Brewers clinch NL Central, send Mets to losing season

MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Milwaukee Brewers clinched their second NL Central title in four years, beating the sloppy New York Mets 8-4 Sunday behind Willy Adames’s two-run homer and three RBIs. A day after New York was eliminated from postseason contention in their first season under new owner Steven Cohen, the Mets (73-82) lost for the 10th time in 11 games and were assured of a losing season for the fourth time in five years. Freddy Peralta (10-5) won for the first time since Aug. 10, allowing four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Carlos Carrasco (1-4) gave up five runs, seven hits and four walks in four innings. CARDINALS 4, CUBS 2 CHICAGO (AP) – Andrew Knizner scored the go-ahead run on a ninth-inning wild pitch by Codi Heuer (7-5), and St. Louis won its 16th straight for the longest in the majors since Cleveland took 22 in a row in 2017. It the best in the National League since the 1951 New York Giants won 16 straight. Paul Goldschmidt and Harrison Bader homered to extend a streak that has rocketed the Cardinals into position for the second NL wild card. Génesis Cabrera (4-5) got two outs for the win, and Giovanny Gallegos worked the ninth for his 14th save. Fourth-place Chicago lost its sixth straight. BRAVES 4, PADRES 3 SAN DIEGO (AP) – Will Smith struck out the side around three walks in the ninth for his 35th save, and Atlanta opened a 2 1/2-game lead over Philadelphia heading into their NL East showdown. Pinch-hitter Orlando Arcia hit a go-ahead double in the sixth off Pierce Johnson (3-4). Joc Pederson homered and scored twice for Atlanta, which has led the division since Aug. 15. Atlanta has won seven of nine and hosts the Phillies in a three-game series starting Tuesday. A.J. Minter (3-7) got the win with one-third of an inning. San Diego, eliminated from postseason contention a day earlier, lost for the 14th time in 17 games and at 78-78 dropped to .500 for the first time since a 10-10 start. PIRATES 6, PHILLIES 0 PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Starter Hans Crouse (0-1) gave up a home run to Cole Tucker on his first major league pitch and Pittsburgh stopped Philadelphia’s five-game winning streak. Bryce Harper and Philadelphia finished the home portion of their schedule 47-34. Max Kranick (2-3) combined with Chasen Shreve, David Bednar, Nick Mehars and Chris Stratton to strike out 11 in a six-hitter. REDS 9, NATIONALS 2 CINCINNATI (AP) – Tyler Stephenson and Nick Castellanos hit consecutive home runs, and Kyle Farmer broke open the game with a grand slam as Cincinnati won its third straight. Cincinnati is six games back of St. Louis for the second NL wild card with six games left, tied with Philadelphia. At 81-75, the Reds ensured consecutive non-losing seasons for the first time since 2012 and ’13. Tyler Mahle (13-6) allowed one unearned run and three hits in six innings. NL batting leader Juan Soto of Washington went 0 for 3, dropping his average to .322. Josh Rogers (2-1) gave up three runs, seven hits and a season-high four walks in 4 2/3 innings. RAYS 3, MARLINS 2 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Rookie Shane Baz (2-0) allowed three hits and struck out nine in 5 2/3 scoreless innings to win his second straight start and help the AL East champions to their team-record 14th series sweep. Nelson Cruz had two RBIs for the Rays, Rays rookie Wander Franco doubled in the first off Jesús Luzardo (5-9) to extend his on-base streak to 41 games. Nick Anderson got his first save this season despite allowing Lewin Díaz’s leadoff homer in the ninth. BLUE JAYS 5, TWINS 2 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Danny Jansen hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off Griffin Jax (3-5 and George Springer also went deep. Toronto will enter the final week one game back for the second AL wild card.