Mets grab sole possession of first place with 5-4 win over Marlins

NEW YORK — Eduardo Escobar homered and drove in five late runs — including the winning single in the 10th inning — to rally New York past Miami and back into sole possession of the NL East lead.

By overcoming a four-run deficit, the Mets moved a game ahead of the Braves heading into a three-game showdown between the teams in Atlanta this weekend. The defending World Series champions lost 3-2 in 10 innings at last-place Washington, one night after pulling even with the Mets.

Of course, Hurricane Ian could affect the schedule in Atlanta, where the teams are set to square off Friday night following a mutual off day. Both clubs have six games remaining in the only division race not decided. One win at Truist Park would give the Mets the season-series tiebreaker over Atlanta.

Escobar hit a two-run homer in the seventh and tied it on a two-run single with two outs in the eighth.

Drew Smith (3-3) struck out two in a perfect inning for the win. Dylan Floro (1-3) was the loser.

NATIONALS 3, BRAVES 2, 10 INNINGS

WASHINGTON — CJ Abrams drove in the winning run in the 10th inning for his third hit to lift Washington past Atlanta.

The Braves dropped a game behind the New York Mets in the NL East, with the teams set to open a three-game series Friday in Atlanta, weather permitting.

Victor Robles bunted leading off the 10th against Jackson Stephens (3-3). Robles was initially called safe, but the call was overturned, with Alex Call moving to third. With the infield in, pinch-hitter César Hernández walked. Lane Thomas grounded to third, but Abrams singled to right, scoring Call.

Matt Olson had two hits, including his 30th homer of the season, for the Braves.

Kyle Finnegan (6-4) pitched two innings for the win.

BREWERS 5, CARDINALS 1

MILWAUKEE — Brandon Woodruff struck out 10 over six scoreless innings and Devin Williams delivered four big outs late to boost Milwaukee’s playoff hopes with a victory over NL Central champion St. Louis.

The victory, Milwaukee’s first since Saturday at Cincinnati, combined with the Phillies’ loss to the Chicago Cubs, moved the Brewers within a game of Philadelphia for the third and final NL wild-card spot with seven to play.

Woodruff (13-4) was only at 98 pitches when Matt Bush took over to start the seventh. The move backfired immediately when Andrew Knizner led off the inning with his second homer in two days.

Cardinals starter Jose Quintana (6-7) struck out seven in five innings.

RED SOX 3, ORIOLES 1

BOSTON — Anthony Santander and Baltimore were shut down by Rich Hill and three relievers in a loss to Boston, hurting the Orioles’ chances of rallying in the AL wild-card race.

Robinson Chirinos accounted for Baltimore’s only run with his fourth homer in the eighth inning. The Orioles lost for the fourth time in five games.

Santander went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts one night after he homered from both sides of the plate in Baltimore’s 13-9 loss at Fenway Park.

The 42-year-old Hill (8-7) struck out nine while pitching six innings of five-hit ball. Matt Barnes handled the ninth for his sixth save. Dean Kremer (8-6) was the loser.

TIGERS 2, ROYALS 1

DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera hit his 507th home run, Detroit got nine innings from its bullpen and the Tigers beat Kansas City for their fifth straight victory.

MJ Melendez led off the game with a home run for Kansas City, and Cabrera hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning. He has 1,845 RBIs, moving him past Carl Yastrzemski for 12th place on the career list.

Scheduled Tigers starter Matt Manning was scratched just before game time because of arm fatigue. Will Vest pitched the first inning, allowing Melendez’s homer, and the next six relievers combined for eight shutout innings. Gregory Soto pitched the ninth for his 29th save.

Daniel Lynch (4-12) took the loss.

DODGERS 1, PADRES 0, 10 INNINGS

SAN DIEGO — Freddie Freeman singled in Mookie Betts with one out in the 10th inning and Los Angeles beat San Diego to set the franchise season record with its 107th win.

The NL West champion Dodgers kept the Padres’ magic number at four for clinching a wild-card berth in a full season for the first time since 2006. The Dodgers have already clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the NL playoffs.

Betts started as the automatic runner on second base and advanced on a passed ball before scoring on Freeman’s hit to center off Steven Wilson (4-2), his career-high 192nd.

Alex Vesia (5-0), who grew up in the San Diego area, pitched the ninth for the win. Tommy Kahnle pitched the 10th for his first save.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, ASTROS 2, 10 INNINGS

HOUSTON — Houston squandered an opportunity to wrap up the top seed in the AL when Christian Walker capped Arizona’s three-run 10th inning with a two-run single, sending the Diamondbacks past the Astros.

