The stakes were high on August 30 in New York. The Houston Astros needed to win to maintain a two-game lead over the Rangers. And up in The Bronx, the Red Sox & Yankees played for more than bragging rights.
Yankees take series from Boston
Heading into the day on August 30, the Yankees and Red Sox were tied at six in the season series. New York won a blowout victory, 16-1, to take it from the Sox.
Aside from a controversial Ceddane Rafaela no-catch call, the Yankees hit five home runs off Red Sox pitchers. Austin Wells hit two, Heliot Ramos hit one, and Paul Goldschmidt & Jose Caballero each hit homers in the eighth inning.
With that win, the Yankees now lead the Red Sox by four games for the first AL Wild Card spot. Technically speaking, the Yankees are up by five, given that New York now has the tiebreaker over Boston. Meaning, the Yankees have a significant leg up on hosting a playoff series come October.
Rays pull off wild comeback
The Padres seemingly invented new ways to lose this weekend, as San Diego lost 5-4 in extra innings.
Up 3-1 in the ninth inning, Jonny DeLuca hit a sky-high fly ball off Mason Miller that was caught by Samad Taylor — until Taylor lost control of the ball and it went over the short porch in Tropicana Field. It resulted in a game-tying two-run home run.
San Diego scored in the 11th when Ty France hit a sacrifice fly. But in the bottom half, an error scored the tying run. Jorge Mateo then hit the game-winning RBI single that went over the head of Taylor.
Marlins score six in 9th
The Marlins won 6-2 against the Nationals, scoring six after Washington headed into the final frame up.
With the bases loaded, Jakob Marsee brought in the first run via a hit by pitch. The Marlins made it 3-2 after a Joe Mack sac fly resulted in two runs after a throwing error from Andrew Pinckney resulted in the ball going out of play. A double-steal made it 4-2 after Heriberto Hernandez stole home, and Otto Lopez brought in two more.
Miami stole five bases in the victory.
Astros maintain AL West lead
The Astros won 6-3 over the Mets in the club’s final game in New York, maintaining distance against the Rangers, who defeated the Brewers on the 30th.
Down 3-2 in the sixth, LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a two-run shot that made it 4-3 Houston. A Daulton Varsho single, coupled with a Jared Young error, made it 6-3 later on.
Ethan Pecko, who went five innings, notched his first big-league win.
Reds win on Sunday Night
The Reds won 7-5 to complete the two teams’ series in Chicago.
Yet again, Pete Crow-Armstrong was at it again. The Cubs outfielder hit two more home runs, one in the first and one in the ninth, to get to 38 on the season. However, that wasn’t enough to get past Cincinnati.
Starter Shota Imanaga gave up six earned runs and three home runs. The Reds hit four overall home runs, as Sal Stewart tallied another one later on in the game.
Everything else
- Braves def. Rockies 3-2 (10)
- Blue Jays def. Mariners 7-0
- Guardians def. Royals 11-1
- Dodgers def. Tigers 6-1
- Twins def. White Sox 5-1
- Rangers def. Brewers 7-4
- Pirates def. Cardinals 5-4
- Orioles def. Athletics 8-5
- Phillies def. Angels 5-2
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