In a clogged-up American League Wild Card race, the Twins did their part to stay within striking distance of the Guardians. Plus, the White Sox extended their division lead with another win against the Yankees.
Twins come back in ninth
Down 3-0 in the ninth inning, the Twins pulled off the comeback to win 4-3 over the Kansas City Royals.
Kansas City jutted out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Jac Caglianone‘s 17th home run of the season. A John Rave double in the fifth made it 3-0, and Noah Cameron kept it at that score through the eighth. Cameron struck out seven over eight scoreless innings.
But then, things turned. Not right away, as Lucas Erceg retired the first two batters in the ninth. Ryan Jeffers was hit by a pitch with two outs, followed by a Royce Lewis single. Josh Bell walked to load up the bases. And with Matt Strahm on the mound, Kody Clemens hit one to right-center for a grand slam and his 19th home run of the season.
The Twins are now 55-55, one game behind the Guardians for the final Wild Card spot in the American League.
White Sox split series with Yankees
The White Sox won 2-1 on the 30th to take their second straight game against the Yankees, completing a series split.
It was a day for the starters. Ryan Weathers tossed seven scoreless, while Sean Burke struck out 10 over six strong. No team scored until the 10th inning, when Trent Grisham drove in the first run of the game with a single. Ex-Yankee Andrew Benintendi tied the game in the bottom half, taking it to the 11th.
The White Sox loaded the bases on Fernando Cruz in the 11th. Cruz nearly got out of it, as he struck out Colson Montgomery to get to two outs. However, he walked Tristan Peters and let the go-ahead run score.
Reds walk off Pirates
The Reds won 3-2 against the Pirates in the first of the two teams’ series in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati scored the first two runs of the game. Pittsburgh scored one in the fifth to cut the lead in half. In the sixth, a solo home run from Brandon Lowe tied it.
Nathaniel Lowe hit a ball up the middle with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth. Pittsburgh, who had the infield in for the force at home, had to pivot and try for a double play. Unfortunately for the Bucs, the club could not turn two.
Cubs take extra-inning victory
The Cubs scored two in the 10th to complete a 4-2 victory over the Cardinals.
Chicago went up 2-1 in the seventh thanks to a Michael Busch single. JJ Wetherholt went deep in the bottom half for his 16th of the season. The Cubs were able to score two, thanks to an Alex Bregman RBI double, followed up by an Ian Happ double that drove in Bregman.
With that loss, the Cardinals fell to 54-55 on the season.
Everything else
- Rays vs. Rangers 3-2
- Mets def. Marlins 4-2
- Braves def. Nationals 5-4
- Red Sox win. Athletics 5-4
- Giants def. Padres 4-1
- Dodgers def. Mariners 6-2
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including the updated playoff picture.