Updated Scores and Standings from MLB Playoff Race

The Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals clinched National League playoff berths on Thursday, marking the first two dominoes to fall in an extremely tight MLB postseason race.

As the Reds and Nationals pop champagne, other playoff hopefuls hit the field looking to become the next team in.

There are no longer any games to spare in these playoff chases. Twelve games with postseason implications take place Thursday night.

Let’s see who holds serve or gains ground in this evening’s slate.

American League

New York Yankees 10, Toronto Blue Jays 7

The Yankees put on an offensive exhibition at home, scoring 10 runs in the first five innings to sweep the Blue Jays.

Ichiro had another multi-hit game, including a home run in the third, and Nick Swisher hit a grand slam an inning later. Yankees starting Phil Hughes struck out nine, which was good enough to get the win.

New York increased their lead on the Orioles in the AL East, who were off today.

Yankees: 86-63 (first in AL East)

Tampa Bay Rays 7, Boston Red Sox 4

Needing three runs in the ninth inning to stay in the thick of the race, the Rays got six.

B.J. Upton hit walk-off three-run homer and the Rays erased a three-run decifit to stay in the thick of the race.

Clay Buchholz outdueled Tampa Bay ace David Price on the hill and the Red Sox were up 4-1 going into the eighth inning. Desmond Jennings and Upton, though, would have their say before the night ended.

Just like the end of 2011, the Rays got the best of Boston with the game on the line. Hopefully Red Sox fans weren't watching this one.

Rays: 79-70 (third in AL East, fifth in wild card)

Kansas City Royals 4, Chicago White Sox 3

The White Sox figured out the Royals Jeremy Guthrie, but gave up a Eric Hosmer walk-off single in the ninth to lose 4-3 in Kansas City.

The Royals and the White Sox were deadlocked 3-3 going into the ninth, as Francisco Liriano and Guthrie pitched to a stalemate. Chicago’s Jesse Crain, though, put two men on and Matt Thornton couldn’t stop the bleeding.

The White Sox thought they would get a chance in extra innings; however, the home team played spoiler instead and ended it in regulation.

White Sox: 81-68 (first in AL Central)

Texas Rangers 3, Los Angeles Angels 1

Adrian Beltre hit his MLB-leading ninth home run of September Thursday night’s homer may have been his most significant.

Beltre broke a 1-1 ties in the top of the ninth with a two run blast and Joe Nathan did the rest as the Rengers took a 3-1 win.

Yu Darvish and Zack Greinke will faced-off in Anaheim and boy, did it live up to the hype.  Both pitchers gave up a run apiece and combined for 17 strikeouts on the night.

In the end, though it was the Rangers pulling off their second win of the series with the AL West title still in play. They can thank their stud Adrian Beltre, and Ernesto Frieri for the assist.

Rangers: 89-60 (first in AL West)

Angels: 81-69 (third in AL West, third in wild card)

Oakland Athletics 12, Detroit Tigers 4

The A’s avoided a three-game skid after exploding for 12 runs in their victory over Detroit, their largest offensive output in September. 

The Tigers had a 3-2 heading into the sixth, but Oakland rallied to score four runs off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez and then a six-run ninth inning against the Detroit bullpen. Oakland needed win to keep pace with the Orioles for the wild-card lead; the offense did that and much more.

Athletics: 84-61 (second in AL West, first in wild card)

Tigers: 79-70 (second in AL Central, fourth in wild card)

National League

Washington Nationals 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

There will be playoff baseball in Washington D.C. for the first time since 1933.The Nationals clinched the first postseason birth in their history with a 4-1 win.

Washington tacked on four runs early and the Dodgers could never recover. Nationals starter Ross Detwiler pitched a gem, going six innings and giving up one run on three hits.

Drew Storen struck out every batter he faced to get his third save since returning from an injury.

His last strikeout would be one for the history books.

Dodgers: 77-73 (second in NL West, third in wild card)

Nationals: 91-58 (first in NL East, clinched playoff berth)

Philadelphia Phillies 16, New York Mets 1

The Phillies continue their resurgence into the wild-card race after a sweep the New York Mets.

Philadelphia has only scored three runs apiece in their last two games against their division rival, but exploded for 16, including an eight-run first inning and a seven-run ninth.

After Wednesday night’s game when Ryan Howard hit a go-ahead two-run shot in the top of the ninth, the Phillies left no room for drama in this one.

