NEW YORK: The Cincinnati Reds pulled out a 5-4, 11-inning victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday to avoid being swept and get their march to a division title back on track.
Ryan Ludwick delivered the game-winning RBI single in the top of the 11th as the Reds shook off two previous defeats to the Marlins to keep an 11-game lead in the National League Central standings.
Cincinnati (88-59) had to work a little harder than they might have expected after starting pitcher Mat Latos gave up a 4-2 lead by conceding runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
But the Reds’ bullpen combined for a strong performance with Logan Ondrusek clinching the final out of the 10th for the win.
Ludwick finished 3-for-6 with two RBIs.
In Atlanta, the Braves kept their stronghold on the National League Wild Card race by finishing off a three-game sweep of the Major League-best Washington Nationals in a 5-1 win.
Atlanta’s 24-year-old Mike Minor allowed just one run in six innings and the Braves kept Gio Gonzalez (19-8) from becoming the first 20-game winner in the Majors.
Atlanta (84-63) commands the top spot in the wild card race by seven games.
Sitting in the second NL wild card position is St. Louis, who moved a game ahead of Los Angeles with a 5-2 victory over the Dodgers in 12 innings.
Jon Jay hit the go-ahead RBI double in the 12th, and the Cardinals (77-70) added two runs in the inning to break a tie in the standings with the Dodgers (76-71).
Both teams are battling for the NL’s final playoff spot as each league will award two wild cards this season and have them meet in a one-game playoff.
“We know what’s at stake, we’ve been here before,” Jay told reporters of the defending World Series champion Cardinals. “We know what we have to do.” In the American League, the New York Yankees beat visiting Tampa Bay Rays 6-4 to remain on top of the East Division by one game over Baltimore.
Russell Martin delivered a three-run blast for the Yankees (83-63) early to put the home team up 5-0, and starter Hiroki Kuroda struck out 10 batters in six innings to record the win.
The Orioles beat Oakland 9-5 to keep pace with New York. The Athletics (84-62) are still two games ahead of Baltimore (82-64) for the top spot in the AL wild card race.
In Minnesota, the Chicago White Sox extended their AL Central edge with a 9-2 rout of Minnesota.
Adam Dunn slugged his 39th home run of the season as part of a six-run sixth inning that allowed the White Sox (79-66) to cruise. They now hold a two-game edge over Detroit (77-68) after they lost to Cleveland.
The Los Angeles Angels nipped Kansas City 4-3 on the road to keep alive their playoff hopes.
Mark Trumbo smashed a three-run homer in the second, his 31st of the season, and the Angels (80-67) held off the Royals to pull within two games of Baltimore for the second wild card spot in the AL.
“We’re definitely in (the race) this year,” Trumbo told reporters. “That’s all you can ask for is to at least give yourself a chance.”
