Aug 30, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) high fives third base coach Bobby Dickerson (11) after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Photo Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
BALTIMORE — Matt Wieters hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Baltimore Orioles a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the middle game of a crucial three-game series Tuesday night.
The Orioles (72-60) pulled within three games of first-place Toronto (75-57) in the American League East race. Baltimore snapped the Blue Jays’ four-game winning streak with the key victory, as a loss would have left the Orioles five back with only 30 games left.
Jonathan Schoop started the game-winning rally with a two-out walk off Jason Grilli (4-2). Wieters then crushed the first pitch for a two-run homer to right that snapped a 3-3 tie.
Brad Brach (8-2) got the victory thanks to 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Zach Britton came on the ninth and earned his 39th save in 39 chances this season.
Indians 5, Twins 4
CLEVELAND — Jason Kipnis and Rajai Davis homered and the bullpen pitched seven scoreless innings as Cleveland beat Minnesota at Progressive Field.
The loss is the 12th in a row for the Twins, the third-longest losing streak in team history.
Cleveland trailed 4-1 in the second inning as starter Josh Tomlin only recorded five outs before being removed from the game. But the Indians offense clawed its way back into the lead, and the bullpen made it stand up.
Rays 4, Red Sox 3
BOSTON — Evan Longoria did it to the Boston Red Sox again.
The Tampa Bay third baseman hit his 30th career home run — his third in the last week — against Boston to snap a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning, and the Rays came from behind to stun the Red Sox in the second game of a three-game series.
After Luke Maile tied the game with a two-run shot off Boston starter Drew Pomreanz with two outs in the seventh, Clay Buchholz (5-10), relieving for the second consecutive night, served up Longoria’s 21st homer of the year. It was the 16th long ball of Longoria’s career at Fenway Park.
Braves 7, Padres 3
ATLANTA — Julio Teheran got some rare run support from his Atlanta teammates and took advantage, winning his first game at home this season and first overall since June 19.
Teheran, the Braves’ All-Star Game representative, struck out eight and walked none over seven innings in a victory over San Diego that ended an eight-start winless streak for the right-hander.
In his third start since returning from a stint on the disabled list with a lat strain, Teheran (4-9) allowed a two-run homer by Oswaldo Arcia, but just five other hits while lowering his ERA slightly to 3.12.
Tigers 8, White Sox 4
DETROIT — JaCoby Jones had two hits and knocked in two runs in his major league debut and Ian Kinsler drove in four runs, powering Detroit to a victory over Chicago at Comerica Park.
Jones, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Toledo earlier in the day, drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning double and added an RBI single the following inning.
Kinsler supplied a two-run homer and two-run single, while J.D. Martinez had three extra-base hits, including a solo homer. Bruce Rondon (5-2) got the win with an inning of scoreless relief.
Mets 7, Marlins 4
NEW YORK — Jose Reyes collected four hits and Curtis Granderson hit two homers — one as a pinch-hitter and one after remaining in the game as the right fielder — as New York beat Miami in a battle of National League wild-card contenders at Citi Field.
The Mets have won the first two games of this four-game series and eight of their last 10 overall to move ahead of the Marlins in the NL East for the first time since July 25. The two teams began play Tuesday 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the second NL wild-card spot.
The Marlins have lost four straight and six of their last eight.
Nationals 3, Phillies 2
PHILADELPHIA — Trea Turner, a July call-up, collected two more hits Tuesday, and helped back a strong outing from starter Max Scherzer in Washington’s win over Philadelphia.
Turner posted his 15 multi-hit game in August alone. He also raised his average for the month to .357 (45-for-126). Turner is two hits from tying the Nationals/Expos franchise record for a month, a mark shared by Daniel Murphy (May 2016), Marquis Grissom (June 1994) and Al Oliver (August 1982).
Coming off one of his most dominant performances of the season, Scherzer (15-7) was near-untouchable early and merely terrific late.
Astros 3, Athletics 1
HOUSTON — Colby Rasmus made a triumphant return from the disabled list and Evan Gattis blasted a home run in support of Colin McHugh, who pitched six scoreless innings in the Houston’s victory over Oakland at Minute Maid Park.
Rasmus, sidelined since Aug. 5 following surgery to remove a cyst in his right ear, smacked his 13th home run and added his 17th outfield assist while Gattis blasted his 22nd home run to carry the Astros to a series victory over Oakland.
McHugh (9-10) outdueled Athletics right-hander Kendall Graveman (10-9), who lost for only the third time in his last 12 decisions. McHugh allowed just five baserunners over his six innings while recording five strikeouts for his second consecutive victory.
Cubs 3, Pirates 0
CHICAGO — Right-hander Kyle Hendricks scattered three hits over seven shutout innings as Chicago beat Pittsburgh.
Hendricks (13-7) struck out four and walked one while picking up his fourth win and second shutout in August. Carl Edwards blanked Pittsburgh in the eighth, and closer Aroldis Chapman worked a one-two-three ninth for his 31st save of the season and 11th with the Cubs.
The Cubs won for the sixth time in eight games and extended the lead in the National League Central to 14 1/2 games over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals. They also clinched the series entering the Wednesday finale of a three-game set.
