Around the horn
¦ Brewers: The Brewers squandered a six-run lead and were eliminated from postseason contention with a 7-6 loss to the Cardinals. The loss assured the Rockies of the second NL wild card. Domingo Santana’s tworun homer and Travis Shaw’s two-run double sparked the Brewers to a 6-0 lead in the third, but the Cardinals fought back.
Harrison Bader’s RBI single in the eighth broke a 6-6 tie.
¦ Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer was pulled from a 4-1 loss to the Pirates because of a hamstring cramp. Scherzer stumbled on a pitch in the fourth and then began to throw the next pitch, but he stopped. Manager Dusty Baker said Scherzer would undergo a precautionary MRI but that he didn’t expect the team’s rotation order for the NLDS to be affected.
¦ Yankees: Despite a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jays, the Yankees wound up with the top AL wild-card spot after the Red Sox clinched the AL East. The Yankees will host the Twins in the wild-card game Tuesday. CC Sabathia (14-5) won his fifth straight decision, allowing four hits and striking out six over 5 2 /3shutout innings.AaronJudge hit his 52nd home run. The Yankees (91-70) improved to a season-high 21 games over .500.
¦ Indians: The Astros’ loss to the Red Sox assured the Indians of the best record in the league and home field throughout the AL playoffs. The Astros have 100 victories, whereas the Indians had 101 entering Saturday night’s game and held the tiebreaker over the Astros. ... OF Michael Brantley (ankle) was activated from the DL, and manager Terry Francona may place him on the roster for the ALDS.
¦ Giants: Matt Cain pitched five shutout innings, then walked off the mound for final time in a 3-2 loss to the Padres. The retiring 13-year veteran, who pitched the only perfect game in franchise history, took a curtain call and exited with a 1-0 lead. He gave up two hits, struck out four and walked one. Austin Hedges’ tworun double in the ninth won it.
Harrison Bader’s RBI single in the eighth broke a 6-6 tie.
¦ Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer was pulled from a 4-1 loss to the Pirates because of a hamstring cramp. Scherzer stumbled on a pitch in the fourth and then began to throw the next pitch, but he stopped. Manager Dusty Baker said Scherzer would undergo a precautionary MRI but that he didn’t expect the team’s rotation order for the NLDS to be affected.
¦ Yankees: Despite a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jays, the Yankees wound up with the top AL wild-card spot after the Red Sox clinched the AL East. The Yankees will host the Twins in the wild-card game Tuesday. CC Sabathia (14-5) won his fifth straight decision, allowing four hits and striking out six over 5 2 /3shutout innings.AaronJudge hit his 52nd home run. The Yankees (91-70) improved to a season-high 21 games over .500.
¦ Indians: The Astros’ loss to the Red Sox assured the Indians of the best record in the league and home field throughout the AL playoffs. The Astros have 100 victories, whereas the Indians had 101 entering Saturday night’s game and held the tiebreaker over the Astros. ... OF Michael Brantley (ankle) was activated from the DL, and manager Terry Francona may place him on the roster for the ALDS.
¦ Giants: Matt Cain pitched five shutout innings, then walked off the mound for final time in a 3-2 loss to the Padres. The retiring 13-year veteran, who pitched the only perfect game in franchise history, took a curtain call and exited with a 1-0 lead. He gave up two hits, struck out four and walked one. Austin Hedges’ tworun double in the ninth won it.