MLB wrap: Rays take lead over Indians in American League wild-card race

Alexis Mansanarez

MLB wrap: Rays take lead over Indians in American League wild-card race image

The American League wild-card race is heating up.

The Rays sit in the second spot, with a one-game lead over the Indians, after a 5-4 win over the Red Sox in 11 innings. Cleveland, meanwhile, fell to the Phillies, 9-4.

Tampa Bay's victory Saturday came from a Nate Lowe walk-off home run in the final frame. 

The two-run homer was his seventh of the season.

The Rays took an early 2-1 lead but the Red Sox used a two-run home run in the eighth inning to send the game into extras.

They also scored again in the top of the 11th off a Mitch Moreland homer, but then Lowe followed it up with his game-winning heroics.

The Rays and Red Sox have two more matchups remaining in their four-game series. 

Studs of the night

James Paxton threw six scoreless innings and improved his record to 15-6 this season in the Yankees' 7-2 win over the Blue Jays. 

Jose Abreu went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a run scored in the White Sox's 5-3 win over the Tigers. 

Duds of the night 

Craig Kimbrel took the loss after allowing two runs, on two homers, in one inning of work as the Cubs fell to the Cardinals, 9-8. 

Robinson Cano was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the Mets' 3-2 loss to the Reds. 

Highlights

Keston Hiura sent this one over the left-centerfield fence. 

Stephen Strasburg can do it all.

What's next 

Cardinals (88-67) at Cubs (82-73) 2:20 p.m. ET — The Cardinals have won the first three games of this series, extending Chicago's losing streak to five. The Cubs have fallen behind the Brewers in the race for the second National League wild-card spot and will need to get on track, quickly. They'll send Yu Darvish (6-7, 4.02 ERA) to the mound while St. Louis will counter with Miles Mikolas (9-14, 4.29 ERA).

 

Alexis Mansanarez