Wild-Card Roundup: Blue Jays get no help as top three AL West teams all win

The Toronto Blue Jays have received plenty of help on the out-of-town scoreboard over the past week or so.

That changed Wednesday.

The Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros all won their afternoon games, putting the pressure on the Blue Jays heading into an evening contest in New York against the Yankees.

The Blue Jays did their part, though, winning 6-1.

The Mariners and Rangers remain one game back of the Blue Jays for second in the wild-card race. Houston is a half-game ahead of Seattle and Texas for first in the AL West.

RANGERS 15, RED SOX 5

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- With all of their All-Stars back in the lineup, the Texas Rangers are starting to feel good again going into their most important stretch of the season.

``This is more who we were,'' manager Bruce Bochy said.

Former Blue Jay Marcus Semien drove in three runs from the top of the order and scored for the AL-best 115th time, Jonah Heim and Mitch Garver hit back-to-back homers and the playoff-chasing Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 15-5 on Wednesday. All-Star third baseman Josh Jung, in his third game back after missing six weeks with a fractured left thumb, and fellow rookie Evan Carter each added two-run homers.

``Great at-bats up and down the lineup, guys hitting mistakes for homers and guys taking their walks,'' said Heim, the switch-hitting All-Star catcher. ``It's encouraging to see, and just got to keep putting it together.''

Texas (84-68) remained a half-game behind Houston for the AL West lead after the Astros (85-68) had a walk-off win over AL East-leading Baltimore to avoid being swept in three games at home. The Rangers are tied with division foe Seattle for the American League's third and final wild-card spot. The Mariners beat Oakland 6-3 Wednesday before heading to Texas for a three-game weekend series.

All-Star right fielder Adolis Garcia, in his third game back after missing 10 games with a right patellar tendon strain in his right knee, walked in the second inning and scored on Heim's homer. That was the 100th run scored this season for Garcia, who got his 102nd RBI with a double in the fourth.

``You look at the two guys we just got back, I love their at-bats,'' Bochy said. ``It stretches out your lineup. ... It's always good to have success, it breeds confidence as they say, and you can see it in the guys right now.''

The Rangers play seven of their last 10 games against the Mariners, including the last four in Seattle.

Semien is the only of the Rangers six All-Stars, including pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, who hasn't had a stint on the injured list. The second baseman is the lone Ranger to start all 152 games, plus the All-Star Game on July 11 with teammates Garcia, Heim, Jung and shortstop Corey Seager -- who all have since missed time injured. Eovaldi was out seven weeks with a forearm strain.

Veteran left-hander Martin Perez (10-4) struck out five over 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Jon Gray, who has allowed 11 runs over 8 2/3 innings his last three starts.

``He's done a tremendous job since he's gone to the bullpen. He's picked us up so many times,'' Bochy said of Perez, an All-Star last season and a starter until Texas acquired Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery at the trade deadline.

``They know that I'm a starter. ... It doesn't matter if you're from the bullpen or if I have to start game, I just want to get people out and help my team to win,'' Perez said.

Boston, last in the AL East, lost for the 12th time in 15 games even after jumping ahead 4-0. Adam Duvall hit a three-run homer in the first and Bobby Dalbec had a leadoff shot in the second off Gray.

The first seven Texas batters reached base in the bottom of the second off Brayan Bello (12-10). Heim's three-run homer came just before Garver went deep, and Semien's two-run single snapped the 4-all tie and put Texas ahead to stay.

Semien drew a bases-loaded walk in the third after an RBI single by Leody Taveras, who added a sacrifice fly an inning later.

Bello allowed eight runs and eight hits over three innings. He walked four, hit a batter and struck out two.

LOT OF HITS AND RUNS

Texas, which finished with 16 hits, broke franchise records by scoring at least 10 runs for the 26th time and at least 15 runs for the sixth time. The Rangers had already tied both of those records _ the 25 games with 10 runs by the 2008 team, and five games with 15 runs in 1998. ... Every Texas starter had a base hit and scored a run, with Nathaniel Lowe the only one who didn't have an RBI. Jung, the All-Star third baseman in his third game back after missing six weeks with a fractured left thumb, had three hits and scored three times. Carter, in his 13th big league game, also had three hits and scored twice.

