Orioles beat Blue Jays, move into tie for AL Wild Card lead

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 4, Toronto Blue Jays 0

Recaps: Camden Chat | Bluebird Banter

Ubaldo Jimenez shut out the Blue Jays allowing just one hit in 6 2/3 innings to win their three-game series in Toronto. The victory brought the Orioles even with Toronto for the first wild card playoff position in the American League. Jimenez, who struggled mightily most of this season, is now 3-1 with a 2.31 ERA over five starts in September. Hyun-Soo Kim belted a two-run homer for Baltimore, who now move on to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees. Toronto heads to Boston for a three-game finale at Fenway Park.

Impact: The Orioles move into a tie with Toronto for the two wild card playoff spots. Both teams are 1 1/2 games ahead of Detroit and two games ahead of Seattle in the American League playoff race.

Seattle Mariners 3, Oakland Athletics 2

Recaps: Lookout Landing | Athletics Nation

Ariel Miranda worked 5 1/3 innings giving up just one run on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks, and catcher Mike Zunino went 2-for-3 with a home run to lead the Mariners to a victory over Oakland. Seattle closer Edwin Diaz allowed three hits and one run, but struck out three Oakland batters to record the save.

Impact: Seattle is two games behind Baltimore and Toronto and one half game behind Detroit for the two wild card playoff spots. The Mariners have three more to play against Oakland to finish off the season.

New York Yankees 5, Boston Red Sox 3

Recaps: Pinstripe Alley | Over the Monster

CC Sabathia recorded eight strikeouts while allowing just one run on four hits and a pair of walks with eight strikeouts to give the Yankees a win over their archrivals in the final contest between the two teams this season. Gary Sanchez went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts for the Yankees, while David Ortiz went 0-for-1 in his final game in the Bronx. The Yankees will host Baltimore for a three game series while Boston will host Toronto to finish out the season.

Impact: The Yankees are officially eliminated from playoff consideration with Baltimore’s win at Toronto. Boston falls two games behind the Texas Rangers for the best record in the American League.

Also Noteworthy:

• The Houston Astros, who had the night off, were eliminated from playoff contention by virtue of the Orioles’ win at Toronto.
• The St. Louis Cardinals are still one game behind the San Francisco Giants for the second wild card spot in the National League. The New York Mets are one game ahead of San Francisco for the first spot.