For the first time since the 2005 season, a major league game ends in a tie as rain stops the final scheduled contest of the year between the Cubs and Pirates in the 6th inning with the score at 1 – 1. The game will not be resumed as its result has no bearing on the postseason. The rules pertaining to ties were changed in 2007 making today’s situation the only one in which a tie game can now occur.

The Cardinals defeat the Reds , 4 – 3, on a game-ending double by Yadier Molina in the 9th. However, replays clearly show that third base umpire Scott Barry blew the call as Molina’s hit bounced into the stands and should have been called an automatic double, preventing Matt Carpenter from scoring from first base. Reds manager Bryan Price takes too long to request a video review and home plate umpire Bill Miller lets the run stand; Price explains that the roar of the crowd and the noise from the celebratory fireworks made it impossible for him to hear the telephone in the dugout that instructed him to challenge the call. The game is a key one in the three-team race for the two wild card spots in the National League, but a reversal of the call is unlikely to be granted on appeal.

The Cubs win their 100th game of the season by defeating the Pirates, 12 – 2. Javier Baez hits a grand slam and drives in 6 runs to lead the attack. It is the first 100-win season for the Cubbies since 1935.

The Marlins honor Jose Fernandez, killed in a boat crash a day earlier, before their game with the Mets and announce that his uniform number, 16, is being retired, then go on to beat the Mets, 7 – 3. Dee Gordon, known as scrap hitter, leads off the game with a home run to the upper deck, his first and only one of the year, while 1B Justin Bour legs out the first triple of his career in an emotional contest full of unusual happenings.

Jose Fernandez, 24-year-old All-Star pitcher with the Miami Marlins, dies tragically in a boating accident in Miami Beach, FL in the small hours of the morning. The scheduled game between the Marlins and Braves is canceled in mourning.

The Red Sox win their 11th straight, 3 – 2, when Dustin Pedroia dekes Rays catcher Luke Maile with a tremendous slide, scoring the winning run on David Ortiz’s 10th-inning double in the DH’s last at-bat at Tropicana Field. Boston pitchers combine for a major league record 21 strikeouts through the first 9 innings, including a record 11 in a row between the 4th and 7th innings. Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez ties a career mark with 13 Ks, while reliever Heath Hembree strikes out all five batters he faces.

In the AL East, the Red Sox have pulled away from the field, winning their 10th straight game, 6 – 4 over the Rays, to clinch a postseason slot. Rick Porcello wins his 22nd while Craig Kimbrel reaches 30 saves as the Sox now have a 5 1/2 games lead over the second-place Blue Jays.

2016 – The Pakistani national team makes its debut in a global event, having previously finished as high as 5th in the Asian Games and Asian Championship. As anticipated, they lose to Brazil in the opener of the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers Pool D, but they are not overmatched, losing 10 – 0 and getting four hits while making one error. Faqir Hussain goes 2 for 2 as their top performer. Brazil’s Jean Tomé, Eric Pardinho and Edilson Batista combine on the shutout, while Juan Carlos Muniz hits an inside-the-park two-run homer.

Former pitcher Curt Schilling and other officials of “38 Studios” agree to pay $2.5 million to the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation in settlement of a lawsuit over the failure of the video game design company. If approved by a judge, the settlement will close the case while Rhode Island taxpayers will still be on the hook for $28.2 million lost in the venture.

The Giants face the Dodgers with both teams battling for a postseason slot and aces Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner opposing each other on the mound. Kershaw, recently back from a lengthy stay on the disabled list, gives up only one run in 6 innings, but Bumgarner is better, as he allows no runs on one hit while striking out 10 in 7 innings. However, he gets into a verbal clash with Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig at the end of the 7th, both benches clear, and when the 8th inning gets underway, it’s reliever Will Smith who is pitching. With Bumgarner out of the way, the Dodgers rally for two runs in the last two innings and walk off with a 2 – 1 win on Adrian Gonzalez’s run-scoring double in the 9th.