WASHINGTON — For the second time in three seasons, the Washington Nationals will head to the postseason with the top seeding in the National League.
WASHINGTON — For the second time in three seasons, the Washington Nationals will head to the postseason with the top seeding in the National League.
The NL East champion Nationals locked up home-field advantage until the World Series by beating the Miami Marlins 4-0 on Doug Fister’s three-hitter in the opener of a day-night doubleheader Friday.
“It’s important to have home-field advantage. If we want to get to where we want to get to, then that’s important. So that’s accomplished,” rookie manager Matt Williams said.
Miami earned a split by winning the insignificant second game 15-7 with 22 hits, including Kike Hernandez’s grand slam and J.T. Realmuto’s three-run triple.
Washington’s record was 94-66 at the end of a long day; the last pitch was thrown 9 hours, 35 minutes after the first.
Taylor Hill (0-1) took the loss in his first major league start, allowing seven runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. A.J. Ramos (7-0) earned the win with a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Earlier, Solano was the only player who got a hit off Fister (16-6).
Washington’s Anthony Rendon hit a solo shot to left off wild-as-can-be Jarred Cosart (4-4), who walked eight.
YANKEES 3, RED SOX 2
BOSTON — Derek Jeter took the night off after his emotional final home game and watched a bunch of Yankees rookies beat a group of Red Sox rookies.
Watching from the dugout, there was little excitement for him to see one day after he provided plenty with his ultimate walkoff — a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning in the final home game of his 20 seasons.
The Yankees had five rookies in the starting lineup for the first time in more than 30 years and the Red Sox started seven, including pitcher Steven Wright (0-1).
David Robertson pitched the ninth for his 39th save a night after failing to protect a three-run lead, setting up Jeter’s dramatic moment.
New York gave Chris Capuano (3-4) got the win.
MARINERS 4, ANGELS 3
SEATTLE — Kendrys Morales, Michael Saunders and Dustin Ackley homered against Jered Weaver, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Seattle remained two games back of Oakland for the second AL wild card. Seattle must win its final two and have Oakland lose its final two to force a one-game playoff on Monday in Seattle.
Morales and Saunders gave Hisashi Iwakuma (15-9) an early lead. Morales hit a leadoff homer in the second and Saunders had a two-run shot in the inning. It was the eighth homer of the year for both.
Ackley led off the fifth with a drive to the right-field seats.
ATHLETICS 6, RANGERS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas — Josh Reddick drove in three runs, Scott Kazmir won for the first time in seven starts and the Athletics moved ever so close to their third consecutive playoff appearance with a victory over Texas.
Adam Dunn, the big designated hitter batting in the No. 2 spot for the first time since June 2008, had a two-run double in the third for Oakland (87-73).
Nick Tepesch (5-11) allowed six runs and six hits, with four walks, in 4 1/3 innings.
Kazmir (15-9) struck out five without a walk while limiting the Rangers to two runs (one earned) and four hits over seven innings.
TWINS 11, TIGERS 4
DETROIT — Rick Porcello allowed six runs in fewer than four innings, and Detroit lost to the Twins on a night the Tigers had hoped to clinch the AL Central title.
Detroit could have wrapped up the division with a victory and a Kansas City loss, but Porcello (15-13) endured another rough outing down the stretch.
Porcello allowed four earned runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. He is 0-4 with a 6.20 ERA in September.
A.J. Achter (1-0) earned his first career win with a solid relief effort.
PIRATES 3, REDS 1
CINCINNATI — Travis Snider and Andrew McCutchen hit consecutive run-scoring doubles in the eighth inning, and the Pirates beat the Reds to keep the pressure on NL Central-leading St. Louis.
The Pirates have won five of six and 17 of 21 overall. They have already clinched a wild card, and remain a game behind the Cardinals with two to play.
NL batting leader Josh Harrison was aboard after a two-out single against Pedro Villareal (0-2) when Snider followed with a scorching line drive to right that Jay Bruce overran, allowing it to roll to the wall for a 2-1 Pittsburgh lead. McCutchen then doubled into the gap in left-center.
Jared Hughes (7-5) got the final two outs of the seventh for the win.
CARDINALS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 6, 10 INNINGS
PHOENIX — Jhonny Peralta drove in three runs, one with the go-ahead single in the 10th inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals survived an Arizona rally to beat the Diamondbacks and stay alone atop the NL Central.
The game came hours after the Diamondbacks announced manager Kirk Gibson had been fired.
Matt Adams led off the Cardinals 10th with a double to deep right, where outfielder David Peralta appeared to misjudge the ball. Jhonny Peralta followed with a sharp single to center to score what proved to be the winning run.
BLUE JAYS 4, ORIOLES 2
TORONTO — Rookie Dalton Pompey had three extra-base hits, Drew Hutchison won for the first time in three starts and the Blue Jays beat Baltimore, ensuring that the Orioles will not finish with the best record in the AL.
Baltimore right-hander Chris Tillman lost for the first time in 16 road starts. Tillman (13-6) came in 8-0 with a 4.19 ERA in his 15 previous road starts.
Tillman, who’s expected to start Baltimore’s playoff opener Thursday, allowed four runs and a career-high 11 hits.
Hutchison (11-13) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, walked one and struck out eight.
DODGERS 7, ROCKIES 4
LOS ANGELES — Justin Turner’s two-run infield single highlighted a six-run sixth inning, and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies for their third win in a row.
The Dodgers’ 92nd victory tied their total from last season, and the club has posted consecutive 90-win seasons for the first time since 1976-78.
Justin Morneau of Colorado went 2 for 3 with a two-run homer and a walk to move past Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison for the NL batting lead at .319. Harrison was at .318 after going went 1 for 4 in a win over Cincinnati.
The Rockies fell to 6-37 on the road since June 16 with their second straight loss and third in their last four games.
PADRES 4, GIANTS 1
SAN FRANCISCO — Ian Kennedy pitched seven innings for his third consecutive win, Seth Smith hit a tiebreaking double in the sixth inning and the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants.
One day after clinching a playoff berth, San Francisco couldn’t muster much at the plate and dropped two games off the pace in the race to host the NL wild-card game on Wednesday.
Rene Rivera singled in a pair of runs and had two hits, and Yasmani Grandal also drove in a run to help the Padres clinch the season series against their division rivals for the first time since 2010.
Kennedy (13-13) gave up one unearned run and four hits while going over 200 innings pitched for the third time in his career. He’s the first San Diego right-hander to do that since current Giants pitcher Jake Peavy in 2007.