MLB Roundup: Braves Win Fifth Straight NL East Title

The Atlanta Braves pose for a group picture after clinching the division against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park in Miami, on Oct. 4, 2022. Megan Briggs/Getty Images

Jake Odorizzi pitched five strong innings and the Atlanta bullpen finished with four scoreless frames to help the visiting Braves beat the Miami Marlins 2–1 on Tuesday to clinch their fifth straight National League East championship.

Kenley Jansen retired the side in order in the ninth inning, striking out two, to post his league-leading 41st save. Jordan Groshans flied out to end the game.

It was the 22nd division title for the Braves, the most in major league history. The defending world champions were 10 1/2 games behind the New York Mets on May 1 before winning 77 of their next 110 games.

Atlanta pushed across the go-ahead run in the fifth when Travis d’Arnaud doubled, went to third on a grounder to first and scored on a swinging bunt from William Contreras. Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. hit an RBI single in the second. Miami tied it in the fourth when Jesus Sanchez hit a fence-clearing solo homer to left field.

Rangers 3, Yankees 2 (Game 2)

Aaron Judge hit his American League-record 62nd homer of the season, but Leody Taveras’ two-run homer was the difference as Texas topped New York in the second game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas.

Three pitches into the game, Judge ended the suspense by blasting home run No. 62 off right-hander Jesus Tinoco, surpassing Roger Maris as the AL’s single-season home run record holder. Maris’ 61 had stood since 1961.

Kolby Allard (1–2) picked up the win in relief, allowing one run in four innings, and Matt Moore earned his fourth save. Yankees starter Gerrit Cole (13–8) gave up three runs, two earned, in six innings. He fanned nine to set the franchise single-season record with 257 strikeouts, breaking the mark of 248 set by Ron Guidry in 1978.

Yankees 5, Rangers 4 (Game 1)

Kyle Higashioka hit a game-tying home run and Aaron Judge scored the go-ahead run that lifted New York to a comeback win over Texas in Game 1 of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas.

Sitting on 61 home runs, Judge went 1–for–5 as the designated hitter.

Rangers right-hander Jon Gray logged six innings, giving up three runs on four hits, including two home runs. Yankees right-hander Jameson Taillon yielded four runs on seven hits in six innings in his final start before the playoffs.

Padres 6, Giants 2

Sean Manaea, battling for a berth on the Padres’ playoff roster, retired the last 17 batters he faced in six scoreless innings as San Diego beat visiting San Francisco.

The Padres (89–72) clinched the No. 2 National League wild-card berth and will open the playoffs at the New York Mets on Friday.

Wil Myers and Ha-Seong Kim were among six Padres with two hits; each drove in two runs, and Myers homered.

A’s 2, Angels 1 (10 innings)

Shea Langeliers drew a full-count, walk-off walk with one out in the 10th inning, giving Oakland a second extra-inning win in two days over visiting Los Angeles.

After A.J. Puk (4–3) stranded the potential go-ahead run at third base in the top of the 10th, the A’s overcame Nick Allen’s baserunning miscue in the bottom of the inning.

After Allen overstepped third base and was tagged out, Sean Murphy’s single sent Tony Kemp to third. Seth Brown was intentionally walked in front of Langeliers, who was credited with the game-winning RBI.

Mariners 7, Tigers 6 (Game 1)

Backup catcher Luis Torrens pitched the 10th inning and earned the win for Seattle against Detroit in the opening game of a doubleheader.

The Mariners (88–72) secured the No. 5 seed in the playoffs later Tuesday when the Tampa Bay Rays lost to the Boston Red Sox 6–0 in a rain-shortened game. The Mariners will open a best-of-three wild-card series at Toronto on Friday.

Torrens gave up a sacrifice fly to Riley Greene that lifted the Tigers to a 6–5 lead, but Seattle came back with two runs in the bottom of the 10th on an RBI single by Carlos Santana and a game-winning sacrifice fly by Abraham Toro. Mitch Haniger and Curt Casali homered and Santana had three hits for the Mariners. Spencer Torkelson and Victor Reyes each hit a two-run homer for the Tigers (66–94), who had won nine of 10 coming into the game.

Mariners 9, Tigers 6 (Game 2)

Abraham Toro homered and drove in four runs to help Seattle sweep a doubleheader against visiting Detroit.

Cal Raleigh had three hits, including a home run, and Dylan Moore contributed three RBIs for the Mariners. Left-hander Justus Sheffield (1–0) lasted five innings in his first start of the season. He allowed five runs and seven hits, struck out four and walked four.

Kody Clemens hit a grand slam and Spencer Torkelson had three hits, including a home run, for the Tigers.

Guardians 5, Royals 3

Jose Ramirez hit a two-run double and Owen Miller added a two-run home run in a five-run fifth inning as Cleveland defeated visiting Kansas City.

Guardians starter Cal Quantrill (15–5) allowed one run on four hits in five innings. He improved to 14–0 in his career at Progressive Field, matching Vic Raschi’s major league record for success in one ballpark. Raschi posted a 14–0 record for the Yankees at Chicago’s Comiskey Park from 1947 to 1955.

