Tampa Bay Rays' outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is unable to make a play on a ball hit by Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Pillar during the third inning of their baseball game in Toronto Saturday. — AP
NEW YORK — Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking double in the bottom of the sixth inning and the New York Yankees held on for a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox Saturday. Rodriguez hit a 3-1 pitch off left-hander John Danks (7-14) which deflected off third baseman Mike Olt's glove into left field and allowed third baseman Chase Headley to score the go-ahead run. Red Sox 8, Orioles 0: Craig Breslow allowed only two hits and two walks while striking struck out two in a scoreless four-inning spot start to set the tone in the Boston Red Sox's 8-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Saturday at Fenway Park. Breslow, a left-handed reliever, threw 55 pitches in his first career start, which came at the age of 35 making him the oldest Red Sox pitcher at the time of his first start. Blue Jays 10, Rays 8: David Price pitched five innings, Jose Bautista hit two home runs and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-8 Saturday. Russell Martin also homered for the Blue Jays (89-65), who won their third in a row after entering with four-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East. They already have clinched at least the second AL wild-card spot. Mets 10, Reds 2: Lucas Duda hit his first career grand slam and Curtis Granderson added a second-inning solo shot as the New York Mets clinched their first division title and postseason berth since 2006 with a 10-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Michael Cuddyer chipped in with a two-run double to help New York set a franchise record with its 10th consecutive road victory, breaking the record set by that 2006 team. Astros 9, Rangers 7: Rookie shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve recorded multi-home run games as the Houston Astros kept alive their slim American League West title hopes with a 9-7 victory over the Texas Rangers Saturday at Minute Maid Park. The Astros (81-74) snapped an eight-game losing skid to the Rangers (84-70) by bashing six home runs, two each from Correa and Altuve to cut the deficit in the AL West to 3-1/2 games. Pirates 4, Cubs 0: Jordy Mercer's three-run homer in the fifth inning gave the Pittsburgh Pirates all the runs they needed in a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs Saturday in a potential National League wild-card playoff game preview. The Cubs clinched the second wild-card spot late Friday night as the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants, the last surviving wild-card contender, lost 5-4 to the Oakland Athletics. The Pirates already hold the top wild-card position and also remain in contention for the NL Central title as they chase the St. Louis Cardinals. Giants 14, A's 10: Rookie left fielder Jarrett Parker hit three home runs, including a grand slam, to power the San Francisco Giants to a 14-10 victory over Oakland at O.co Coliseum. The defending World Series champion Giants pulled within 7-1/2 games of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West with the win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. In other games it was: Nationals 2, Phillies 1 (12); Cardinals 5, Brewers 1; Marlins 6, Braves 2; Indians 9, Royals 5; Twins 6, Tigers 2; Rockies 8, Dodgers 6; Padres 3, Diamondbacks 0; Angels 3, Mariners 2. — Agencies
