Los Angeles Dodgers clinch playoff berth, beat Giants 10-6

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a playoff spot for the sixth consecutive season Saturday afternoon, using an RBI triple from Manny Machado to break an eighth-inning tie en route to a 10-6 victory over the host San Francisco Giants.

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a playoff spot for the sixth consecutive season Saturday afternoon, using an RBI triple from Manny Machado to break an eighth-inning tie en route to a 10-6 victory over the host San Francisco Giants.

The Dodgers overcame a rare subpar effort from Clayton Kershaw to officially eliminate St. Louis from contention in the National League wild-card race. The Cardinals had won earlier in the day against the Chicago Cubs to temporarily stay alive.

At the same time, Los Angeles temporarily moved within a half-game of Colorado (90-70) atop the NL West, with the Rockies scheduled for a night game at home against Washington.

After the Giants had rallied into a 5-5 tie with a two-run fifth inning against Kershaw, the Dodgers got their go-ahead run in the eighth after Chris Taylor led off with a single off Mark Melancon (1-4). Two outs and a wild pitch later, Machado went the other way for a triple high off the wall in right field, easily plating Taylor with the go-ahead run.

Cardinals 2, Cubs 1

Right-hander Miles Mikolas remained unbeaten in September with eight strong innings, but St. Louis was later eliminated from postseason contention despite its victory at Chicago.

Matt Carpenter broke a 1-1 fifth-inning tie with an RBI single for the Cardinals, who were seeking a return to the postseason after a two-year absence.

The Cubs lost a half-game to Milwaukee in the duel for the National League Central title, with the Brewers scheduled for a home night game against Detroit.

Yankees 8, Red Sox 5

Rookie Gleyber Torres hit the record-setting 265th home run of the season in the fourth inning for New York in a win at Boston.

Torres hit the homer into the right-centre-field seats with two outs in the fourth inning when he drove a 1-1 fastball from Eduardo Rodriguez (12-5) into the Boston bullpen above the short right-centre-field wall. Torres' drive broke the previous record set by the 1997 Seattle Mariners, who were led by Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.'s 56 homers.

Giancarlo Stanton and Greg Bird delivered RBI doubles before Torres homered as the Yankees reached 100 wins for the first time since 2009 and 20th time in team history. Stanton later added his 38th homer leading off the seventh against Steven Wright.

Astros 4, Orioles 3 (Game 1)

Carlos Correa lined a tiebreaking double in the top of the ninth inning to give Houston the victory over host Baltimore in the first game of a doubleheader.

The game was tied at 3-3 when the Astros started a two-out rally against Baltimore left-hander Sean Gilmartin (1-1). George Springer drew a walk, and Correa then lined a 3-1 pitch into the gap in right-center. Springer was able to score from first without drawing a relay throw.

Will Harris (5-3) threw a scoreless eighth inning and took the victory. Hector Rondon came on in the ninth and closed it for his 15th save.

Rays 4, Blue Jays 3

Austin Meadows hit the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, C.J. Cron also had a solo shot and Tampa Bay edged Toronto at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Rays starter Blake Snell struck out 10 in five innings, allowing one run, three hits and four walks, but did not factor in the decision. A leading candidate for the American League Cy Young Award, the left-hander lowered his ERA to 1.89 for the season.

Sergio Romo struck out three to earn his 25th save of the season despite allowing a pinch-hit home run to Reese McGuire with one out in the ninth. Rays pitchers had 18 strikeouts.

Reds 3, Pirates 0

Michael Lorenzen pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and Eugenio Suarez homered to lead Cincinnati past visiting Pittsburgh.

Relievers David Hernandez (1 1/3 innings), Jared Hughes (one inning) and Raisel Iglesias (one inning, 30th save) joined Lorenzen (4-2) in putting together a six-hit shutout for Cincinnati, which ended a six-game losing streak.

Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (14-10) struck out seven and walked none in six innings. He allowed three runs and seven hits. He finished his season with a string of 22 straight starts allowing three earned runs or fewer.

(With inputs from agencies.)