Tigers fall 2 games back in AL Wild Card race after 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.

New York Yankees 7, Toronto Blue Jays 5

Recaps: Pinstripe Alley | Bluebird Banter

The Yankees salvaged the final game of a four game series in Toronto, snapping a four game losing streak, and an eight game losing streak in Toronto. The Bombers scored five runs in the ninth inning, including four runs on a pair of homers by Mark Teixeira and Aaron Hicks off Jason Grilli to give New York the victory. J.A. Happ allowed two runs, one earned, in 7 1/3 innings for Toronto. The Blue Jays will now host the Baltimore Orioles for a crucial three game series in Toronto.

Impact: Toronto falls to just one game ahead of Baltimore for the first wild card spot in the American League. The Blue Jays loss means that the Boston Red Sox have clinched at least a tie for the AL East. Should Toronto and Baltimore tie for the two wild card spots, the playoff game would be held in Toronto, barring an Orioles’ sweep of the upcoming three-game series.

Seattle Mariners 4, Houston Astros 3 (F/11)

Recaps: Lookout Landing | Crawfish Boxes

Robinson Cano blasted a pair of home runs, the second coming in the 11th inning to give Seattle a victory in the opener of a three game series in Houston. The Astros scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning against Mariners’ closer Edwin Diaz to tie the game at 3-3. Hisashi Iwakuma worked six innings, allowing just one run on four hits for Seattle. Collin McHugh held the Mariners to two runs in seven innings.

Impact: Seattle moves into a tie with Detroit, two games behind Baltimore for the final wild card playoff spot, and 1 1/2 games ahead of the Astros, who fall to 3 1/2 games behind the Orioles.

Also noteworthy:

• The Boston Red Sox were idle, but moved into the lead for the best record in the American League as the Texas Rangers lost at home to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Indians are one half game behind Texas, and one game behind Boston for the league's best record and home field advantage in the playoffs.
  
• The New York Mets dropped half a game off their lead in the National League wild card race as they fell 7-3 in an emotion packed game in Miami, where Jose Fernandez was fondly remembered throughout the night.
• The St Louis Cardinals fell one game behind the San Francisco Giants for the final wild card spot in the National League as they were drubbed by the Cincinnati Reds 15-2. The Cardinals had 34,942 in attendance, breaking a string of 240 straight games of at least 40,000 fans.
• The Kansas City Royals remain six games behind Baltimore, and the Yankees are five games back, with just six games remaining in the season.
• The Chicago Cubs won their 100th game of the season for the first time since 135.