Robbie Grossman hit a two-run homer, Max Scherzer pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings before exiting with a right triceps spasm and the Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 to overtake them in the wild card race. in the American League.
Corey Seager had three hits, drove in a run and scored twice for the Rangers (80-64), who won their fourth straight game and confirmed the season series victory over Toronto (80 -65) with two games remaining. Seager finished 4-3 with an intentional walk.
Texas entered the day half a game behind Toronto.
Scherzer (13-6) ended a four-start winless streak. The three-time Cy Young Award winner allowed three hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Of the 73 pitches, 49 were for strikes.
Scherzer allowed a game-high seven earned runs in his previous outing, a loss at Houston on Wednesday.
IN DETROIT, Tyler Stephenson hit an RBI single in the 10th inning, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Tigers 6-5.
Stephenson led off the 10th with a single off closer Alex Lange (6-4). Noelvi Marte stepped up to the plate, preventing Jake Rogers from tagging him out.
Joey Votto reached on an error, but Detroit turned a 6-3-4 double play and Lange struck out pinch-hitter Jake Fraley.
Puerto Rican Alexis DÃaz (9-4) got the win by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Buck Farmer, former Tigers pitcher, pitched in the tenth inning and earned the save.
IN PITTSBURGH, Josh Palacios hit a two-run homer against his former team, while Bailey Falter pitched six efficient innings as the Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 5-1.
Palacios gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead in the second inning with his eighth home run of the season. Palacios played in 29 games last season with the Nationals, but Pittsburgh selected him in December’s minor league draft under the Rule 5.
