Sep 26, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly watches as his team takes a knee around the pitchers mound to honor teammate starting pitcher Jose Fernandez after defeating the New York Mets 7-3 at Marlins Park. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
MIAMI — The Miami Marlins, playing inspired baseball in their first game since the tragic death of pitcher Jose Fernandez, routed the New York Mets 7-3 on Monday night at Marlins Park.
Fernandez, who was already a two-time All-Star at age 24, died early Sunday morning in a boating accident in which speed was a factor, according to authorities.
There were numerous tributes to Fernandez throughout Monday’s game, and every Marlins player wore No. 16 in honor of their fallen teammate.
Before the game, Mets and Marlins players and coaches exchanged hugs. The Marlins players also kneeled around the mound Fernandez virtually owned with a 29-2 record and a 1.49 ERA at Marlins Park.
Once the game began, the Marlins (78-78) gave numerous indications that this would be a truly special night for their organization and fans.
Indians 7, Tigers 4
DETROIT — Coco Crisp hit a two-run home run and Roberto Perez added a solo shot plus an RBI single and Cleveland’s bullpen pieced together five workable relief innings to help the Indians defeat Detroit and clinch their eighth American League Central Division title.
Crisp and Rajai Davis singled with two out in the eighth before Perez lined a single to center to give Cleveland a 6-4 lead. Carlos Santana hit a pop fly near the right field line that J.D. Martinez dropped for a run-scoring error to make it 7-4.
Miguel Cabrera’s second RBI single of the game and 97th of the season cut a two-run Indians lead down to 5-4 in the seventh. Ian Kinsler doubled to left off Brian Shaw and went to third on a groundout.
Cubs 12, Pirates 2
PITTSBURGH — Javier Baez hit a grand slam, and Kris Bryant added a two-run homer as Chicago pounded Pittsburgh at PNC Park for its 100th win of the year.
The Cubs reached 100 victories for the first time since 1935.
Chicago has clinched everything it can before the playoffs, including the best record in the major leagues, but keeps on chugging. The win was the Cubs’ fifth in six games.
The Cubs are 13-3 this season against the Pirates, who have lost four of five to see their “tragic number” for elimination from wild-card contention reduced to two.
Yankees 7, Blue Jays 5
TORONTO — Mark Teixeira and Aaron Hicks homered in a five-run ninth inning and New York came back to defeat Toronto to avoid a sweep in the four-game series.
The Blue Jays scored twice in the bottom of the ninth in a rally that fell short.
The solo homer by Teixeira and the two-run shot by Hicks came against Toronto reliever Jason Grilli (7-6) and ended the Yankees’ four-game losing streak in a game that had two bench-clearing incidents.
Diamondbacks 14, Nationals 4
WASHINGTON — Jean Segura had three hits, including two homers, and drove in three runs and Yasmany Tomas had two hits, including a homer, and drove in five runs as last-place Arizona hit five homers to beat Washington.
The winning pitcher was Zach Godley (5-4), who came out of the bullpen to pitch three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. Segura hit a two-run homer off rookie reliever Lucas Giolito to make it 12-4 in the eighth and Jake Lamb followed with a solo shot.
Chris Owings had an RBI groundout in the ninth for Arizona to make it 14-4.
Washington catcher Wilson Ramos was taken out of the game in the top of the sixth inning when he appeared to injure his right leg.
Brewers 8, Rangers 3
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jonathan Villar homered twice, Matt Garza went six solid innings against his former team and Milwaukee beat Texas at Globe Life Park.
Texas no longer owns the best record in the American League, falling behind idle Boston by a 1/2 game.
The AL West champs were constantly playing catch up in the opener of a three-game series and a six-game homestand to end the regular season. The Brewers roughed up Rangers starter Martin Perez early, with Villar inflicting most of the damage.
Reds 15, Cardinals 2
ST. LOUIS — With a chance to tie the San Francisco Giants for the National League’s second wild-card spot, St. Louis instead endured its worst loss of the year. Enjoying its first 22-hit game since 2003, Cincinnati piled up a season high for runs in a blowout at Busch Stadium.
Rookie Steve Selsky led the assault, going 5-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs. Adam Duvall went 4-for-6 with four runs and five RBIs, giving him 100 RBIs for the year, and Brandon Phillips went 4-for-5, the 14th four-hit game of his career.
Not to be outdone, rookie pitcher Tim Adleman (3-4) went seven strong innings, allowing four hits and two runs with no walks and four strikeouts.
