Skip to content

MLB: Los Angeles Angels thrash Seattle Mariners to qualify for playoffs

 Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Image: Albert Pujols: Put the Los Angeles Angels in command with a three-run double

The Los Angeles Angels became the first team to book a place in the Major League Baseball playoffs after an 8-1 win over the Seattle Mariners.

With second-placed Oakland not in action, the Angels stretched their lead in the American League West to 10.5 games and are now only three wins from securing the division.

Matt Shoemaker held Seattle to one run over 7 2/3 innings, while Albert Pujols broke the game open for Los Angeles with a three-run double in the third before later leaving with hamstring cramp.

The Baltimore Orioles are one win away from the post-season after beating their closest rivals in the AL East. Wei-Yin Chen struck out six over 5 2/3 innings on his way to his 16th win of the season, while Ryan Flaherty's two-run homer powered the Orioles in a 5-2 win over the second-placed Toronto Blue Jays.

A wild rally from the Kansas City Royals saw them come from 3-0 down to beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 and keep pace with the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

Pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson scored on a wild pitch in the ninth to tie it before Lorenzo Cain's walk-off infield single gave the Royals victory.

That keeps them 1.5 games back from Detroit who also rallied late, beating the Minnesota Twins 8-6 behind homers from Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera in the ninth.

Oakland and Kansas City remain in charge of the wild-card race, with Seattle falling two games back and Toronto five out following their losses.

However, neither the Cleveland Indians, who lost 3-1 to the Houston Astros, nor the New York Yankees, who went down 1-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays, could take advantage and remain six games back.

The Washington Nationals edged closer to the post-season as they beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 to move 11.5 games clear in the National League East.

Out west, the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Colorado Rockies 11-3 thanks to an eight-run sixth innings, stretching their lead to four games over the San Francisco Giants, who lost 6-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Andrew Cashner tossed a two-hit shutout as the San Diego Padres edged the Philadelphia Phillies 1-0, the Miami Marlins edged the New York Mets 6-5 and Anthony Rizzo returned from injury to hit a walk-off homer as the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 1-0.

Around Sky