MLB wrap: Athletics closing in on Rays in wild-card race

Thomas Lott

MLB wrap: Athletics closing in on Rays in wild-card race image

The third best team in the American League might actually be the Athletics.

Oakland defeated the Twins 7-2 on Thursday to take two out of three games in the series from the American League Central leaders and move to 48-40 on the season.

Marcus Semien hit a grand slam to lead the Athletics to the win and Oakland, all of a sudden, is just two games back of the Rays for the first wild-card spot in the American League.

Tampa Bay lost to the Yankees 8-4 on Thursday and has now taken losses in 10 of its last 17 games.

Meanwhile, the Athletics have won five of their last six.

After starting the year 15-21, Oakland is on the precipice of getting home-field advantage in the wild-card game.

There's still a lot of baseball to be played but the Athletics are now in a fight for the first wild-card spot.

Studs of the Night

Jose Ramirez went 2 for 5 with two home runs in the Indians' 8-4 win over the Royals.

Matthew Boyd gave up nine hits and four runs, but he recorded 16 outs, 13 of which came via the strikeout in the Tigers' 11-5 win over the White Sox. That's an impressive ratio.

Kris Bryant went 4 for 5, finishing a triple shy of the cycle in the Cubs' 11-3 win over the Pirates.

Dud of the Night

Yasmani Grandal went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in the Brewers' 1-0 loss to the Reds.

Highlight

Lourdes Gurriel made a spectacular diving play on Mookie Betts.

What's Next

Rockies (44-42) at Diamondbacks (43-45), 9:10 p.m. ET — Both of these teams are absolutely in the National League wild-card race and this series, which is the last before the All-Star break, could go a long way in determining whether one, or both of these teams, are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.

 

Thomas Lott