Things have shifted over the last week in the American League race. The Yankees are no longer in the top spot of the AL East, while two other teams have surged in that division. And out west, the Rangers are in a good spot after a sweep of the Blue Jays, a team that’s now lost six in a row.
Streaking teams in AL East
Tampa Bay won 5-1 over the Diamondbacks on June 28, the Rays’ fifth consecutive victory. Drew Rasmussen was excellent again, as the righty tossed six scoreless innings and lowered his ERA to 2.45. Junior Caminero tallied another home run, his 22nd of the season and seventh of the week.
The Rays were able to move one game up on the Yankees, who were swept by the Red Sox this weekend.
Boston entered the ninth inning of their finale against the Yankees up 2-0, thanks in large part to Sonny Gray, who had a no-hitter entering the eighth inning. However, things got tricky in the ninth, highlighted by a Wilyer Abreu throwing error that set the stage for the Yankees to tie it.
New York scored two more in the 10th to take the lead. But in the bottom half, three runs scored off Fernando Cruz gave the Sox another win.
Blue Jays take sixth straight loss
The Rangers handed the Blue Jays their sixth straight loss, as Texas defeated Toronto 3-2 in 10 innings.
Joc Pederson hit a solo shot off Shane Bieber on the first pitch of the game. An Elias Diaz single made it 2-0 in the sixth. But in the eighth, Nathan Lukes hit a game-tying, two-run shot off Cole Winn to tie it.
In the tenth, a Louis Varland wild pitch scored Jarred Kelenic.
Before the start of the losing streak, the Blue Jays were 39-39 and in control of a Wild Card spot. Now, Toronto is 39-45 and 2.5 games out of a playoff spot.
As for the Rangers, Texas, at 42-42, is now in first place in the AL West. The Rangers were able to move up after the Mariners lost to the Guardians.
Dodgers take series versus Padres
Emmet Sheehan struck out five and allowed just one run for the Dodgers, who defeated the Padres 4-2 in San Diego.
Both teams traded runs early on, as Shohei Ohtani drove in a run in the third. Manny Machado hit his 15th home run one inning later. But in the fifth, the Dodgers scored three runs, highlighted by a two-run single from Mookie Betts.
Betts had two hits in the win.
Cubs win series in Milwaukee
Chicago finished a 6-1 road trip, as the Cubs defeated the Brewers 4-3 in 10 and took the series from Milwaukee.
This game went to extras 1-1. Gary Sanchez hit a solo shot in the third, and the Cubs’ lone run before extras was thanks to an Aaron Ashby wild pitch that scored Ian Happ.
In the 10th, Michael Busch tallied a bases-loaded walk. Seiya Suzuki drove in two to give the Cubs a 4-1 lead.
Everything else
- Nationals def. Orioles 6-4
- Pirates def. Reds 9-4
- Astros def. Tigers 7-5 (10)
- Guardians def. Mariners 6-5 (10)
- Phillies def. Mets 5-4
- Twins def. Rockies 3-2
- Royals def. White Sox 5-4
- Cardinals def. Marlins 2-1
- Angels def. Athletics 4-1
- Giants def. Braves 3-2
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