The Minnesota Twins somehow missed Zack Greinke the first 14 times they faced the Kansas City Royals this season. Now, they get him twice in a week — it couldn't have come at a worse time. Greinke worked through several jams in seven innings to bolster his Cy Young Award chances and put a dent in Minnesota's postseason hopes, helping the Royals win their home finale 4-1 on Sunday.
Clint Barmes had the wind knocked out of him and a big welt on his forehead. A small price to pay for a game-saving catch in the middle of a tight playoff race. Colorado's second baseman made a diving grab in shallow right field to start a game-ending double play, preserving a 4-3 victory over the St.
Even in victory, nothing is coming easy for the Philadelphia Phillies' struggling bullpen. With Prince Fielder on third base with two outs in the ninth inning, reliever Ryan Madson got Milwaukee's Mike Cameron to look at a called third strike, preserving a 6-5 win over the Brewers on Sunday. It was the ninth save of the season for Madson and a much-needed victory for the Phillies, who cut…
The Atlanta Braves have forced their way into the playoff picture unburdened by the usual late-season nerves and anxieties. They threw all that stuff out long ago, back when they were so far behind they thought they were pretty much out of it. Playing confident and free with nothing to lose — and with the breaks falling their way — the Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Washington…
With a few timely hits and a few more timely outs by their bullpen Sunday, the Los Angeles Angels made certain they'll welcome the Texas Rangers on Monday with a simple formula to seal their playoff fate. One win and they're in. Kendry Morales homered and drove in three runs, and the Angels snapped their first four-game losing streak of the season with a 7-4 victory over the Oakland…
This should have been so easy for the Dodgers: Jonathan Broxton on the mound, a three-run lead in the ninth inning against the dismal Pirates and an NL West title to celebrate as soon as they closed it out. Instead, easy turned into excruciating as Los Angeles let a victory slip away when the majors' second-worst team pulled off a four-run rally aided by several defensive lapses.
Soaked to the skin with champagne, Mark Teixeira stood on the giant "NY" logo in the Yankees clubhouse and shouted like crazy. "Tastes good!" he hollered. Favored to win the World Series since opening day, the New York Yankees celebrated like playoff newcomers after beating Boston 4-2 Sunday to clinch the AL East title and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Brandon Inge figures the next four games will give the Detroit Tigers a taste of the postseason — and with any luck, they'll secure a spot in it. They'll have to do better than this, though. Carlos Quentin hit a three-run homer in his second straight game, rookie Daniel Hudson earned his first major league victory and the Chicago White Sox beat the Tigers 8-4 Sunday for their third win in…
The scheduled matchup of Pat Misch against Josh Johnson looked ominous for the New York Mets. Then Johnson got sick. By the end of the afternoon, the Florida Marlins' bats were ailing, too. Misch pitched an eight-hitter for the first complete game of his career Sunday, and the Mets spoiled the Marlins' home finale by winning 4-0.
David Huff and Asdrubal Cabrera are showing why the Cleveland Indians believe they can bounce back next year. Huff pitched eight innings, Cabrera drove in three runs and tied a career high with four hits, and the Indians beat Baltimore 9-0 on Sunday to extend the Orioles' skid to 10 games. "It's been a rough 10 games for us," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said.