100/100 FOR GARCIA

Rangers All-Star slugger Adolis Garcia, in his third game back after missing 10 games with a right patellar tendon strain in his right knee, walked in the second inning and scored on Heim's homer. That was the 100th run scored this season for Garcia, who got his 102nd RBI with a double in the fourth. The right fielder is the only the second Rangers player in the past 18 seasons to score 100 runs and drive in 100. The other in that span was Josh Hamilton in 2012, when he had 128 RBIs and 103 runs scores.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: 2B Luis Urias exited the game with left calf tightness. He was lifted for a pinch-runner after his single in the seventh inning. ... Rookie OF Wilyer Abreu missed the entire series after he hurt his throwing hand crashing into the wall trying to make a catch on the game-ending play in their loss Sunday at Toronto. Manager Alex Cora said Abreu was feeling better.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Boston is back at Fenway Park on Friday night to start its final homestand in a series opener against the Chicago White Sox.

Rangers: After their final off day of the regular season, the Rangers open their final home series of the regular season with the opener against Seattle on Friday night.

MARINERS 6, ATHLETICS 3

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Dominic Canzone homered and drove in four runs as the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 6-3 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep and maintain their position in the tight AL West race.

Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh added back-to-back homers to give Seattle 200 home runs in a season for the seventh time in franchise history. Raleigh also doubled, giving him 52 extra-base hits, the most by a Mariners catcher in a season.

Seattle (84-68) kept pace with Texas (84-68) and division-leading Houston (85-68), which both won Wednesday. The Rangers and Mariners are also tied for the third and final AL wild card, one game behind Toronto. Seattle heads to Texas for a three-game series starting Friday.

``We're in a really good spot, I think,'' Canzone said. ``The pitching is (going) really well, the hitting is coming around. This was a great sign to just be able to sweep the A's and go into this series a little bit hot.''

Rodriguez reached 100 RBIs, becoming the third player age 22 or younger with at least 30 homers, 30 stolen bases and 100 RBIs in a season, joining Alex Rodriguez (1998) and Ronald Acuna Jr. (2019).

``He's had an unbelievable year, following up a crazy rookie year where he jumped on the scene,'' Seattle manager Scott Servais said. ``He has been awesome for us.''

Added Rodriguez: ``I was helping the team win. That's what feels really good, to be able to, whenever guys get on base, be able to drive them in and have that good at-bat.''

George Kirby (11-10) scattered eight hits across seven strong innings, allowing three runs and striking out three. The right-hander earned his first win since Aug. 5 against the Angels.

``Felt really good today,'' Kirby said. ``Just attacked like I usually do and limit the walks and usually good things happen. We hit the ball really well today and played really good defense too. Good team win today.''

Justin Topa pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.

Zack Gelof and Brent Rooker homered for the A's, who lost their seventh in a row and suffered their 19th sweep of the year, extending an Oakland record.

The Athletics (46-106) moved within two losses of the Oakland record set in 1979 and fell 60 games below .500 for the first time since 1919.

In his major league debut, Joey Estes (0-1) allowed six runs, five earned, on six hits with two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. The 21-year-old right-hander became the 24th pitcher to start for the Athletics this season, tying the 1915 Philadelphia A's for the major league record.

``It's been a crazy journey for me,'' Estes said. ``I'm not really worried about results. I'm happy just to be living in this moment. I've worked very hard to get here.''

SEATTLE DOMINANCE

The Mariners finished the season series 12-1 against the A's, their best record against a divisional opponent in franchise history and Oakland's worst record against any opponent in a season series of at least 12 games in club history.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: LHP Sean Newcomb underwent lateral meniscus surgery on his left knee and is expected to be ready for spring training.

ROSTER MOVES

The A's optioned RHP Devin Sweet to Triple-A Las Vegas and transferred Newcomb to the 60-day injured list to clear a roster spot for Estes.

UP NEXT

Mariners: Following an off day, RHP Bryce Miller (8-5, 3.88 ERA) opens a three-game series at Texas on Friday.

