Guardians tie for first place in AL Central after rallying against Tigers
CORRECTION CORRECTS HITTING ON THE FACE BY PITCH - Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, left, attends to David Fry after Fry was hit in the face by a pitch in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Cleveland, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
By The Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez drove in a run with a swinging bunt when Cleveland rallied in a strange sixth inning against Detroit ace Tarik Skubal, and the Guardians beat the Tigers 5-2 on Tuesday night to move into a tie for first place in the AL Central.
Cleveland caught Detroit after being 15 1/2 games back on July 8. The Guardians, who were still 12 1/2 games behind the Tigers on Aug. 25, have won 11 of 12. They are 17-5 in September.
The Tigers have dropped seven straight and 10 of 11 as their giant lead has shrunk to zero.
Skubal (13-6), the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, fell apart in the sixth, becoming visibly shaken when Cleveland’s David Fry was struck in the face by his 99 mph fastball. He also had a throwing error, a wild pitch and a balk in the inning.
With two runners on, Fry squared to bunt and Skubal’s pitch drilled the designated hitter in the nose and mouth area. As Fry collapsed, a distraught Skubal immediately dropped his cap and glove and covered his mouth in disbelief.
Fry was driven off the field on a cart. The Guardians said he was being assessed at Lutheran Medical Center.
Gavin Williams (12-5) matched a career high with 12 strikeouts in six innings for Cleveland, which can eclipse the 1978 New York Yankees, who overcame a 14-game deficit, for the largest comeback since divisional play began in 1969.
PIRATES 4, REDS 2
CINCINNATI (AP) — Oneil Cruz hit a two-run homer and last-place Pittsburgh beat wild-card chasing Cincinnati.
The loss, along with the New York Mets’ 9-7 win over the Chicago Cubs, dropped the Reds a full game behind the Mets in the race for the third NL wild card.
The Pirates scored all four of their runs in the second inning against Brady Singer (14-11).
Jack Suwinski doubled and scored on Nick Yorke’s single. Yorke scored from first on Alexander Canario’s double. Cruz’s 20th homer of the season made it 4-0.
Elly De La Cruz, who snapped a 43-game homerless streak on Saturday, got the Reds’ on the board with a two-run homer off Johan Oviedo to make the score 4-2 in the bottom of the second.
The Reds had runners on first and third with two outs in the sixth, but Pirates rookie Hunter Barco (1-0), making his major league debut, got Matt McLain to ground into a force play. Barco earned his first career victory.
The Reds managed only five hits and grounded into three straight inning-ending double plays including in the ninth to help Dennis Santana secure his 15th save.
BRAVES 3, NATIONALS 2
ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II homered twice, Hurston Waldrep pitched six innings of one-run ball and Atlanta beat Washington for its 10th straight victory.
Six of those wins have come against the last-place Nationals, including Atlanta’s first four-game sweep (from Sept. 15-17) of the Washington/Montreal franchise. Despite the longest active win streak in the majors, the Braves have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Waldrep (6-1) allowed five hits, walked four and had five strikeouts. Raisel Iglesias pitched a scoreless ninth for his 28th save.
Harris it a 444-foot shot over the wall in right-center field in the fifth and added a leadoff homer in the seventh that made it 3-1. Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a go-ahead homer for Atlanta in the sixth.
Nationals starter Brad Lord (5-9) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings.
RED SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 1
TORONTO (AP) — Carlos Narváez hit a two-run double in the sixth inning, Nathaniel Lowe had two RBI singles and Boston beat AL-leading Toronto.
The slumping Blue Jays had just three hits and lost for the fifth time in six games. Toronto began the day with a two-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East. New York closed to within a game after rallying to beat the White Sox 3-2.
Masataka Yoshida had two hits and scored a run as the Red Sox improved to 40-39 on the road.
Justin Wilson (4-1) got four outs for the win and Aroldis Chapman finished for his 32nd save in 34 chances as the Red Sox boosted their wild card hopes.
Narváez chased Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman with a two-out hit in the sixth that put the Red Sox up 4-1.
Gausman (10-11) allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out seven.
Boston’s Lucas Giolito allowed one run and three hits in 4 2/3 innings, failing to finish five innings for the second straight start. Giolito walked four and struck out three.
YANKEES 3, WHITE SOX 2
NEW YORK (AP) — José Caballero’s RBI single with two out in the ninth inning scored Aaron Judge and New York rallied to beat Chicago, securing their eighth playoff appearance in nine seasons.
With the win, the Yankees moved within a game of AL East-leading Toronto and reached the playoffs for the 60th time in team history. It was New York’s second victory in 61 games when trailing through eight innings.
Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells opened the ninth inning with singles off Brandon Eisert (3-7). After Trent Grisham bounced into a double play, Judge drew his second intentional walk of the game. Cody Bellinger followed with a walk and Volpe scored on a wild pitch by Eisert. Caballero then punctuated a nine-pitch at-bat against Steven Wilson by looping a single that dropped in front of center fielder Brooks Baldwin as Judge scored the winning run.
