David Ortiz hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hanley Ramirez also connected, and the Boston Red Sox outslugged Toronto 11-8 Sunday, reclaiming a two-game lead over the Blue Jays in the AL East.
Ortiz put Boston up 10-8 with a drive off Joaquin Benoit. It was his 41st career home run at Rogers Centre, his highest total at any road stadium.
With his 535th career homer, Ortiz moved past Jimmie Foxx into sole possession of 18th place on baseball's career list. He also increased his RBI total to 110, the most by a player age 40 or above since Dave Winfield had 108 for Toronto in 1992.
Edwin Encarnacion homered twice and Troy Tulowitzki hit his third career grand slam for the Blue Jays, who are tied with Baltimore for the wild-card lead. Bo Schultz (0-1) got the loss.
Robbie Ross Jr. (3-2) got two outs for the win. Craig Kimbrel, the ninth Boston pitcher, worked the ninth for his 25th save.
ORIOLES 3, TIGERS 1
DETROIT -- Chris Tillman pitched six impressive innings in his return from the disabled list, leading the Orioles to the win.
Michael Bourn and Jonathan Schoop homered off Justin Verlander (14-8) as Baltimore moved into a tie with Toronto for second in the AL East and the top spot in the wild-card standings. The Orioles begin a three-game series with the division-leading Red Sox on Monday night.
Detroit fell two games behind the wild cards. The Yankees are also two back of the Orioles and Blue Jays.
Tillman (16-5) allowed a run and four hits after being activated before the game. He hadn't pitched since Aug. 20 because of right shoulder bursitis.
Three relievers finished for the Orioles, with Zach Britton pitching the ninth for his 41st save in 41 chances.
GIANTS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 3
PHOENIX -- Matt Moore struck out 11 in seven innings and Hunter Pence hit a key two-run double, helping San Francisco to the series sweep.
The Giants pulled within three games of NL West-leading Los Angeles, which lost 3-0 at Miami. San Francisco leads the wild-card standings.
Moore (10-11) gave up two runs and eight hits. Hunter Strickland got four outs for his third save of the season.
The Giants swept a road series from Arizona for the second time this season and sent the Diamondbacks to their sixth straight loss.
Arizona ace Zack Greinke (12-6) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.
RAYS 4, YANKEES 2
NEW YORK -- Corey Dickerson hit a two-run homer, Matt Andriese won for the first time since June and the Rays stopped the Yankees' seven-game winning streak.
Logan Forsythe and Brad Miller also went deep for the last-place Rays, who had lost three straight and six of seven. Andriese (7-7) pitched five innings of one-run ball and Alex Colome got three quick outs for his 32nd save.
Chase Headley homered and Brett Gardner had an RBI single among his three hits for the Yankees, who are two games back of Toronto and Baltimore for the top spot in the wild-card standings.
Rookie right-hander Luis Cessa (4-1) gave up all three Rays homers in 5 2/3 innings.
ROYALS 2, WHITE SOX 0
CHICAGO -- Ian Kennedy and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, helping the Royals beat Chris Sale and the White Sox.
Kendrys Morales homered on Sale's first pitch of the second and Eric Hosmer did the same in the fourth. The Royals are four games behind Baltimore and Detroit for the top spot in the AL wild-card standings.
Kennedy (11-9) walked four, but Adam Eaton's leadoff single was the only hit off the right-hander in six innings. Wade Davis worked the ninth for his 24th save.
Sale (15-8) struck out 12 in eight innings while becoming the first White Sox pitcher with four consecutive 200-strikeout seasons.
METS 10, BRAVES 3
ATLANTA -- Yoenis Cespedes hit a grand slam for New York, and Seth Lugo won his fourth straight start.
The Mets have won seven of eight and are 16-5 since Aug. 20. They moved back into position for the second NL wild card, a half-game ahead of the Cardinals.
Lugo (4-2) allowed two runs in seven innings. The rookie is 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA in five career starts. He joined the rotation on Aug. 19.
Cespedes drove in the game's first five runs off Williams Perez (2-3), who struck out two in 2 2/3 innings. Perez left the game with right triceps impingement.
BREWERS 2, CARDINALS 1
ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Braun hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning, and the Brewers dropped the Cardinals back in the NL wild-card race.
The Cardinals are a half-game behind the Mets for the second wild card.
