PIRATES 4, TIGERS 3 — NINTH-INNING POWER STUNS DETROIT
PITTSBURGH — The Pirates turned a late deficit into a dramatic 4-3 victory when Brandon Lowe and Wilmer Flores homered in the ninth inning off Detroit closer Kenley Jansen. Pittsburgh’s sudden power surge flipped the game and completed the comeback after Detroit appeared positioned to close it out. The back-to-back late blows were the difference in one of the afternoon’s most dramatic finishes.
Decisive moment: Lowe and Flores going deep against Jansen in the ninth.
Star of the Game: Brandon Lowe — sparked Pittsburgh’s game-winning ninth-inning rally.
METS 4, PADRES 2 — BENGE’S BLAST POWERS NEW YORK
NEW YORK — Rookie Carson Benge launched a two-run homer as the Mets knocked off San Diego, 4-2. Benge supplied the biggest swing for New York, giving the Mets the offensive push they needed while their pitching staff limited the Padres to two runs. The victory continued a strong stretch for New York and provided another glimpse of Benge’s potential in the middle of a postseason push.
Decisive moment: Benge’s two-run home run.
Star of the Game: Carson Benge — two-run homer provided the signature swing.
TWINS 6, BRAVES 4 — CLEMENS DRIVES IN THREE AS MINNESOTA SWEEPS
MINNEAPOLIS — Kody Clemens drove in three runs and Minnesota completed a three-game sweep of Atlanta with a 6-4 victory. The Twins repeatedly produced when they had runners aboard and finished the series without allowing the Braves to salvage a game. Clemens supplied the centerpiece of the offensive attack as Minnesota put six runs on the board and held Atlanta off down the stretch.
Decisive factor: Minnesota’s run production with Clemens in the middle of it.
Star of the Game: Kody Clemens — 3 RBIs.
WHITE SOX 3, CUBS 0 — URQUIDY SHUTS DOWN NORTH SIDERS
CHICAGO — José Urquidy delivered a strong performance in long relief, and Braden Montgomery drove in two runs as the White Sox blanked the Cubs, 3-0, at Wrigley Field. Chicago’s South Siders combined effective pitching with just enough offense to take the crosstown matchup. Montgomery accounted for two of the three runs, while Urquidy helped make sure the Cubs never answered.
Decisive factor: The White Sox pitching staff never allowed the Cubs onto the scoreboard.
Star of the Game: José Urquidy — dominant long relief in the shutout.
DIAMONDBACKS 7, RED SOX 6 — ARENADO’S BROKEN BAT WINS IT IN 10
BOSTON — Arizona survived a back-and-forth battle when Nolan Arenado’s broken-bat bloop in the 10th inning sparked the Diamondbacks to a 7-6 victory over Boston. The Red Sox produced six runs but couldn’t finish the job, and Arizona capitalized in extra innings. It wasn’t a majestic home run or a screaming line drive that decided it — it was Arenado simply finding open grass when Arizona needed it most.
Decisive moment: Arenado’s broken-bat bloop in the 10th.
Star of the Game: Nolan Arenado — delivered the defining extra-inning hit.
PHILLIES 4, MARLINS 1 — NOLA, ARRAEZ LEAD PHILADELPHIA
PHILADELPHIA — Aaron Nola worked seven strong innings and Luis Arraez homered as Philadelphia rolled past Miami, 4-1. Nola struck out eight over seven innings, while Arraez delivered a two-run homer, his sixth of the season. Trea Turner added an RBI double, giving Nola more than enough support. Philadelphia’s defense contributed as well, including a standout play by Brandon Marsh.
Decisive moment: Arraez’s two-run homer gave Philadelphia separation.
Star of the Game: Aaron Nola — 7 IP, 8 strikeouts, 1 run allowed.
YANKEES 5, ORIOLES 3 — NEW YORK SURVIVES BALTIMORE THREAT
BALTIMORE — The Yankees escaped Baltimore with a 5-3 victory in a game featuring a pivotal replay controversy. Pete Alonso appeared to have a potential home run in the seventh inning, but the deep drive was ruled foul, denying Baltimore a potentially game-changing blow. New York took advantage and held on from there, leaving the Orioles frustrated enough to call for greater use of technology on close boundary calls.
Decisive moment: Alonso’s seventh-inning drive being ruled foul.
Star of the Game: Yankees bullpen — protected the lead after Baltimore’s late threat.
RAYS 7, BLUE JAYS 6 — DÍAZ HOMERS AS TAMPA BAY HOLDS ON
TAMPA — Yandy Díaz homered and Drew Rasmussen continued his winning streak as Tampa Bay edged Toronto, 7-6. Rasmussen earned his sixth consecutive victory, while the Rays survived a Blue Jays offense that kept applying pressure. Alejandro Kirk homered for Toronto, but Tampa Bay’s seven-run attack proved just enough.
