Blue Jays strengthen hold on top AL wild card spot

TORONTO (AP) – Raimel Tapia hit a three-run double, José Berríos pitched six innings to remain unbeaten against Baltimore, and the Toronto Blue Jays strengthened their position atop the AL wild card standings by beating the Orioles 6-3 on Saturday. George Springer had two hits and two RBIs, and Matt Chapman drove in a run and scored a run as Toronto improved to 13-4 in September. The Blue Jays have won six of their last seven against Baltimore. The Blue Jays lead the wild card race ahead of Seattle and Tampa Bay. Baltimore is five games back of the Rays, who played later Saturday, for the last wild card. Berríos (11-5) allowed two runs and seven hits to win his third straight decision. He is 8-0 with a 3.04 ERA in 11 starts against the Orioles. Jordan Romano finished for his 34th save in 38 chances. Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (3-7) allowed five runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings, his second straight loss. RAYS 5, RANGERS 1 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Taylor Walls homered and six Tampa Bay pitchers combined on a six-hitter to beat Texas. Tampa Bay remained 1 1/2 games behind Toronto for the top AL wild card. The Rays hold a 5 1/2-game advantage over Baltimore, which is fourth in the race for the three wild cards. Jonah Heim homered and Jon Gray (7-7) allowed two runs and two hits over 4 1/3 innings in his second start for Texas since returning from a left oblique strain. Heim made it 2-1 with a fourth-inning leadoff homer against Ryan Yarbrough (2-8). ANGELS 2, MARINERS 1 ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Shohei Ohtani pitched seven scoreless innings, drove in one run and scored another to help Los Angeles beat Seattle. The Mariners entered the four-game series tied for the top spot in the AL wild-card chase but are now two games behind Toronto Blue Jays and a half game in back of Tampa Bay. Seattle holds the final wild-card spot, five games ahead of Baltimore. Ohtani (13-8) reached base twice in three at-bats, drove in his 89th run and lowered his ERA to 2.43 in 148 total innings. He gave up three hits with one walk and eight strikeouts, and now has 196 strikeouts on the season. Mariners starter George Kirby (7-4) gave up two runs and four hits over six innings with one walk and eight strikeouts. METS 5, PIRATES 1 NEW YORK (AP) – Eduardo Escobar hit an early three-run homer and Chris Bassitt pitched six shutout innings for his 14th win as New York topped Pittsburgh. New York maintained its one-game lead in the NL East over the Atlanta Braves. Pete Alonso drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth for his 114th RBI, adding to his NL high. Mets batters were hit by pitches four times, including Jeff McNeil twice. Bassitt (14-8) permitted three hits and struck out eight. Rodolfo Castro’s 10th homer of the season in the ninth prevented the Pirates from being shut out for the 15th time. Bryse Wilson (3-9) was charged with loss. He allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings and struck out five. GUARDIANS 5, TWINS 1, GAME 1 CLEVELAND (AP) – Shane Bieber allowed one run over eight innings, Amed Rosario had four hits and the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians won their seventh in a row against the Minnesota Twins, 5-1 in a doubleheader opener. José Ramírez hit a solo homer on his 30th birthday and Owen Miller had a two-run double for Cleveland (78-66), which has won 10 of its last 12 games. The Guardians opened a 4 1/2-game lead over the second-place Chicago White Sox and a six-game margin ahead of the third-place Twins. Bieber (11-8) won his third straight start, allowing four hits and walking none for the ninth time in 28 starts. Minnesota’s Matt Wallner homered in the eighth and went 1 for 3 with a walk in his big league debut. Emmanuel Clase pitched a perfect ninth.