Caballero was mobbed at first base by his teammates and doused with water by Paul Goldschmidt and Austin Wells as he conducted his postgame interview.
Colson Montgomery hit a two-run homer in the sixth off Luis Gil to give the White Sox a 2-1 lead.
New York faltered in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings before Caballero delivered his biggest hit as a Yankee.
Gil, auditioning for a spot in New York’s rotation, allowed two runs and four hits in six innings.
ORIOLES 6, RAYS 0
BALTIMORE (AP) — Dean Kremer pitched 6 1/3 innings of one-hit ball and Baltimore began its final home series of the season with a victory over Tampa Bay.
Kremer (11-10) struck out four and hit one batter but walked none in his 30th outing. In a game between clubs already eliminated from postseason contention, he continued his dominance of the Rays, improving his lifetime ERA to 1.64 and record to 5-1 across 11 starts against Tampa Bay.
Colton Cowser hit a two-run homer off Ian Seymour in the sixth. Gunnar Henderson drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and a single off starter Ryan Pepiot, and Jordan Westburg and Tyler O’Neill also had run-scoring hits.
Pepiot (11-12) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk over three innings in his career-high 31st outing to begin the Rays’ season-ending, six-game road trip. The 28-year-old has a 3.86 ERA over a career-best 167 2/3 innings.
METS 9, CUBS 7
CHICAGO (AP) — Francisco Alvarez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo went deep and New York rallied to beat Chicago.
Alvarez gave New York a 9-7 lead when he connected with two out against Caleb Thielbar (3-4) after Brett Baty led off with a single, and the Mets came away with the win after trailing 6-1. It was the Mets’ largest comeback win this season. They moved a game ahead of Cincinnati for the third wild card with the Reds losing 4-2 to Pittsburgh.
Lindor led off the game against Cade Horton with his 29th homer. He also gave New York a 7-6 lead in the sixth with an RBI single against Drew Pomeranz.
Nimmo capped a five run fifth with a three-run homer off Taylor Rogers that tied it at 6-all. Brooks Raley (3-0) got the win. Edwin Díaz struck out the side in the ninth for his 27th save in 30 chances, and New York came out on top even though starter David Peterson made an early exit. The left-hander lasted just 1 1/3 innings in his shortest start this season, allowing five runs and five hits.
The wild card-leading Cubs lost their fifth in a row after dropping all four games at Cincinnati.
Nico Hoerner had three hits and scored four runs for the Cubs.
TWINS 4, RANGERS 1
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Zebby Matthews allowed his only run on a leadoff homer while pitching seven innings for Minnesota in a win over Texas, who lost its eighth game in a row and were eliminated from the playoff chase.
The Rangers were within two games of the AL West lead on Sept. 13 and in the thick of the wild-card chase after a 13-3 span with a pair of six-game winning streaks. They haven’t won since and dropped to 5 1/2 games behind Houston for the American League’s final playoff spot with five games left.
Joc Pederson’s ninth homer gave Texas the quick lead. Matthews (5-6) allowed only three singles after that and struck out six without a walk while matching the longest of his 25 career starts.
Minnesota went ahead after Kody Clemens had a leadoff double in the third and scored on a fielder’s-choice grounder by Byron Buxton, who came home on a single by Ryan Jeffries. Clemens added an RBI single in the sixth.
Patrick Corbin (7-11), the first of six Texas pitchers, allowed two runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings.
MARLINS 6, PHILLIES 5, 11 INNINGS
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Xavier Edwards drove in the winning run with an 11th-inning sacrifice fly, Heriberto Hernández and Griffin Conine homered during a late rally and Miami kept its playoff hopes alive with a win over Philadelphia.
Hernández, who had three hits, homered with one out in the ninth inning off Philadelphia closer Jhoan Duran to force extras. Conine homered in the eighth inning off David Robertson to start the comeback in which Miami scored all of its runs from the eighth onward.
Miami won its seventh straight game and has won 11 of 12 to stay four games out of the last wild-card spot with five to play.
Josh Simpson (4-2) picked up the win by pitching 1 1/3 innings in relief. Lou Trivino (3-2) gave up the winning run.
Kyle Schwarber and Otto Kemp homered for Philadelphia, which has dropped three straight.
PADRES 7, BREWERS 0
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn’s grand slam was one of San Diego’s three homers and Randy Vásquez and two relievers combined on a four-hitter as the Padres beat NL Central champion Milwaukee in what could be a playoff preview.
The loss by the Brewers (95-63) assures no 100-game winners in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2012-14. The Brewers’ magic number for clinching the best record in the majors and homefield advantage throughout the postseason is down to two over Philadelphia.
The Padres have won four straight, including the first two games in this three-game series. They clinched a postseason berth with a 5-4, 11-inning win on Monday night.
San Diego pulled within 1 1/2 games of the Chicago Cubs in the race for the National League’s top wild card and the right to host a best-of-three series next week. If the current standings hold, the Padres and Cubs would meet in a wild-card series, with the winner to face the Brewers.
MARINERS 4, ROCKIES 3
SEATTLE (AP) — Josh Naylor hit a two-out, bases-clearing double in the eighth inning to send Seattle to the playoffs with a victory over Colorado.