With the loss and the New York Yankees’ 8-3 win at Toronto, the Astros’ magic number to clinch the AL’s top seed remained at one.

Carson Kelly started the Arizona 10th on second and advanced when Geraldo Perdomo led off with a bunt single against Will Smith (0-3). Kelly then scored when Daulton Varsho bounced to second for a fielder’s choice.

Arizona ace Zac Gallen pitched seven innings of two-run ball. He struck out six and walked one. Reyes Moronta (2-1) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for the victory. Mark Melancon pitched the 10th for his 18th save.

GUARDIANS 2, RAYS 1, 10 INNINGS

CLEVELAND — Pinch-hitter Amed Rosario had a base-loaded single in the 10th inning to lift AL Central champion Cleveland past Tampa Bay.

Rosario lined the first pitch over the head of right fielder Manuel Margot to score Oscar Gonzalez from third base.

Gonzalez began the inning as the automatic runner against Javy Guerra (2-1). Andrés Giménez was intentionally walked. After a sacrifice, Will Brennan was also intentionally walked before Rosario hit the winner.

Guardians rookie Gabriel Árias hit his first major league home run in the third. James Karinchak (2-0) struck out the side in the 10th.

The Guardians won the AL Central on Sunday. They are 8-1 in their last nine.

MARINERS 3, RANGERS 1

SEATTLE — George Kirby allowed one run over six innings, Eugenio Suarez had three hits and an RBI and Seattle beat Texas.

Trying to secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2001, Seattle rebounded after dropping the series opener Tuesday night.

Kirby (8-4) was coming off his worst start of the season, when he gave up five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings against Oakland. He returned to form against Texas, allowing just one run on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

Seattle relievers Eric Swanson, Andres Munoz and Paul Sewald each pitched a perfect inning to close out the game, with Sewald picking up his 20th save.

ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Trout hit his 38th home run, Michael Lorenzen went five strong innings and Los Angeles beat Oakland.

Taylor Ward also homered, while Lorenzen (8-6) gave up an unearned run to lower his ERA to 0.45 against the A’s this season. The Angels extended their winning streak over Oakland to five games.

Lorenzen gave up three hits in five innings with three walks and eight strikeouts. Jimmy Herget pitched the ninth inning for his eighth save.

Adrian Martinez (4-6) was the loser.

GIANTS 6, ROCKIES 3

SAN FRANCISCO — Joc Pederson had a two-run triple and San Francisco beat Colorado to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.

Mike Yastrzemski, Brandon Crawford and Ford Proctor also drove in runs to help San Francisco beat Colorado for the seventh straight time. The Giants have won eight of their last nine games and trail Philadelphia by 6 1/2 games for the third and final NL wild-card position with seven games remaining.

Alan Trejo homered for the Rockies. They have lost four in a row and eight of their last nine.

Sean Hjelle (1-2) earned his first major league win after being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento earlier in the day. José Ureña (3-8) was the loser.

PIRATES 4, REDS 3, 10 INNINGS

PITTSBURGH — Kevin Newman had a two-out single in the 10th inning and Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati after blowing a three-run lead in the ninth.

Kyle Farmer hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Chase De Jong. and Jake Fraley homered five pitches later to tie it.

After Yohan Ramirez (3-1) pitched a perfect 10th, Alexis Díaz (6-3) intentionally walked Ben Gamel, and Newman singled into shallow center to score pinch-runner Rodolfo Castro from second.

TWINS 7, WHITE SOX 4

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota rookie Matt Wallner drove in a career-high three runs, Gio Urshela and Jake Cave each had three hits and the Twins sent Chicago to its eighth straight loss.

When Seattle beat Texas later, the Twins and the White Sox were eliminated from the wild-card race.

Jose Miranda added an RBI double for the Twins, who tied the White Sox for second place in the AL Central at 76-79.

Caleb Thielbar (4-2) got four outs in relief for the victory. Johnny Cueto (7-10) was the loser.

CUBS 3, PHILLIES 1

CHICAGO — Aaron Nola surrendered Christopher Morel’s three-run homer in the fifth inning in Philadelphia’s loss to Chicago.

Philadelphia dropped its fourth consecutive game. Trying for their first playoff appearance since 2011, the Phillies are just a half-game ahead of Milwaukee for the third NL wild card.

Nola (10-13) was charged with four runs — all in the fifth — and five hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out eight and walked none.

Chicago won for the seventh time in eight games. Rookie right-hander Hayden Wesneski (3-1) was the winner and Manuel Rodriguez got two outs for his fourth save.