Decisive factor: Tampa Bay generated just enough offense to withstand Toronto’s comeback attempt.
Star of the Game: Yandy Díaz — homered in the Rays’ one-run victory.
GIANTS 1, GUARDIANS 0 — BERICOTO’S SINGLE STANDS UP
CLEVELAND — Victor Bericoto delivered the game’s crucial RBI single, and San Francisco’s pitching did the rest in a 1-0 victory over Cleveland. The Giants used Matt Wilkinson as an opener in his major-league debut and successfully navigated nine scoreless innings against the Guardians. With neither offense able to generate much, Bericoto’s lone run-producing hit became enormous.
Decisive moment: Bericoto’s RBI single produced the only run.
Star of the Game: Victor Bericoto — delivered the hit that decided a 1-0 pitchers’ duel.
REDS 5, CARDINALS 4 — STEWART’S THREE-RUN SHOT FUELS COMEBACK
CINCINNATI — Sal Stewart blasted a three-run homer to help Cincinnati rally past St. Louis, 5-4. The Cardinals had the Reds in trouble, but Stewart changed the complexion of the game with one swing, providing the centerpiece of Cincinnati’s comeback. The Reds then made the narrow advantage stand to finish off their National League Central rival.
Decisive moment: Stewart’s three-run home run turned Cincinnati’s comeback into a reality.
Star of the Game: Sal Stewart — three-run HR in the Reds’ 5-4 win.
ROYALS 9, ATHLETICS 7 — SEVEN-RUN EIGHTH TURNS GAME UPSIDE DOWN
KANSAS CITY — Kansas City erupted for a seven-run eighth inning and stormed past the Athletics, 9-7. John Rave delivered the biggest blow with a bases-clearing double, transforming the late innings and powering the Royals’ comeback. Oakland scored seven runs and looked capable of taking the road win, only to watch Kansas City unleash its biggest offensive inning when it mattered most.
Decisive moment: Rave’s bases-clearing double during the seven-run eighth.
Star of the Game: John Rave — three-run double in the decisive rally.
MARINERS 7, BREWERS 5 — SEATTLE BOUNCES BACK IN MILWAUKEE
MILWAUKEE — One night after suffering a humiliating 22-0 defeat, Seattle responded by beating Milwaukee, 7-5. The Mariners jumped on Dustin May early, refusing to let the previous night’s blowout linger. Seattle’s seven-run response was particularly notable given Milwaukee’s record-tying power display in the series’ previous game. The Mariners absorbed the embarrassment, came back less than 24 hours later and turned the tables on the Brewers.
Decisive factor: Seattle’s early attack against May established an entirely different tone.
Star of the Game: Mariners offense — seven runs in an immediate bounce-back victory.
NATIONALS 6, RANGERS 0 — CAVALLI DOMINATES AGAIN
ARLINGTON — Cade Cavalli continued a remarkable run, recording his second consecutive double-digit-strikeout performance as Washington blanked Texas, 6-0. Coming off a near no-hitter, Cavalli again didn’t allow a run and overwhelmed the Rangers’ lineup. Washington supplied six runs of support, but Cavalli made sure the Nationals hardly needed them. His back-to-back scoreless, double-digit strikeout outings suddenly have him among baseball’s hottest starting pitchers.
Decisive factor: Texas simply couldn’t solve Cavalli.
Star of the Game: Cade Cavalli — 10+ strikeouts and no runs allowed for the second straight start.
ASTROS 3, ANGELS 2 — PECKO DEBUTS, VÁZQUEZ GOES DEEP
HOUSTON — Houston received contributions from both a newcomer and a veteran in its 3-2 victory over Los Angeles. Ryan Pecko struck out four in his major-league debut, while Christian Vázquez hit his seventh home run of the season. The Angels kept the game within one run, but Houston’s pitching protected the slim margin and finished the job.
Decisive factor: Houston’s pitching made three runs stand up.
Star of the Game: Christian Vázquez — his seventh homer supplied a crucial piece of Houston’s offense.
DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 4 — BETTS DELIVERS IN 10TH TO COMPLETE SWEEP
DENVER — Mookie Betts homered and later delivered an RBI single in the 10th inning as Los Angeles beat Colorado, 6-4, completing a three-game sweep at Coors Field. Betts supplied power earlier and then came through again when the Dodgers needed a run in extras. Los Angeles ultimately scored twice in the 10th to break the deadlock and finish off Colorado.
Decisive moment: Betts’ RBI single in the 10th helped put Los Angeles ahead for good.
Star of the Game: Mookie Betts — home run and a crucial 10th-inning RBI single.