Reds And Nationals Clinch Playoff Spots In MLB

The Washington Nationals and the Cincinnati Reds are the first to clinch playoff spots in Major League Baseball after posting wins Thursday.

The Reds beat Chicago 5-3 even with manager Dusty Baker in the hospital undergoing tests.   Johnny Cueto wins his 18th game for the Reds and the team now has a magic number of two for clinching the National League Central.

Washington beats Los Angeles 4-1 to also clinch at least a wild card berth and its magic number to clinch the NL East is eight.  In other NL games, Philadelphia routs New York 16-1; Milwaukee downs Pittsburgh 9-7; San Francisco rocks Colorado 9-2; San Diego downs Arizona 6-5 and St.Louis keeps the second wild card lead with a 5-4 win over Houston.

In the American League, New York sweeps Toronto with a 10-7 win to go a game up on idle Baltimore in the AL East.   The Yankees host Oakland this weekend while the Orioles visit Boston.   The A’s knock off Detroit 12-4 to gain a wild card tie with Baltimore and they stay four games back of Texas in the AL West after the Rangers down Los Angeles 3-1.

The Tigers are two back of Chicago in the AL Central after the White Sox lose to Kansas City 4-3.   Chicago visits the LA Angels this weekend while the Tigers host Minnesota.

Category: MLB