Emmanuel Clase allowed an unearned run in the ninth but picked up his 42nd save in 46 chances. Royals starter Daniel Lynch (4–13) allowed five runs—all in the fifth—on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Mets 4, Nationals 2 (Game 1)

Brandon Nimmo homered and finished with three RBIs for New York by defeating visiting Washington in the first game of a doubleheader.

Nimmo finished 3–for–5 and a triple shy of the cycle. Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil improved his chances of winning the NL batting crown by going 2–for–3 to lift his average to .328.

Mets starter Carlos Carrasco allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three in four-plus innings. Nationals starter Cory Abbott (0–5) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits over four innings.

Mets 8, Nationals 0 (Game 2)

New York was eliminated from the National League East race hours before completing a doubleheader sweep and earning its 100th win of the season.

Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil opened the game with homers off Paolo Espino. It was the first time in franchise history—dating back to 1962—the Mets have hit three straight homers to start a game.

The Mets, who spent 175 days in first place, are the fourth seed in the NL and will host a best-of-three wild-card series beginning Friday against either the San Diego Padres or Philadelphia Phillies.

Rockies 5, Dodgers 2

Randal Grichuk hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning as Colorado earned its third consecutive win at Los Angeles.

Brendan Rodgers and Sean Bouchard also hit home runs for the Rockies. Ryan Feltner (4–9) gave up two runs on four hits over six innings.

Joey Gallo homered for the Dodgers, who have scored just four runs over the past three games. Despite a no-decision, Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias clinched the National League ERA title with a 2.16 mark. He gave up two runs over four hits in five innings.

Reds 3, Cubs 2

Spencer Steer crushed a game-winning double to deep center to score Stuart Fairchild with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as Cincinnati beat visiting Chicago.

Cincinnati reliever Alexis Diaz (7–3) recorded the final four outs and pitched out of a ninth-inning jam. The only hit Reds starter Luis Cessa allowed through five innings was a leadoff homer on a first-pitch slider to Cubs catcher Willson Contreras in the fourth.

Nico Hoerner opened the seventh with his 10th homer, to the seats in left off Fernando Cruz, to put Chicago ahead 2–0. The Reds managed to tie the game in the seventh when Jose Barrero worked a two-out, full-count walk. Chuckie Robinson followed with his second homer, a two-run shot to right off reliever Keegan Thompson.

Red Sox 6, Rays 0 (5 innings)

Behind Xander Bogaerts’ grand slam and Nathan Eovaldi’s five shutout innings, Boston earned a rain-shortened win over visiting Tampa Bay.

Christian Arroyo went 2–for–2 with an RBI before the Bogaerts slam highlighted what turned out to be the final frame for the Red Sox, who have started the season-ending series with back-to-back wins. Eovaldi (6–3) allowed two hits, walked two and struck out four in the truncated complete game.

Tampa Bay has lost four straight games and six straight series. Reliever Colin Poche was removed due to a right oblique strain.

Cardinals 8, Pirates 7 (10 innings)

Juan Yepez’s RBI single in the top of the 10th inning helped St. Louis send Pittsburgh to its 100th loss.

Each starter lasted 2 2/3 innings in an offensive barrage. St. Louis starter Dakota Hudson allowed seven runs and nine hits. Pittsburgh starter JT Brubaker allowed three runs and four hits.

Along with Yepez’s game winning hit, St. Louis received RBI hits from Corey Dickerson, Albert Pujols and Chase De Jong.

Brewers 3, Diamondbacks 0

Eric Lauer tossed six hitless innings, two relievers finished the one-hitter and Luis Urias homered and drove in two runs to pace Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Arizona.

Jake Cousins replaced Lauer (11–7) in the seventh inning and gave up a leadoff single to Josh Rojas. Cousins completed two scoreless innings and Peter Strzelecki finished with a perfect ninth for his first career save.

Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen (12–4) allowed three runs on five hits in five innings.

White Sox 8, Twins 3

Elvis Andrus had two hits, including a three-run home run, and Gavin Sheets hit a two-run single to back seven strong innings from Lucas Giolito and lift host Chicago to a victory against Minnesota on Tuesday night.

Chicago scored four runs apiece in the third and fourth innings to seize control and assure the club of at least a .500 record this season. Chicago has won three straight and five of six. Giolito was the beneficiary of an eight-hit Chicago attack, limiting the Twins to two runs and two hits in seven innings. Giolito (11–9) walked two and struck out four while lowering his season ERA to 4.90.

Minnesota first baseman Luis Arraez went 1–for–4 as he vies to become the first Twin to win an AL batting title since Joe Mauer in 2009. Arraez enters Wednesday with a .315 batting average, giving him a slight edge over his nearest challenger, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, who is hitting .311.

Astros 10, Phillies 0

Justin Verlander twirled five no-hit innings as Houston pummeled Philadelphia and nearly completed a combined no-hitter against the National League foe.

Houston relievers Hunter Brown and Hector Neris followed Verlander and continued the clean sheet until Garrett Stubbs led off the ninth inning with a hit for Philadelphia. Houston had a perfect game through four innings until Brandon Marsh led off the fifth inning with a walk.