MLB capsules: Mookie Betts hurts side, says injury minor, Red Sox near East title

Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts left the game after hurting his left side making a throw to home plate during a 4-3 win over the New York Mets on Sunday in Boston that cut their magic number to two for a third straight AL East title. Boston can clinch the division at Yankee Stadium for the second time in three seasons, needing only one win during a three-game series that opens Tuesday afternoon. Betts said the injury is minor and he will be in the lineup Tuesday. He is hitting .337 with 29 homers and 72 RBIs.

Cardinals 4, Dodgers 0: Adam Wainwright pitched two-hit ball over six innings for his first win in five months, Marcell Ozuna homered and St. Louis salvaged the finale of a four-game series with a victory over Los Angeles at home. The Cardinals snapped a season-high four-game losing streak and moved into a tie for the second National League wild card with the Dodgers, who slipped a half-game behind Colorado for the NL West lead. Wainwright, making his second start since missing almost four months with right elbow inflammation, struck out a season-high nine while earning his first victory since April 16. His 101 pitches were his most since July 22, 2017.

Blue Jays 3, Yankees 2: Dellin Betances wasted a 2-1 eighth-inning lead in New York, allowing hits to four of his first five batters. Pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez had a tying single and Randal Grichuk a go-ahead double. Betances has lost in two of his past three appearances. The Yankees maintained a 1 1/2-game lead over Oakland for the top AL wild card. Manager Aaron Boone said All-Star slugger Aaron Judge could return to the lineup against Boston.

Astros 5, Diamondbacks 4: Justin Verlander struck out 11 in seven innings, allowing one run and three hits in Houston, which leads second-place Oakland by 4 1/2 games in the AL West. Arizona began the day four games behind in the NL West and 3 1/2 games back for the second NL wild-card spot. Zack Greinke allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Rays 5, Athletics 4: Khris Davis hit a grand slam in the ninth off Sergio Romo in St. Petersburg, his major league-leading 43rd homer. Tampa Bay trails Oakland by seven games with 14 games left.

Nationals 6, Braves 4: Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon hit two-run homers off Sean Newcomb and 19-year-old rookie Juan Soto added an RBI single in Atlanta. The Braves maintained a 6 1/2-game lead in the NL East over second-place Philadelphia.

Marlins 6, Phillies 4: Peter O’Brien homered and drove in three runs in Philadelphia as Miami ended a five-game losing streak. O’Brien put the Marlins ahead with a two-run homer in the fourth and Bryan Holaday added a pair of doubles. Nick Pivetta, who has won only one of his last 11 starts, struck out seven in the first three innings.

Reds 2, Cubs 1: The Cubs’ NL Central lead remained at 2 1/2 games over second-place Milwaukee when Scott Schebler homered on the first pitch of the game from Jose Quintana (13-10) and Phillip Ervin also went deep in Chicago. Joey Votto had three hits for last-place Cincinnati.

Pirates 3, Brewers 2: Jesus Aguilar and Domingo Santana homered on consecutive pitches from Felipe Vazquez to begin the ninth, but Milwaukee fell short at home. The Brewers lead the NL wild-card race by 2 1/2 games. Trevor Williams (13-9) allowed two hits in six scoreless innings. Vazquez got his 24th consecutive save and 34th overall this season when Ryan Braun struck out, Mike Moustakas popped out weakly and Erik Kratz grounded out.

Rockies 3, Giants 2: Antonio Senzatela pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning and also hit a two-run single in San Francisco as Colorado held its playoff position. The Rockies, blanked the previous two days, avoided a three-game sweep. Colorado began the day with a half-game lead over St. Louis for the second NL wild-card spot and a half-game behind Los Angeles in the NL West – the Dodgers played later at St. Louis.

Padres 7, Rangers 3: Rookie Francisco Mejia hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning and San Diego avoided three-game sweep at home in a matchup of last-place teams. It was the first walkoff for Mejia, who was promoted from Triple-A on Sept. 4. The prized prospect has hit three homers since then.

Angels 4, Mariners 3: Kole Calhoun hit a tiebreaking home run and Justin Upton connected in his third straight game as Los Angeles averted a four-game sweep in Anaheim. Angels star Shohei Ohtani appeared to be limping as he jogged off the field in the eighth inning after he slid awkwardly into second base and was caught stealing.

Tigers 6, Indians 4: The Indians rested several regulars a day after clinching the AL Central at home. Jim Adduci homered and drove in a career-high four runs for Detroit. Francisco Liriano allowed three runs in seven innings for the Tigers, who won two of three in the series after losing 10 straight at Progressive Field dating to last season.

Orioles 8, White Sox 4: Jonathan Villar and Adam Jones homered and rookie Cedric Mullins had a career-high four hits in Baltimore. The Orioles took control with a five-run first inning against Lucas Giolito and held on for its 43rd victory. That means the Orioles can’t match the major league record of 120 losses in a season, set by the 1962 New York Mets.

Twins 9, Royals 6: Tyler Austin hit one of Minnesota’s four home runs and made a spectacular catch while flipping into the dugout down the first-base line as Minnesota avoided a four-game sweep in Kansas City. Max Kepler, Johnny Field and Jorge Polanco also went deep for the Twins, who had a season-high 18 hits.