Sep 30, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Mets right fielder Jay Bruce (19) hits an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA — Jay Bruce is doing everything in his power to help the New York Mets reach the postseason.
Bruce homered for the third straight game and knocked in three runs to help the Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-1.
Bruce’s home run in the top of the seventh gave the Mets a 3-1 lead and some much needed insurance. An inning later, his RBI single capped off a two-run eighth inning that put the visitors a comfortable distance away from their rivals.
The Mets clinched at least a wild-card tiebreaker and know their season cannot end on Sunday, the league’s final regular season date.
Rangers 3, Rays 1
ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish struck out a season-high 12 batters as Texas wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Darvish became just the third pitcher in club history to strike out at least 12 in six innings, joining Nolan Ryan and Matt Perisho.
Darvish allowed just three hits and one run while walking one.
Tigers 6, Braves 2
ATLANTA — Miguel Cabrera hit a pair of home runs and Daniel Norris threw 6 2/3 strong innings to keep the Tigers’ playoff hopes alive.
Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot in the third, his 37th and 38th of the season, in recording the 39th multi-homer game of his career, sixth of the season.
Norris recorded his longest stint of the season. He scattered four hits, walked two and struck out eight.
Orioles 8, Yankees 1
NEW YORK — Jonathan Schoop tied a career-high with five RBIs and hit one of three home runs for Baltimore.
Schoop had his second five-RBI game with a two-run double and a three-run homer as the Orioles scored their runs in the fourth and fifth innings. He became the fifth Oriole to hit at least 25 home runs.
Adam Jones hit his 29th home run and Mark Trumbo hit his major league-leading 47th homer for the Orioles, who have won six of seven.
Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 3
BOSTON — David Ortiz, honored before the game, singled home a run in the first inning and ripped a two-run homer in a four-run seventh that gave the Boston an important win over fading Toronto.
The win, in a game delayed at the start and played in a steady mist, kept the Red Sox one half-game ahead of Cleveland for home-field advantage in their American League Division Series.
The Blue Jays, who lost their third straight, fell a game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the top wild card spot and also saw their lead for the second wild car over the Detroit Tigers shrink to one-half game.
Indians 7, Royals 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Francisco Lindor homered, doubled and drove in three runs and Carlos Santana had three hits and two RBIs for Cleveland.
Ryan Merritt picked up a victory in his first major league start. Merritt went 6-1 with a 2.72 ERA in his final 10 starts with Triple-A Columbus before being recalled.
Lindor blasted his 15th home run of the season and his first since Aug. 10 against reliever Brian Flynn with two runners on base in the seventh.
Cubs 7, Reds 3
CINCINNATI — Ben Zobrist homered twice, and Anthony Rizzo singled home two more runs, lifting Chicago over Cincinnati to open the final regular season series for both clubs.
It was the second multi-home run game of the season for Zobrist, and seventh of his career. He now has 17 homers this season.
The Cubs (102-57) improved to 14-3 this season against the Reds.
White Sox 7, Twins 3
CHICAGO – Carlos Rodon struck out 10, including the first seven batters he faced and Tim Anderson and Melky Cabrera each had three hits and two RBIs for Chicago.
Rodon matched an American League and White Sox record with his seven-strikeout streak, which was snapped when Logan Schafer doubled with one out in the third inning.
Rodon scattered three hits over six innings and walked three to go along with his 10 strikeouts — the fourth time he reached double figures in strikeouts in his career.
Rockies 4, Brewers 1
DENVER — Chad Bettis pitched into the seventh inning and Colorado scored four runs in the first three innings.
Bettis (14-8) finished his season with career-highs in wins, innings (186), starts (32) and strikeouts (138).
Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer in the first, keeping him atop the National League with 41 homers. Charlie Blackmon singled home a run in the second, giving him 80 RBIs. He is the eighth player in NL history to drive in 80 runs from the leadoff spot.
