Category: MLB

PHILADELPHIA — Bryson Stott crushed the second grand slam in Philadelphia Phillies postseason history and Aaron Nola tossed seven shutout innings in a performance worthy of a postseason ace that led to a 7-1 win and a two-game sweep over the Miami Marlins in their NL Wild Card Series on Wednesday night. After making quick work of the surprising Marlins, it’s time for an anticipated rematch. J.T. Realmuto also homered as the Phillies advanced to another best-of-five NL Division Series against Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and the Braves. Game 1 is Saturday in Atlanta. The NL champion Phillies...

PITTSBURGH — The Miami Marlins’ improbable September push will carry into October. Jazz Chisholm hit his 19th home run, Josh Bell delivered a late two-run double and the Marlins clinched the fourth playoff berth in franchise history with a 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night. Miami locked down one of the two remaining National League wild-card spots behind Chisholm’s drive, a dash of small ball and another lockdown performance by a bullpen that has carried a sizable share of the load over the last month. A.J. Puk (7-5) and seven other relievers kept the Pirates in check, rendering...

PITTSBURGH — Josh Bell’s two-run double keyed a four-run, eighth-inning rally and the Miami Marlins moved closer to a playoff berth with a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. The Marlins did little through seven innings but broke through against Colin Selby (2-2) to reduce their magic number to earn the NL’s third wild-card spot to two. Miami entered the weekend with a chance to clinch the franchise’s first playoff berth in a non-pandemic-shortened season since 2003. The Marlins didn’t get into Pittsburgh until almost dawn on Friday morning following a long night in New York...

By MIKE FITZPATRICK NEW YORK — The series opener between the Miami Marlins and New York Mets was postponed Tuesday night because of unplayable field conditions caused by Tropical Storm Ophelia. The game will be made up Wednesday as part of a single-admission doubleheader beginning at 4:10 p.m. It’s a crucial series for Miami, which began the day one game out of a National League playoff spot with six to play. The Mets are eliminated from postseason contention. Three straight days of rain in New York left the Citi Field infield a soggy mess when the showers finally subsided late Tuesday afternoon...

MIAMI — Christian Yelich and Josh Donaldson homered during a 12-run second inning and the Milwaukee Brewers clinched a playoff berth Friday night with a 16-1 rout of the Miami Marlins. Milwaukee, assured at least a National League wild card, shaved its magic number to one for wrapping up the NL Central title. The Brewers, who have won four straight, can secure the crown with another victory Saturday over Miami or a loss by the Chicago Cubs to Colorado. The loss dropped the Marlins one game behind the Cubs for the third and final NL wild card. Yelich also launched a three-shot in the sixth as...

MIAMI — American Heritage graduate Mark Vientos had his first career multi-homer game and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 8-3 on Wednesday night. Kodai Senga threw six innings of two-run ball while Brett Baty also went deep for the Mets, who clinched the three-game series against the playoff-contending Marlins. Miami began Wednesday one half game from the third NL wild card spot. Senga (12-7) gave up seven hits, struck out three and walked two. The rookie from Japan has allowed two runs or less in his last eight starts. Marlins infielder Luis Arraez missed his second straight game because...

MIAMI — Jake Burger hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 4-3 on Tuesday night after blowing a late lead. Josh Bell had an early RBI double and Braxton Garrett did not allow an earned run in six stellar innings for the Marlins, who began the day a half-game out of the final NL wild-card spot. All-Star infielder Luis Arraez, who leads the majors with a .354 batting average, was a late scratch from Miami’s lineup because of a left ankle sprain. Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said Arraez stepped on a baseball during pregame drills. Miami...

MILWAUKEE — Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, manager Skip Schumaker said Wednesday, casting doubt on whether last year’s NL Cy Young Award winner can pitch again this season. Schumaker did not say whether he thought Alcantara would return. Miami is fighting for a wild-card spot. UCL injuries frequently require Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery. Alcantara’s injury was initially reported as a forearm strain after his last start on Sept. 3, when he threw 94 pitches in eight innings in a win at Washington. He said he first experienced...

By RICH ROVITO MILWAUKEE — Josh Donaldson homered for the first time with his new team and Freddy Peralta turned in another stellar outing as the Milwaukee Brewers downed the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Tuesday night. Milwaukee (81-63) is a season-high 18 games above .500 and reached the mark for the first time since it finished the 2021 season at 95-67. Donaldson hit a solo home run deep into the second deck in left with one out in the fourth off Edward Cabrera (6-7) to put the Brewers in front 2-1. It was Donaldson’s 11th homer of the season and first as a Brewer. Donaldson, who also singled and...

By STEVE MEGARGEE MILWAUKEE — Brandon Woodruff pitched a six-hitter and Willy Adames had four RBIs, helping the Milwaukee Brewers pound the Miami Marlins 12-0 on Monday. One night after Milwaukee lost 4-3 at New York despite Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams and Abner Uribe holding the Yankees hitless for the first 10 innings, the NL Central-leading Brewers collected a season-high 17 hits. Milwaukee’s onslaught began right from the start. Mark Canha led off the bottom of the first with his 10th homer, sending a 2-2 changeup from Jesús Luzardo over the left-field wall. Adames delivered a triple and...