stats
Mariners
J.P. Crawford: Grand slam (12), 4 RBI
Cal Raleigh: HR (58), 2 RBI
Logan Gilbert: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K
Josh Naylor: 2-for-4, 2B (27)
Victor Robles: RBI walk, run scored
Astros
Zach Cole: HR (3), 2 H, 2 R
Isaac Paredes: HR (20), RBI
Jose Altuve: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, SB (10)
Jason Alexander: 1.1 IP, 7 H, 7 ER
Blue Jays 8, Royals 5
The Blue Jays locked down a playoff spot with an 8–5 win at Kauffman Stadium, securing the AL’s first postseason berth while keeping their push for the division alive.
🔑 Key Moments
Andrés Giménez opened the scoring with an RBI single, then Tyler Heineman added a sacrifice bunt before George Springer doubled in another to put Toronto ahead 3–0.
The Royals answered when Carter Jensen lined a two-run single to right, trimming the deficit to 3–2.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. restored control for Toronto with a sharp two-run double to center, extending the lead to 5–2.
Salvador Perez kept Kansas City close with an RBI single that made it 6–4.
Rookie Jac Caglianone thrilled the home crowd with his first career triple, putting the tying run in scoring position.
The Jays put it away in the 8th as Ernie Clement singled in a run and Giménez followed with an RBI triple, sealing the 8–5 victory.
📊 Notable Stats
Blue Jays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 2-for-5, 2B (34), 2 RBI
Andrés Giménez: 2-for-4, 3B (1), 2 RBI
George Springer: 2-for-4, RBI double (25)
Ernie Clement: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R
Royals
Carter Jensen: 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Salvador Perez: 1-for-4, RBI
Jac Caglianone: 1-for-3, 3B (1), R
Cardinals 5, Brewers 1
The Brewers dropped the finale in St. Louis, 5–1, but still secured their third straight NL Central crown after the Cubs fell in Cincinnati.
🔑 Key Moments
The Cardinals broke through in the 3rd when Iván Herrera launched a two-run homer to left-center, putting St. Louis up 2–0.
In the 5th, Joey Ortiz tried to spark Milwaukee with a triple, but the rally came up empty as the Crew stayed scoreless.
St. Louis added on with patient at-bats and timely hitting, stretching the lead to 4–0 by the middle innings.
Jackson Chourio lifted a sac fly to bring home Milwaukee’s lone run, cutting it to 4–1.
The Cardinals answered quickly, tacking on a run to make it 5–1, which held as the final.
📊 Notable Stats
Cardinals
Iván Herrera: HR (17), 2 RBI, 2 R
José Fermín: 1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI
Matthew Liberatore: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6 K
Brewers
Joey Ortiz: 2-for-3, 3B (1), R
Andruw Monasterio: 3-for-4, SB (2)
Blake Perkins: 2-for-3
Reds 1, Cubs 0
The Reds edged the Cubs 1–0 behind clutch pitching and Gavin Lux’s timely double, completing a four-game sweep that vaulted them into NL Wild Card position.
🔑 Key Moments
In the 3rd inning, Gavin Lux delivered with two outs, ripping an RBI double to right to score Matt McLain and give Cincinnati a 1–0 lead.
Reds starter Andrew Abbott worked 4 2/3 scoreless innings before handing things off to the bullpen after a two-out single in the 5th.
Nick Martinez entered in relief and struck out Seiya Suzuki, preserving the lead as Cincinnati’s bullpen took control.
In the 9th, Tony Santillan faced trouble after issuing two walks, but he buckled down, striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong to end the game and lock up his 7th save.
📊 Notable Stats
Reds
Gavin Lux: 2-for-4, RBI double (26)
Matt McLain: 1-for-3, 2B (18), R
Andrew Abbott: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 K
Tony Santillan: 1.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K, Save (7)
Cubs
Jameson Taillon: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 K
Dansby Swanson: 1-for-4, SB (18)
Michael Busch: 1-for-3, BB
Yankees 7, Orioles 1
The Yankees broke a late tie with a six-run 10th inning, highlighted by Ben Rice’s go-ahead grand slam, to close their road trip with a 7–1 victory at Camden Yards.
🔑 Key Moments
The Orioles struck first in the 5th when Samuel Basallo launched a solo homer to right, putting Baltimore up 1–0.
The Yankees tied it in the 6th as Ben Rice lined an RBI single to left, scoring Trent Grisham to even the score at 1–1.
Baltimore threatened in the 7th, loading the bases, but Luke Weaver induced a groundout to escape and keep the game tied.
In the 9th, David Bednar struck out Coby Mayo to strand runners and send the game to extras.
The 10th inning turned the tide: Cody Bellinger singled to set the stage, then Rice crushed a grand slam to right-center, pushing New York ahead 5–1.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a solo homer later in the inning, capping the six-run frame and sealing the 7–1 win.
📊 Notable Stats
Yankees
Ben Rice: 4-for-5, HR (24), 5 RBI
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: HR (31), RBI, 2 BB
Cam Schlittler: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 K
Devin Williams: 1.0 IP, 3 K
Orioles
Samuel Basallo: HR (4), RBI
Jeremiah Jackson: 1-for-2, 2B, BB
Kyle Bradish: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 9 K
Other scores around the league:
Braves 6, Tigers 2
S. Strider: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 6 SO, 3 BB
H. Kim: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Pirates 11, Athletics 0
C. Mlodzinski: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 SO
J. Bart: 4-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Nationals 3, Mets 2
J. Irvin: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 SO, 2 BB
M. Parker: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 SO (SV)
Twins 6, Guardians 2
K. Funderburk: 1.0 IP, 1 SO (W)
S. Woods Richardson: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 SO, 2 BB
Padres 3, White Sox 2
M. King: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 4 SO, 4 BB
R. Suárez: 1.0 IP, 2 SO (SV)
Marlins 4, Rangers 2
L. Bachar: 1.0 IP, 1 SO (W)
E. Pérez: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 9 SO, 1 BB
Rockies 3, Angels 1
K. Freeland: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 SO, 1 BB
V. Vodnik: 1.0 IP (SV)
Diamondbacks 9, Phillies 2
E. Rodríguez: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 SO, 3 BB
C. Carroll: 2-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Giants 3, Dodgers 1
S. Bivens: 1.0 IP (W)
R. Walker: 1.0 IP (SV)
E. Sheehan: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 10 SO
Rays 7, Red Sox 3
G. Cleavinger: 1.0 IP, 1 SO (W)
J. Boyle: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 9 SO, 4 BB
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