New York: Carlos Beltran, CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees took advantage of Matt Harvey’s early exit, beating the sloppy Mets 11-2 on Sunday to tighten the AL East race just in time for a critical trip to Toronto.
Dustin Ackley hit a three-run homer after Beltran’s go-ahead double, and Sabathia (5-9) won for the first time since July 8 as the Yankees took two of three at Citi Field to win both Subway Series this season.
The Yankees, who lead the AL wild-card play-off standings, moved within 2 1/2 games of first-place Toronto heading into a three-game set beginning Monday.
The only bad news for the Bronx Bombers: Masahiro Tanaka won’t make his scheduled start in the series because of a strained right hamstring.
In other games with post-season implications, St Louis ended the Chicago Cubs’ five-game winning streak with a 4-3 victory, Seattle topped AL West-leading Texas 9-2, Minnesota pulled even with Los Angeles in the AL wild-card race with an 8-1 win over the Angels, and Pittsburgh widened their lead over the Cubs in the NL wild-card race with a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cardinals star catcher Yadier Molina exited after spraining his left thumb on a tag of Anthony Rizzo in the win over Chicago. Molina said he would get an MRI on Monday to assess the severity of the injury.
The NL Central-leading Cardinals have already clinched a post-season slot. They are six games ahead of Chicago, who hold the second wild-card play-off spot.
The Pirates extended their lead over the Cubs to two games with their win on Sunday. Gerrit Cole (17-8) allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings and struck out nine, improving to 3-0 in four career starts against Los Angeles.
Pittsburgh, who trail St Louis by four games for first place in the NL Central, are an MLB-best 34-17 in one-run games.
Texas’ division lead, meanwhile, was trimmed to 1 game over Houston with the Rangers’ loss and the Astros’ 5-1 win over Oakland.
Felix Hernandez became the AL’s first 18-game winner and Robinson Cano drove in four runs in the Mariners’ victory.
In Houston, Colby Rasmus homered twice and George Springer added a two-run shot to back a solid start by Collin McHugh and help the Astros top the Athletics.
The Astros are two games ahead of the Angels and Twins for the second AL wild-card spot.
Minnesota rookie Tyler Duffey pitched seven shutout innings and Eddie Rosario and Joe Mauer hit two-run homers in the win over the Angels.
A day after the Angels swept a day-night doubleheader, Duffey (4-1) stopped the Twins’ five-game losing streak.
