Adam LaRoche leads Nationals over Phillies
Travis Blackley allowed one run over six innings in a strong bounce-back performance that helped the Oakland Athletics move into a first-place tie in the AL West with Texas and set up today's one-game showdown for the division title with a 3-1 victory over the visiting Rangers last night.
The A's erased what had been a 13-game deficit in the division race on June 30 to take a share of first place for the first time since March 29.
Blackley (6-4) gave up three hits and struck out five a week after the Rangers knocked him out with a five-run first inning in the shortest start of his career.
Cards clinch wild card: Mat Latos (14-4) won his fourth straight decision to finish the regular season and Scott Rolen homered off Chris Carpenter as visiting Cincinnati beat St. Louis, 3-1. But the Cardinals clinched the final NL wild card several hours later when the Dodgers lost to the Giants.
Nationals 4, Phillies 2: Adam LaRoche hit his career-best 33rd homer and reached 100 RBIs for the host Nationals, who are tied with the Reds for the best record in the majors (97-64) heading into today's regular-season finales
Giants 4, Dodgers 3: The loss eliminated the host Dodgers for a wild-card spot.
Royals 4, Tigers 2: Miguel Cabrera had two hits and drove in two runs before leaving in the fifth inning, and host Kansas City rallied. With one game remaining in the regular season, Cabrera leads the American League in average (.331), home runs (44) and RBIs (139). Texas' Josh Hamilton has 43 homers.
-- AP
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
