Each night in the 2016 baseball season we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from around Major League Baseball.
If the Toronto Blue Jays miss the playoffs, they can look back on their season series with the Tampa Bay Rays, owners of the second-worst record in the American League.
Clinching a winning record against the Jays for eighth time over the past nine seasons Tuesday night at Rogers Centre, the Rays handed Toronto its eighth loss in 11 September games with a 6-2 win. For the sixth time in their past eight games, the Jays' bats failed to score more than three runs as southpaw Drew Smyly fired 5 2/3 innings to remain unbeaten at Rogers Centre in his career.
Alexei Ramirez and Steven Souza Jr. went deep for the Rays, who have won seven of their last 11 games against the Jays and improved to 10-8 versus Toronto this season. Ramirez hit a three-run homer off Marcus Stroman, who suffered his eighth loss of the season despite facing a Rays lineup that ranks near the bottom of MLB in average against right-handers.
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The teams conclude their season series Wednesday.
With the loss, Toronto dropped into a tie with the Orioles for the wild-card spots, two games ahead of the Yankees and Tigers.
Player of the day
Taijuan Walker, Mariners — leading Seattle to its seventh consecutive win, the right-hander carried a no-hitter into the seventh and finished with a complete game shutout in an 8-0 win over the Angels. Walker tied a career high with 11 strikeouts.
Highlight
Rangers slugger Adrian Beltre took a big swing and landed on his right knee, but he managed to connect on his 30th homer of the season, a solo shot against the Astros.
Three things to know
— The Pirates were trailing 3-2 entering the ninth, got a pinch-hit, three-run homer from Sean Rodriguez and beat the Phillies, 5-3. It was their first win when trailing after eight innings since July 12, 2014. They had been 0-140.
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— Pinch hitters Jacoby Ellsbury and Didi Gregorius hit back-to-back homers to lead the Yankees to a late 3-0 win over the Dodgers. It's the first time since 1957 that Yankees players who didn't start went back to back.
— With two base knocks against the Braves, Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki recorded his 900th career multi-hit game. Ichiro now has 3,025 MLB hits, 26 shy of tying Rod Carew for 24th on the all-time list.
What's next
Orioles (79-65) at Red Sox (81-63), 7:10 p.m. ET: Boston’s first 20-game winner since 2007, Rick Porcello (20-3, 3.21 ERA) looks to improve his perfect 14-0 record at home against Kevin Gausman (7-10, 3.61 ERA) and the Orioles. Although Gausman owns a 1.08 ERA since Aug. 23, he has struggled against Boston in his career with a 4.74 ERA.
Rangers (87-59) at Astros (75-70), 8:10 p.m. ET: In his last start against the Astros, Yu Darvish (5-4, 3.28 ERA) gave up a season-high five runs over just four innings of work. The right-hander will look to bounce back with a win over Joe Musgrove (2-4, 4.78 ERA), who is coming off a quality start against the Cubs as the Astros look to stay in wild-card contention.