Braun connected against Kevin Siegrist (5-3) for his 27th homer.
St. Louis had tied it in the eighth when Matt Carpenter doubled and scored on Stephen Piscotty's sacrifice fly off Tyler Thornburg (6-5).
MARLINS 3, DODGERS 0
MIAMI -- Jose Urena pitched 8 2/3 innings of four-hit ball, leading Miami to the win.
Christian Yelich had two hits and drove in a run for the Marlins, who have won three of four. Justin Bour also drove in a run.
Urena (4-6) retired the first 14 batters he faced. He struck out four and walked none while throwing 71 of 108 pitches for strikes.
The 24-year-old Urena was lifted after giving up a base hit to Josh Reddick. A.J. Ramos got the final out for his 34th save in 37 chances.
Los Angeles right-hander Kenta Maeda (14-9) allowed three runs, two earned, and eight hits in six innings.
NATIONALS 3, PHILLIES 2
WASHINGTON -- Gio Gonzalez pitched seven sharp innings for NL East-leading Washington, and Anthony Rendon doubled home the tiebreaking run.
Gonzalez (11-9) gave up one run and four hits, bouncing back nicely from a rough outing against Atlanta in his last start.
It was 1-all when Bryce Harper drew a leadoff walk from Adam Morgan (2-10) to open the seventh. Rendon then doubled to the wall in left-centre off reliever Edubray Ramos and later scored on a passed ball by catcher A.J. Ellis.
Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 41st save.
Tommy Joseph hit a tying homer for the Phillies in the seventh. Freddy Galvis homered in the eighth.
INDIANS 7, TWINS 1
MINNEAPOLIS -- Cleveland ace Corey Kluber struck out 10 in seven innings, and Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer.
Kluber (16-9) gave up an unearned run and four hits while passing the 200-strikeout mark for the third straight season. Roberto Perez added two hits, including a triple, and drove in a run for the Indians, who increased their lead in the AL Central to seven games over Detroit.
Jose Berrios (2-6) lasted just 2 2/3 innings for the Twins, who committed four errors and managed just five hits.
REDS 8, PIRATES 0
PITTSBURGH -- Tyler Holt and Brandon Phillips had three hits apiece, leading Brandon Finnegan and the Reds to the victory.
Holt drove in three runs and Phillips scored three times as last-place Cincinnati (60-82) closed the four-game set with three straight wins. Pittsburgh (69-72) has dropped 11 of 13 to fall off the pace in the NL wild-card race.
Finnegan (9-10) struck out seven in five innings, but allowed five hits and walked five. Jumbo Diaz then pitched two innings and Ross Ohlendorf and Wandy Peralta each got three outs, completing a seven-hitter.
Pittsburgh's Ryan Vogelsong (3-5) was charged with six runs and seven hits in four innings.
ANGELS 3, RANGERS 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Andrelton Simmons hit two solo home runs, sending Jered Weaver and the Angels to the win.
Simmons began the day with only one homer this season. Yunel Escobar hit a leadoff drive in the first inning for the Angels.
Adrian Beltre homered twice for the AL West-leading Rangers. It was his fourth multihomer game of the season and the 31st of his career.
Weaver (11-11) gave up two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out a season-high eight. Andrew Bailey pitched a perfect ninth to earn his third save.
Texas right-hander Colby Lewis (6-2) gave up all three homers in 5 1/3 innings.
MARINERS 3, ATHLETICS 2
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ketel Marte hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning, helping Seattle to its fifth straight win.
The Mariners are 3 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race.
Marte had three hits for Seattle, and Mike Zunino homered and doubled.
Zunino doubled off Ryan Madson (5-5) to begin the ninth and pinch runner Ben Gamel moved up on a single by Leonys Martin. Marte followed with his go-ahead single.
Steve Cishek (3-6) pitched a scoreless eighth. Edwin Diaz closed for his 15th save.
ROCKIES 3, PADRES 2, 10 INNINGS
SAN DIEGO -- Mark Reynolds homered leading off the 10th inning and the Rockies salvaged a split of a four-game series.
Charlie Blackmon also homered for the Rockies, his 25th, and hit an RBI single.
Reynolds' homer was the 250th of his career and 13th of the season. It came on a 2-2 pitch from Kevin Quackenbush (7-6).
Jake McGee (2-3) pitched the ninth for the win. Adam Ottavino pitched the 10th for his fourth save.
