The Seattle Mariners have climbed to second place in the American League wildcard race.
The host Mariners overcame a one-run deficit in the 10th and 11th innings to win 10-9 against the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
The Mariners are now a half game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays and 1.5 behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the top spot in the AL wildcard fight.
The Blue Jays secured a playoff spot on Thursday, and the Mariners and Rays can do the same with wins on Friday. Seattle has not made the playoffs since 2001.
JP Crawford’s single in the 11th won Thursday’s game for Seattle.
Mitch Haniger and Jarred Kelenic each had two home runs for the Mariners.
Former Blue Jay Marcus Semien had two homers or the Rangers.
GUARDIAN 2, RAYS 1
CLEVELAND (AP) — Rookies Oscar Gonzalez and Steven Kwan drove in runs in the eighth inning as Cleveland held off Tampa Bay from earning one of the AL’s three wildcard spots and rallied to victory.
The Central Champion Guardians clinched two of three in a tight series – and perhaps a playoff preview. Two games went to extra innings and all three were decided by one run.
After Baltimore previously lost in Boston, the Rays entered the field and needed a win to get into the postseason for the fourth straight year. But they couldn’t stop a Cleveland team that has been fighting back all season.
Tampa Bay had a chance in the ninth inning, loading bases on three walks by Trevor Stephan. But Ji-Man Choi struck and Isaac Paredes flew out briefly to the right as Stephan made his third save.
The Rays will head to Houston to try and earn a spot in the postseason field.
The Guardians have 37 come-from-behind wins and extended their team record to 29 wins in their last at-bat. Enyel De Los Santos (1-0) scored a perfect eighth as Cleveland improved to 20-4 since Sept. 4.
RED SOX 5, ORIOLES 3
BOSTON (AP) — JD Martinez hit a two-run homer to break an eighth-inning tie, Zack Kelly EARNED his first career win and Boston beat Baltimore to push the collapsing Orioles to the brink of wild-card racing to bring resignation.
Baltimore has lost five of their last six games. Toronto secured a wildcard spot with the Orioles’ loss.
Zack Kelly (1-0) allowed a hit and hit one in a shutout inning. Kaleb Ort threw in ninth place for his first career save. Dillon Tate (4-4) allowed Martinez’s homer.
Kyle Stowers homered for the Orioles.
ANGEL 4, A’S 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani threw a no-hit ball in the eighth inning and extended his hit streak to 14 games, leading the Los Angeles Angels over Oakland.
In his final home start of the season, Ohtani (15-8) issued a leadoff walk to Tony Kemp before retiring the next 22 batters. Conner Capel broke the no-hit bid with a sharp grounder that deflected the glove of sliding shortstop Livan Soto and got into left midfield with two outs in eighth.
Dermis Garcia followed with a clean single to the left before Ohtani grounded Shea Langeliers into third to end the inning.
Ohtani had a perfect game for 5 1/3 innings on April 20 in Houston before Jason Castro scored a single in the sixth.
Luis Rengifo, Taylor Ward and Max Stassi all had solo homers for the Angels. They have won four times in a row and five out of six.
It was Oakland’s 100th loss and marked the first time he was in triple figures in the loss column since 1979. Cole Irvin (9-13) took the loss.
CUBS 2, PHILLIES 0
CHICAGO (AP) — Philadelphia lost its fifth straight game, falling for the last National League wildcard spot in a tie that fell to Chicago.
Philadelphia was tied with Milwaukee at 83-72 pending the Brewers’ game against Miami.
The Phillies, seeking their first place in the playoffs since 2011, have lost the first three games of a 10-game ending season-ending journey and 10 of 13 overall since peaking at 80-62.
Philadelphia holds the tiebreak against Milwaukee and wins the season series 4-2. The Phillies go to the major leagues’ worst Washington by four games and then close out by three games to AL-best Houston. The Brewers finish with three home games against Arizona.
Bryce Harper had three of six hits for the Phillies, who are 1 for their last 21 with runners in goal position. JT Realmuto went 0 for 4 and batted in his 1,000. play twice.
Cub rookie Javier Assad (2-2) allowed five hits in five innings. Keegan Thompson gave up a hit over three innings for his second big league save and first of the year. Ranger Suarez (10-6) was the loser.
TIGER 10, ROYALS 3
DETROIT (AP) — Willi Castro and Javy Baez scored and Detroit beat Kansas City to win the three-game sweep and move away from last place in the AL Central.
Detroit (63-92) has won six straight matches, its season high and ensuring the Tigers won’t lose 100 games. The Royals (63-93) fell into the division basement.
Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5) allowed five hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings of shutout. Jonathan Heasley (4-9) took the loss.
WHITE SOX 4, TWINS 3
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — September call-up Mark Payton had two hits and an RBI and got the go-ahead in the eighth inning to help Chicago beat Minnesota to end an eight-game losing streak.
Reynaldo Lopez (6-4) threw the seventh for the win. Liam Hendriks scored a perfect ninth place on his 34th save. Caleb Thielbar (4-3) was the loser.
MARLINS 4, BREWERS 2
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Avisail Garcia was taken off the injured list and hit a grand slam in the eighth inning in Miami’s win over Milwaukee.
The Brewers have six games left, all at home — three more against Miami and three against Arizona.
Garcia’s 411-foot blast came from Freddy Peralta (4-4), a regular starter who made his first relief appearance of the season.
Garcia, who was with the Brewers in 2020 and 2021, was put on the injured list on Sept. 13 with a left hamstring strain. He was sent to Triple-A Jacksonville for a rehab assignment on Monday before being activated on Thursday.
Tommy Nance (1-3) pitched the seventh inning after being activated from the injured list. Dylan Floro worked the ninth for his ninth save.
DODGERS 5, PADRES 2
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Miguel Vargas hit a two-run tie single run in the sixth inning and NL West champion Los Angeles slowed San Diego’s playoff push.
The Dodgers added to their franchise record with their 108th win. They’ve already earned the No. 1 overall NL playoff pick and reduced their magic number to one to take home field advantage through the World Series.
San Diego’s magic number for a postseason berth was reduced to three when Milwaukee lost to Miami. San Diego is 2 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia for the NL’s second wildcard spot.
Los Angeles left-back Andrew Heaney (4-3) replaced opener Brusdar Graterol and scored four innings for the win. David Price worked the ninth for his second save. Pierce Johnson (1-2) was the loser.
GIANTS 6, ROCKIES 4
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ford Proctor hit a grand slam on his first home run in his career, Carlos Rodon hit 10 in six scoreless innings and San Francisco beat Colorado to complete a three-game sweep.
Austin Wynns and Wilmer Flores also drove runs to help San Francisco beat Colorado for an eighth straight season.
The Giants have won four straight games and nine of their last 10 to get back to .500 at 78-78. They trail Philadelphia by 5 1/2 games to earn the third and final wildcard position in the National League, with six games to go.
Sean Bouchard hit a homer for the Rockies. They have lost five straight games and nine of their last 10.
Rodon (14-8) limited Colorado to just two hits while taking the NL lead with 237 strikeouts. Camilo Doval completed his 27th save.