CHICAGO (AP) — Jameson Taillon allowed two hits over six innings, Dansby Swanson hit a 16th home run and the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Friday to stave off elimination from postseason contention.
Pinch-hitter Mike Tauchman had a two-run single in the seventh for the Cubs (79-95), who have eight games left and began the day seven games behind the New York Mets and Arizona for the last NL wild card.
Washington has lost five straight games.
Taillon (11-8) struck out four, walked two and hit a batter, improving to 3-0 in his last five starts. He stranded the bases loaded in the third when José Tena lined out and he retired his last 10 batters.
REDS 8, PIRATES 3
CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz joined Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson to become the third player to steal 100 bases in his first two seasons since the modern rule was adopted in 1898, and Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh to assure the Pirates their sixth straight losing season and 28th in 34 years.
Tyler Stephenson tied his career high with five RBIs and Nick Martinez (10-6) won his fourth straight start, allowing two hits in six scoreless innings. Martinez struck out nine, his most since June 11, 2022, and walked none.
De La Cruz swiped second base in the fifth inning and scored on Stephenson’s single for a 7-0 lead, his 65th stolen base this season. The 22-year-old is hitting .260 with 24 homers and 70 RBIs this year after batting .235 with 13 homers, RBIs and 35 steals in 98 games as a rookie.
He became the first player with 30 homers and 100 steals in his first two seasons.
RAYS 1, BLUE JAYS 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jonathan Aranda homered, six Tampa Bay pitchers combined on a five-hitter, and the Rays beat Toronto.
Aranda went deep against José Berríos (14-10) with one out in the sixth inning.
The loss ended Berríos’ seven start winning streak, during which he had a 1.51 ERA. The right-hander allowed one run, six hits, one walk and had six strikeouts in six innings.
After Rays starter Tyler Alexander gave up two hits over 4 1/3 innings, Kevin Kelly (4-2) extended his scoreless streak to 22 innings after going 1 2/3 innings. Manuel Rodríguez worked out of a second-and-third jam in the seventh. Edwin Uceta and Colin Poche combined to get through the eighth before Hunter Bigge worked the ninth to get his first save.
ORIOLES 7, TIGERS 1
BALTIMORE (AP) — Colton Cowser hit his 21st and 22nd home runs, James McCann added his sixth and seventh and the Orioles went deep a season-high five times in a win over Detroit.
With the win, the Orioles were 3 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East standings but moved to 3 1/2 games ahead of the Kansas City Royals for the top spot in the AL wild card.
Detroit dropped 1/2 game behind the Minnesota Twins for the final AL wild card spot.
Anthony Santander contributed his 43rd round-tripper — his second in as many games — off Tigers opener Tyler Holton (7-2) as the Orioles won consecutive games for the first time in more than two weeks.
Corbin Burnes (15-8) pitched seven shutout innings to lower his ERA to 2.95 as the Orioles opened a three-game set against one of baseball’s hottest teams. The Tigers had won their previous four and nine of their last 11 entering Friday.
PHILLIES 12, METS 2
NEW YORK (AP) — Alec Bohm had four hits and four RBIs, including a three-run homer, and Philadelphia wrapped up their third straight playoff berth in style by blowing out New York.
Nick Castellanos had three hits and two RBIs, J.T. Realmuto added a two-run homer and the Phillies (92-62) extended their NL East lead to seven games over the second-place Mets (85-69) with eight to play.
Assured at least a National League wild card, the Phillies can secure their first division title since 2011 with one more win this weekend against the rival Mets at Citi Field.
Philadelphia’s victory coupled with Atlanta’s 4-3 loss in Miami eliminated the Braves from contention for the NL East crown — ending their six-year reign atop the division.
MARLINS 4, BRAVES 3
MIAMI (AP) — Jake Burger singled and doubled, helping Miami dent Atlanta’s playoff chances with a victory.
The Braves (83-71) entered Friday two games back for the last NL wild-card spot.
Kyle Stowers also singled and doubled for Miami (57-97), on track for its worst record since going 57-105 in 2019.
Valente Bellozo (3-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings and Anthony Bender, Lake Bachar, Declan Cronin and Jesus Tinoco combined for two-hit relief. Tinoco got three straight outs for his second save.
Charlie Morton (8-9) gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings and threw a run-scoring wild pitch. He is 0-2 in his last three starts.
