JD Martinez hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
If this victory had no particular meaning for Boston, on the other hand, the Toronto Blue Jays savored it.
The defeat of the Orioles (80-76) indeed confirms the qualification of the Jays (87-69) for the playoffs, all with six games to play on the regular schedule.
This will be the Blue Jays’ first playoff appearance since the shortened 2020 season.
“Guys are excited to be in this position,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after Wednesday’s 8-3 loss to the New York Yankees. “We have three very good pitchers who will face a good team – the Red Sox – at home.
“I think we’re more excited than nervous or whatever. I think the guys are going to come out strong and be ready to play on Friday night. »
The #NextLevel awaits…
WE’RE IN! pic.twitter.com/V3npBgqQ8V
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 29, 2022
Martinez smashed a 3-3 tie by sending a Dillon Tate offering wide to left center field.
The Torontonians will face the Sox and the Orioles in a three-game series to end the season. Their 162nd final game is scheduled for Wednesday, October 5.
The Orioles still have a slim chance of being in the post-season meeting, while the 2nd place reserved for a drafted club remains within their reach.
The Red Sox signed a third consecutive victory.
Kyle Stowers homered for the Orioles, who have lost five of their last six games.
Off Thursday, the Blue Jays will host the Red Sox from Friday to Sunday. In the first game, Canadian Nick Pivetta will face a pitcher to be determined from the Toronto clan.
Toronto leads the trio of clubs that will advance to the playoffs without being section champions. The portrait is completed by the Tampa Bay Rays and the Seattle Mariners.
The best of these clubs will be at home in the first round, in a best-of-three series.
The other two teams in the group will play away in the first round.
The Rays lost 2-1 at Cleveland on Thursday. The Mariners host the Texas Rangers.
The New York Yankees have already clinched the East Division title.
In 2020, the Toronto club was swept by the Rays in the first round. It was the Blue Jays’ first playoff appearance since 2016.
Arraez returns to Judge
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge’s already historic season could well conclude with baseball’s first Triple Crown in 10 years.
However, Luis Arraez, of the Minnesota Twins, stands in his way.
After a two-for-five performance in a loss to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, Arraez edged Judge by two runs – rounding – in the race for the most consistent hitter in the American League. . The Yankees were enjoying an evening off.
With a week left in the regular season, Arraez’s batting average is .3147, Judge’s is .3134 and Xander Bogaerts of the Boston Red Sox is .3088. The Yankees have seven games remaining, while the Twins and Red Sox have six.
With 61 homers – which tied the American’s homer record on Wednesday – and 130 RBIs, Judge is expected to finish atop both categories.
The batting average will be harder to come by, because of Arraez. The last player to achieve the feat was Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers in 2012.
“I don’t put any pressure on myself. But I just try to hit the ball,” admitted Arraez, an infielder in his fourth season.
The Twins were knocked out of playoff contention after a rough start to the month.
Ohtani flirts with perfection
Pitching ace Shohei Ohtani went four out of a game without a run or hit as the Los Angeles Angels shut out the Oakland Athletics 4-0.
After allowing a walk to the first batter of the game, Tony Kemp, the Japanese lined up an impressive total of 23 consecutive strikeouts.
It was ultimately Conner Capel who put an end to Ohtani’s chances of achieving the feat, hitting a single at his expense after two outs in the 8th inning.
Moments later, Dermis Garcia also deposited the ball in a safe place at the expense of the star gunner.
Along with his terrific start, Ohtani also had two hits and drove in one run.
Elsewhere in the American League
Kansas City 3 – Detroit 10
KC : Jonathan Heasley (4-9) struggled on the mound, allowing five runs in four and two-thirds innings.
IT: Willi Castro and Javier Baez homered, while Tucker Barnhart had three hits.
Chicago White Sox 4 – Minnesota 3
Tampa Bay 1 – Cleveland 2
TB : David Peralta hit two hits and drove in the team’s only run.
CLE : The Guardians win with a two-point push late in the eighth.
Texas – Seattle
