Tigers control their own playoff destiny after Blue Jays loss

With so many teams in the thick of this year’s AL Wild Card race, it can be tough to keep your scoreboard watching straight. Fear not, though: Bless You Boys has you covered. Over the last two weeks of the season we will update you on the ups and downs of the AL playoff picture, and how each contending team fared on a regular basis.

Baltimore Orioles 8, New York Yankees 1

Recaps: Camden Chat | Pinstripe Alley

The Orioles jumped on Yankees’ starter Michael Pineda for two runs in the fifth inning and added six runs in the sixth to defeat New York handily at Yankee Stadium. Jonathan Schoop drove in five runs for Baltimore, and home runs by Schoop, Adam Jones, and Mark Trumbo with his 47th of the season led the way for the Orioles.

Impact: Baltimore moves one game ahead of Toronto for the first wild card position. Toronto drops to the second wild card spot, one half game ahead of Detroit.

Boston Red Sox 5, Toronto Blue Jays 3

Recaps: Bluebird Banter | Over the Monster

David Ortiz homered for the Red Sox and Jose Bautista went deep for the Blue Jays but a four run seventh inning made the difference as the Red Sox dropped the Blue Jays into the second wild card position with a win at Boston. Marco Estrada allowed just one run over five innings, but Boston got to reliever Joe Biagini for three runs to put Boston in the lead. Ortiz drove in three runs for the Red Sox.

Impact: Toronto falls one game behind Baltimore in the wild card race, but remains one half game ahead of Detroit for the Final wild card spot. Boston remains two games behind the Texas Rangers and one half game ahead of the Cleveland Indians for the best record in the American League.

Seattle Mariners 5, Oakland Athletics 1

Recaps: Lookout Landing | Athletics Nation

Robinson Cano homered twice and Nelson Cruz went deep once to help the Mariners to keep pace in the wild card race. Tajuan Walker allowed just one run on two hits over six innings to get the win. Oakland starting pitcher Ruben Alcatarra surrendered five runs on four home runs over three innings to spot Seattle with an insurmountable lead.

Impact: Seattle pulls within one game of Toronto for the final wild card position.

Also Noteworthy:

• The Kansas City Royals lost to the Cleveland Indians 7-2 and the Detroit Tigers have clinched second place in the American League Central.
• The Tigers now control their playoff fate. If they win their final two games in Atlanta and Monday's make-up game against Cleveland, the worst they can do is force a one-game tiebreaker for a Wild Card spot.
• The New York Mets remain one game ahead of the San Francisco Giants, who are one game up on the St Louis Cardinals for the two National league wild card spots.