Howard hit another home run in the ninth inning Thursday, but the game was way out of reach by that point.

Phillies: 75-73 (third in NL East, fourth in wild card)

Cincinnati Reds 5, Chicago Cubs 3

Cincinnai become the first team to clinch a playoff spot after sweeping the Cubs in Chicago.

The Reds ace Johnny Cueto came through with a postseason berth on the line, pitching six scoreless innings for his 18^th victory this season.

The Reds ripped off four straight wins to clinch, but Thursday night’s victory was not easy to sweat out. Cincinnati thought they had the game won after a five-run seventh inning, but the Cubs stormed back with three runs in the final three frames. Ultimately, the deficit was too large to overcome.

Reds: 91-59 (first in NL Central, clinched playoff berth)

San Francisco Giants 9, Colorado Rockies 2

The San Francisco Giants stay hot with their four-game sweep of Colorado with a 9-2 win. The Giants can thank power-hitter Pablo Sandoval for the offensive output, going yard from both sides of the plate.

Barry Zito once again brought his nasty stuff to the park, allowing only two runs in six innings of work. With Thursday’s win, the Giants’ magic number for a NL West title is four.

Giants: 87-63 (first place in NL West)

San Diego Padres 6, Arizona D-backs 5

The Diamondbacks had three men on base with one out in the final frame, but came up with zilch.

The Padres take a one-run victory and leave the D-backs’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread, down five-and-a-half games with only 13 to play. It’s a tough night for Arizona fans everywhere.

Diamondbacks: 74-75 (third in NL West, seventh in wild card)

Milwaukee Brewers 9, Pittsburgh Pirates 7

In a game that had four innings with three runs or more, the Brewers ultimately rallied in the eighth inning for a two-run victory in Pittsburgh.

Aramis Ramirez hit the go-ahead single and John Axford got the save after Francisco Rodriguez held the lead.

The late-inning win give the Brewers a Pittsburgh sweep, while the Pirates fall to below .500 and cripple their playoff chances. Pittsburgh stands five-and-a-half games back with 13 to play.

Brewers: 77-72 (third in NL Central, third in wild card)

Pirates: 74-75 (fourth in NL Central, fifth in wild card)

St. Louis Cardinals 5, Houston Astros 4

Carlos Beltran came through with a two-run double that proved to be the difference, as the Cardinal held onto their wild-card spot at home.

The game was knotted up at three runs apiece when Beltran knocked in two for St. Louis. The Astros stranded 11 baserunners in this contest, in which they were hitless five times with the bases loaded.

The Cardinals will gladly take the win, the sweep against Houston, and now a two-and-a-half game lead over Los Angeles for the wild card.

Cardinals: 80-70 (second place NL Central, tied for first in wild card)

On Deck for Friday

*All times ET

St Louis at Chicago Cubs 2:20 PM

Minnesota at Detroit 7:05 PM

Atlanta at Philadelphia 7:05 PM

Oakland at New York Yankees 7:05 PM

Milwaukee at Washington 7:05 PM

Baltimore at Boston 7:10 PM

Toronto at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM

LA Dodgers at Cincinnati 7:10 PM

Pittsburgh at Houston 8:05 PM

Arizona at Colorado 8:10 PM

Chicago White Sox at LA Angels 10:05 PM

Texas at Seattle 10:10 PM

San Diego at San Francisco 10:10 PM

AL EAST	W	L		GB
NY Yankees	86	63	.574	-
Baltimore	85	64	.570	0.5
Tampa Bay	80	70	.530	6.5
AL CENTRAL	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago Sox	81	68	.547	-
Detroit	79	70	.530	2.5
AL WEST	W	L	PCT	GB
Texas	89	60	.595	-
Oakland	85	64	.570	3.5
LA Angels	81	69	.544	7.5

AL Wild Card	W	L		GB
Oakland	85	64		-
Baltimore	85	64		-
LA Angels	81	68		4
Tampa Bay	80	70		6
Detroit	79	70		6

The National League division titles are all but wrapped up. You can check that out here.

NL Wild Card	W	L		GB
Atlanta	86	64		-
St. Louis	80	70		-
LA Dodgers	77	73		2.5
Milwaukee	77	72		2.5
Philadelphia	76	74		4.5
Pittsburgh	74	75		5.5
Arizona	74	75		5.5

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