MLB SCORES

MLB Scores: Jays extend lead over Yankees

The Sports Xchange

September 23, 2015 at 10:17 pm.

Sep 23, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third base coach Luis Riveria (4) congratulates catcher Russell Martin (55) on his three run home run in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 23, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third base coach Luis Riveria (4) congratulates catcher Russell Martin (55) on his three run home run in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre.  (John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

TORONTO — Marcus Stroman pitched seven scoreless innings, Russell Martin hit a three-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 4-0 on Wednesday.

The victory in the rubber match of the three-game series gave the Blue Jays (87-65) a 3 1/2-game lead over the second-place Yankees (83-68) in the American League East.

Stroman (3-0) allowed five hits, one walk and struck out five.

Twins 4, Indians 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Phil Hughes pitched five scoreless innings as Minnesota toppled Cleveland.

Minnesota’s win, coupled with a loss by Houston earlier in the day, means the Twins are now just one game back of the second wild card spot in the American League.

The Twins did all of their damage in the fourth inning against reigning American League Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber. Minnesota tagged Kluber for four runs in the inning as Kluber lasted just 3 2/3 innings, his shortest start of the season.

Cardinals 10, Reds 2

ST. LOUIS — A rare power display enabled St. Louis to further reduce its magic number for a third straight National League Central title.

Matt Carpenter clouted a pair of two-run homers, extending his career high to 26, while Randal Grichuk and Peter Bourjos cracked solo shots to highlight a 13-hit attack that led to runs in five innings.

Lance Lynn was the beneficiary of the explosion, although his six-inning outing would have stood up nicely with far less support. Bouncing back from three consecutive sub-par outings, Lynn gave up only three hits and no runs, walking none and whiffing four.

Orioles 4, Nationals 3

WASHINGTON — Manny Machado lined a two-run, go-ahead homer with two outs in the seventh off ace Max Scherzer as Baltimore beat Washington to keep itsslim playoff hopes alive.

The 30th homer of the year by Machado was a liner to center that came on a 2-2 pitch from Scherzer, who has not won at Nationals Park since his June 20 no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The homer also came on the season-high 122nd pitch from Scherzer, who fanned 12 batters and gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings, but couldn’t help the Nationals gain any ground in the pennant race.

Angels 6, Astros 5

HOUSTON — David Freese delivered a two-strike, two-out, two-run double in a three-run eighth inning that helped Los Angeles beat Houston.

Freese pushed the Angels in front with his blast to left-center field off Pat Neshek. The long drive just eluded Colby Rasmus.

The Angels closed to within 1 1/2 games of the Astros in the chase for the second wild card in the American League.

Tigers 7, White Sox 4

DETROIT — Justin Verlander pitched seven strong innings and Victor Martinez blasted his 200th career home run to lead Detroit over Chicago.

Verlander struck out eight and gave up three runs and five hits in his final home start of the year. Martinez gave Verlander an early cushion with his two-run shot in the first inning.

Melky Cabrera had three hits, including his 100th career homer, and drove in three runs for the White Sox. Frankie Montas gave up six runs and six hits in his first big league start.

Braves 6, Mets 3

NEW YORK — Freddie Freeman capped a brief but very productive night by hitting a tie-breaking, three-run homer with one out in the ninth inning to lift Atlanta past New York.

Freeman, who didn’t start the game due to a sore right wrist, entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth and delivered a two-run double to give the Braves a 3-2 lead. The five RBIs tied a career high, set four times previously.

The Braves won the final two games of the three-game series and have won five of their last six.

Brewers 4, Cubs 1

CHICAGO — Zach Davies worked six shutout innings for his second win of the month as Milwaukee avoided a series sweep.

The Brewers snapped a two-game losing streak. The Cubs saw a two-game winning run end and missed a chance for their 90th victory.

Right-handed reliever Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for his 35th save.

Marlins 4, Phillies 3

MIAMI — Dee Gordon hit a two-out double in the 11th inning to lead Miami Marlins to the walk-off win.

Miguel Rojas, who hit a two-out single to start the rally, scored the winning run from second base.

Jerome Williams (4-12) took the loss.

Rays 6, Red Sox 2

BOSTON — Daniel Nava delivered a two-out, go-ahead single in the seventh inning against his former club to break a scoreless tie and spark Tampa Bay.

Nava, who spent five seasons with the Red Sox and was part of the World Series championship team in 2013, slapped a ball right under Dustin Pedroia’s glove into right field, allowing Kevin Kiermaier to score from third.

Kiermaier stole second and third in the inning — his 17th and 18th swipes of the year — to put himself in scoring position after reaching on a one-out single earlier in the frame.

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA