Padres Inch Past Rockies – MLB Roundup
UNDATED (AP) — The Detroit Tigers' lead in the American League Central is down to one game over Kansas City with six to play.
Chris Bassitt pitched into the eighth inning and Tyler Flowers belted a two-run homer as the Chicago White Sox beat the Tigers 2-0 in Detroit. Bassitt held the Tigers to six hits and a walk over 7 2/3 innings for his first major league victory. He kept the White Sox ahead after Flowers belted a two-run shot in the second inning.
The Royals won one and lost one in Cleveland, dropping their completion of their August 31 suspended game before taking the nightcap.
The Indians took the suspended game 4-3. The game resumed in the bottom of the 10th, moments before Alex Gordon homered to pull the Royals within a run. Kansas City put the tying run on second before Scott Atchison closed out the victory for Cleveland.
Danny Duffy led the Royals to a 2-0 shutout of the Indians in the regularly-scheduled game, allowing six hits in as many innings. Eric Hosmer and Alcides (al-SEE'-dehs) Escobar hit RBI singles as Kansas City moved 3 ½ games ahead of Cleveland with six games left.
The Royals also stay one game behind Oakland for the AL's first wild-card berth.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— Jose Bautista was 3-for-3 with a solo homer, two RBIs and three runs scored as Toronto ripped Seattle 14-4. Kevin Pillar (PEE'-lahr) and Anthony Gose also homered against the Mariners, who have dropped nine of their last 13 to fall two games behind Kansas City for the final AL wild-card berth.
— The Athletics still own sole possession of the AL's top wild-card slot after putting together a six-run first inning to beat the Anaheim Angels 8-4. The big rally featured a pair of bases-loaded walks, Geovany Soto's two-run single and a throwing error by Angels third baseman David Freese (freez) that brought home two more runs. Jeff Samardzija (suh-MAHR'-juh) allowed an unearned run and five hits in seven innings to get the win.
— St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright has joined Clayton Kershaw as the majors' only 20-game winners by pitching three-hit ball over seven innings of an 8-0 shutout of the Cubs in Chicago. Jon Jay had three RBIs to help the NL Central leaders stay 2 1/2 games ahead of the Pirates with five games remaining.
— Pittsburgh has opened a five-game lead over Milwaukee in the battle for an NL wild-card berth by blanking the Braves 1-0 in Atlanta. Andrew McCutchen hit a sixth-inning homer to back Francisco Liriano, who struck out seven while surrendering just three hits in six innings.
— San Francisco still shares the NL wild-card lead with Pittsburgh and has pulled within 3 1/2 games of West-leading Los Angeles by scoring three runs in the 13th inning to beat the Dodgers 5-2. Andrew Susac (SOO'-sak) supplied the tiebreaking, RBI single with two out before scoring on Gregor Blanco's two-run double. The Giants' bullpen tossed six hitless innings of relief after Jake Peavy gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings.
— Derek Jeter had three RBIs and Michael Pineida combined with three relievers on a one-hitter as the New York Yankees beat Baltimore 5-0. Pineida struck out eight over 7 1/3 innings and had a no-hitter until J.J. Hardy hit a one-out single in the fifth.
— Guilder Rodriguez had his first two major league hits, including a tiebreaking RBI single as Texas won for the ninth time in 10 games 4-3 against Houston. Rougned Odor (ROOG'-nehd oh-DOHR') had a three-run triple for the Rangers, who have avoided their first 100-loss season since 1973.
— The Diamondbacks also avoided a 100-loss campaign after Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer and Josh Collmenter allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings of Arizona's 6-2 win at Minnesota. Didi Gregorius hit three doubles and drove in a run as the Diamondbacks ended a six-game skid.
— Eric Stults avoided his major league-leading 18th loss by combining with four relievers on a seven-hitter in San Diego's 1-0 verdict over Colorado. Neither team scored after Rene Rivera's RBI double in the bottom of the first.
NEW YORK (AP) — Sandy Alderson is keeping his current job.
A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press the New York Mets and their general manager have agreed to a multiyear contract. Alderson replaced Omar Minaya before the 2010 season, signing a four-year contract with a club option for 2015. Rather than just exercise the option, the Mets are giving him a new deal that keeps him under contract longer.
CBSSports.com reported Monday that Alderson and the Mets agreed to a three-year deal that runs through 2017.
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have fired general manager Frank Wren, less than 24 hours after being eliminated from the National League playoff race.
Former major league executive and MLB Network analyst John Hart has been named as the team's interim general manager.
Wren was in his 15th season with the Braves and his seventh as the club's general manager.
The Braves have been one of baseball's biggest disappointments this season. A half-game behind the Washington Nationals for the NL East lead on July 29, Atlanta plummeted out of contention by winning just 18 of its next 49 games.