NEW YORK -- The Boston Red Sox won the AL East, clinching the division championship despite wasting a three-run, ninth-inning lead in a 5-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.
David Ortiz and the Red Sox, who last weekend secured at least a wild-card spot in the playoffs, were assured of the division title earlier in the ninth inning when the Baltimore Orioles rallied for a 3-2 win at Toronto. But New York came back against Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly.
After winning their eighth division title, the Red Sox will open their postseason schedule Thursday seeking a second World Series crown in four years. The team's first opponent has not been determined yet.
With Ortiz nearing retirement after the season, the Red Sox got to celebrate in the Bronx -- the site of so much Boston heartache throughout its storied rivalry with the Yankees.
Of course, there was one glorious moment across the street, when Big Papi and his 2004 teammates overcame a 3-0 deficit to win the AL Championship Series at the old Yankee Stadium. Boston rejoiced and went on that year to capture its first World Series crown since 1918.
But this title will taste sweet as well, especially after the Red Sox completed a worst-to-first turnaround for the second time in five seasons. After winning the 2013 World Series, Boston finished last twice in a row.
This year has become much more than a farewell tour for Ortiz, though. The 40-year-old franchise icon is enjoying one of his biggest seasons at the plate, joined by steady veterans like Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez mixed with blossoming young stars Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr.
"This is a pretty dynamic team in terms of homegrown players at various stages of their career that are coming together to be a very successful team," manager John Farrell said.
Rick Porcello (22 wins) and free-agent prize David Price have solidified the front end of a suspect rotation, with new closer Kimbrel anchoring the bullpen.
Boston took control of a wide-open AL East with an 11-game winning streak -- all against division foes -- that ended with Tuesday's defeat.
Mets 5, Marlins 2
MIAMI -- The Marlins walked half a block alongside a hearse carrying their ace away from Marlins Park at the start of a funeral motorcade Wednesday, and then peeled away with watery eyes to go back inside and play a game.
Drained by four days of grieving Jose Fernandez's death, they didn't have much left for the New York Mets.
Jay Bruce hit his 32nd home run, James Loney also homered and the Mets helped their NL wild-card chances by beating Miami.
New York began the night leading the Giants by half a game and the Cardinals by 1 1/2 games in the race for the two wild-card spots. The Mets conclude the regular season with three games at Philadelphia starting Friday.
The Marlins' loss in their home finale eliminated them from playoff contention. Despite high hopes this year, they still haven't been to the postseason since 2003.
That was the last thing on their minds five hours before first pitch. They wore T-shirts reading "RIP" while clustering around the limousine carrying Fernandez's casket to church for a viewing. Spectators, including Mets players and manager Terry Collins, lined the start of the route.
"It was terrible," Miami pitcher Tom Koehler said. "I never thought I'd have to be part of that. You have a 24-year-old who is on top of the world, and we're walking behind his hearse. We're watching Miami's hero drive down the street."
Added reliever Mike Dunn: "You felt like you were pushing off your brother."
Sympathetic as they are, the Mets are also in a tight wild-card race. Loney hit a two-run homer in the second, and Bruce added a two-run homer in the fifth. Curtis Granderson went 4 for 4, and Jose Reyes doubled home a run.
Orioles 3, Blue Jays 2
TORONTO -- Hyun Soo Kim hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Roberto Osuna, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Toronto to move within one game of the AL wild card-leading Blue Jays.
With Toronto ahead 2-1, Jonathan Schoop singled with one out, pinch-runner Michael Bourn stole second and Kim homered on a 3-2 pitch into the visiting bullpen in right, causing the Orioles relievers to jump in celebration.
Osuna (3-3) has five blown save chances, including two in his last three appearances.
Mark Trumbo hit his major league-leading 46th home run, a solo drive off Jason Grilli in the eighth. Sacrifice flies by Edgar Encarnacion in the first and Kevin Pillar in the second had built a 2-0 lead.
Brian Duensing (1-0) got one out, and Zach Britton finished for his 47th save in as many tries.
Royals 5, Twins 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The World Series champions have failed to make the postseason for the fourth year in a row.
Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon keyed an eighth-inning rally and Kansas City beat the Minnesota Twins Wednesday night, but the Royals were still knocked out of playoff contention.
The defending World Series champs were eliminated when Baltimore beat Toronto 3-2.
Morales' ground-rule double to right scored Jarrod Dyson, who had doubled and stole third. Gordon's single scored Whit Merrifield and pinch-runner Billy Burns.
Taylor Rogers (3-1), the fourth of five Twins pitchers, took the loss after allowing three runs, three hits and two walks while retiring only one of the six batters he faced.
Joakim Soria (5-8) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the victory. Wade Davis got his 27th save in 30 chances.
Reds 2, Cardinals 1
ST. LOUIS -- Adam Duvall's two-run single was all Cincinnati needed to beat St. Louis.
The Reds' third win in their last four games dealt a blow to the Cardinals' playoff hopes. St. Louis lost ground in the race for the two NL wild cards.
Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani (9-5) allowed one runner in each of the first four innings, but only once during that span did the Cardinals have anyone in scoring position. He stranded five runners, including two in the sixth, his last inning. He allowed six hits and one run.
It was the fifth quality start out of six in DeSclafani's career against the Cardinals. He improved to 4-1 with a 2.13 ERA against St. Louis.
Duvall drove in his 101st and 102nd RBI with his third-inning single. He has seven RBI in the series.
Raisel Iglesias earned his fifth save in six opportunities with two innings of relief.
Pirates 8, Cubs 4
PITTSBURGH -- John Jaso hit for the cycle and drove in five runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Chicago Cubs.
Jaso tripled off Chicago reliever Pedro Strop in the seventh inning to clinch the first cycle in the history of PNC Park and the first for the Pirates since 2004. Jaso's final hit was a fly ball to center field. At first he hesitated rounding second base but went on and the throw from Albert Almora Jr. was up the third base line.
Jaso performed the feat in just four at-bats. The last Pirate to hit for the cycle was Daryle Ward on May 26, 2004, in St. Louis. The last Pirates' home cycle was by Jason Kendall on May 19, 2000, against the Cardinals at Three Rivers Stadium.
Against Chicago starter Jake Arrieta (18-8), Jaso singled in the second inning, hit a three-run home run in the fourth and doubled in the fifth. Arrieta went five innings and allowed 10 hits and seven runs, both season highs.
Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (5-4) allowed one hit and struck out four in six innings.
Chicago's Anthony Rizzo hit a solo homer, his 32nd of the season.
Sports on 09/30/2016