The Mariners won for the 15th time in 16 games to secure the team’s second postseason appearance since 2001. They can wrap up the AL West title as soon as Wednesday.
Seattle came into the game needing a win and a victory by the New York Yankees, who did their part by beating the Chicago White Sox. But for most of the game, it appeared the Mariners would have to wait. They trailed 3-1 through seven innings and finished the game with just three hits.
Their last hit, from Naylor, was all they needed. The Mariners loaded the bases in the eighth when reliever Juan Mejia (2-2) hit two batters and walked another. Naylor then drove a 2-0 fastball from Victor Vodnik into the left-center gap to score three runs.
Gabe Speier (4-3) pitched the eighth for Seattle, and Andres Munoz struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 38th save.
In his sixth career start, Rockies right-hander McCade Brown held Seattle to one run on two hits in five innings while setting a new high for strikeouts with 10. Brown entered the game with 11 career strikeouts and his previous best was four, which he reached in the second inning Tuesday.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, DODGERS 4
PHOENIX (AP) — Geraldo Perdomo hit a two-out, game-winning single in the ninth inning and Arizona recovered from an early four-run deficit to beat Los Angeles, keeping pace in the National League wild- card race.
The D-backs are one game behind the New York Mets for the final NL wild card, tied with the Cincinnati Reds.
Arizona trailed 4-3 entering the ninth but Perdomo ripped a two-out single to left field off Dodgers closer Tanner Scott (1-4) that scored Tim Tawa from second base for the winning run.
Jorge Barrosa tied the game earlier in the ninth with a sacrifice fly to deep left.
The Dodgers are now just 1 1/2 games ahead of the San Diego Padres for the NL West lead.
Shohei Ohtani threw a season-high scoreless innings as the Dodgers built an early 4-0 lead. Teoscar Hernández had a three-RBI night.
Arizona trailed 4-0 after 6 1/2 innings, but had a three-run rally in the seventh. Adrian Del Castillo had a pinch-hit, two-run homer that made it 4-3.
Ohtani had his third straight scoreless start, dominating with eight strikeouts. He gave up five hits, all singles. The two-way star threw a season-high 91 pitches and was 0 for 3 at the plate with a walk and run scored.
ATHLETICS 5, ASTROS 1
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Slumping Houston fell out of playoff position, managing just three hits against Jeffrey Springs and three Athletics relievers in a loss.
Houston (84-73) has lost four straight. The Astros dropped four games behind AL West-leading Seattle and a game behind Detroit for the third and final American League wild-card spot.
Springs (11-11) worked five innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks. Tyler Ferguson, Justin Sterner and Michael Kelly combined to pitch four innings of hitless relief. Jacob Wilson was 2 for 2 with an RBI and scored twice for the A’s.
Astros starter Cristian Javier (2-4) gave up four runs — three earned — in 4 2/3 innings.
Nick Kurtz doubled to lead off the first inning and scored when Brent Rooker reached on a two-out fielding error by Javier.
Wilson doubled and scored on a two-out single by Darell Hernaiz in the fourth.
ROYALS 8, ANGELS 4
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. and Adam Frazier each drove in two runs, Salvador Perez moved into second place on Kansas City’s career RBI list and the Royals beat Los Angeles, shortly after being eliminated from postseason contention.
The Royals (79-78) were knocked out of the race for an AL wild card with five games remaining in their regular season. Kansas City, which reached the playoffs last season, has failed to qualify for the postseason in nine of the last 10 seasons.
Perez singled to center in the first inning to score Witt. It was the 35-year-old catcher’s 97th RBI of the season and 1,013th of his career, moving him past Hal McRae. The Royals’ all-time RBI leader is George Brett with 1,596.
Maikel Garcia went 3 for 4 with two doubles. It was Garcia’s second career game with three hits and three runs scored, and his 11th three-hit game of the season.
Royals starter Cole Ragans (3-3) allowed two runs on three hits and struck out 10 over five innings in his second start since returning from the injured list with a left rotator cuff strain.
CARDINALS 9, GIANTS 8
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Alec Burleson hit a go-ahead RBI single with one out in the ninth inning as St. Louis rallied against San Francisco closer Ryan Walker for a win.
Both teams were fighting to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, but San Francisco was eliminated.
Brendan Donovan drove in the tying run against Walker (5-7) with his fourth double of the night after Victor Scott hit a leadoff single.
Iván Herrera hit a three-run homer and Nolan Arenado a solo drive in the seventh as St. Louis pulled within 8-7.
Matt Svanson (4-0) pitched the eighth for the win before JoJo Romero recorded the first two outs of the ninth and left with the tying run on second after Willy Adames’ double. Riley O’Brien entered and struck out Wilmer Flores for his sixth save.
Heliot Ramos homered in the sixth inning and Patrick Bailey had an RBI double for the Giants.
Logan Webb allowed three first-inning runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks over six innings.
Jung Hoo Lee and Adames each hit RBI singles in a four-run third inning and Christian Koss also contributed an RBI single.