Athletics: RHP Luis Medina (3-9, 5.56) opens a four-game home series against Detroit on Thursday. The Tigers counter with LHP Tarik Skubal (6-3, 3.25), who has won each of his last three starts.

ASTROS 2, ORIOLES 1

HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Astros were in desperate need of a win Wednesday after dropping four of five and letting their lead in the AL West dwindle.

Held scoreless through seven innings, things looked bleak before some late-game heroics lifted them to the victory.

Mauricio Dubon's RBI single with one out in the ninth gave the Astros to a 2-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles, allowing Houston to avoid a sweep and stay a half-game ahead of Texas and Seattle for first place in the AL West.

``That was a big win,'' manager Dusty Baker said. ``It was nice to see the guys happy and partying because it's been a morgue in there for the past two days. That was a huge game.''

Yainer Diaz doubled to right field off Danny Coulombe (5-2) to start Houston's ninth, and he moved to third on a groundout by Chas McCormick.

Dubon smacked a single into the gap in right field to score Diaz and start the celebration.

``We needed this,'' Dubon said. ``Getting a walk-off win in late September with how the standings are, it's pretty special for everybody.''

The Astros had just two hits when Jeremy Pena's RBI double tied it with one out in the eighth.

Closer Ryan Pressly (4-5) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

Veteran catcher Martin Maldonado said nothing had to be said before the game for the Astros to know the urgency they need to play with as the regular season winds down.

``Everybody knows we have to win games and nobody has to say anything for us to know that we've got to win games and that's the bottom line,'' he said.

Anthony Santander doubled and drove in Baltimore's only run with a single in the first inning as the team's lead over the Rays in the AL East fell to two games.

Orioles starter Kyle Bradish allowed two hits and struck out nine in six scoreless innings.

Houston's Cristian Javier gave up five hits and a run while tying a season high with 11 strikeouts in five innings.

``That was the best that Javi has looked this year,'' Baker said. ``He looked like the old Javier.''

Adley Rutschman doubled with one out in the first before the Orioles made it 1-0 when he scored on a single by Santander.

Javier settled down after that, retiring 10 of the next 11 before Adam Frazier singled with one out in the fifth. Javier walked Ramon Urias but struck out Gunnar Henderson before retiring Rutschman to end the threat.

McCormick singled to open Houston's third, but Bradish didn't allow another hit until Jake Meyers singled to start the sixth.

He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Maldonado. Bradish struck out Altuve and looked to have struck out Pena to end the inning. But Rutschman was called for catcher's interference to put Pena on first and extend the inning. The Astros still came up empty when Kyle Tucker lined out.

``Tough lineup to pitch against, and he was outstanding,'' manager Brandon Hyde said. ``Only gave up a couple hits, worked out of that jam there, got the unfortunate catcher's interference but a big out against Tucker there to end that inning. He was really good ... and deserved a win.''

Shintaro Fujinami walked pinch-hitter Yordan Alvarez with no outs in the eighth before walking Jose Altuve with one out. He was replaced by Mike Baumann, who was greeted with the double from Pena that tied it at 1-all.

Baumann intentionally walked Tucker to load the bases, but Alex Bregman struck out before Jose Abreu grounded out to end the inning.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: 1B Ryan Mountcastle was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Sunday with left shoulder inflammation. Manager Brandon Hyde said he tried to swing before Wednesday's game and it ``didn't go as well as we were hoping,'' so he was placed on the IL. ... OF Ryan McKenna was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to take his spot on the roster.

Astros: OF Michael Brantley missed a third straight game Wednesday with right shoulder soreness. Manager Dusty Baker said before the game that his shoulder was still sore, and he was day to day. ... RHP Ryne Stanek, who has been out since Sept. 4 with a sprained right ankle, threw a scoreless inning in his first rehabilitation start for Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday night.

UP NEXT

Orioles: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (6-4, 4.53 ERA) will start for Baltimore in the opener of a four-game series at Cleveland on Thursday night. The Guardians haven't announced their starter.

Astros: Houston is off Thursday and hasn't announced its rotation for a series against Kansas City that starts Friday.