Brewers clinch NL Central as Cubs slip to Wild Card

ByThis Day in Baseball

An unprecedented two one-game playoffs are played today to determine the winners of the NL Central and NL West division titles. In Wrigley Field, the Brewers crown an outstanding second half by defeating the Cubs, 3 – 1, their 8th straight win. They score twice in the 8th, with a single by unheralded SS Oswaldo Arcia, who goes 4-for-4, starting things off against Justin Wilson, one of six relievers used by Joe Maddon on the day. A double by Domingo Santana followed by Lorenzo Cain’s single drives in the go-ahead run and Ryan Braun adds another insurance run. Josh Hader then pitches the final two inning for the save, giving Milwaukee the best record in the National League.

The Yankees clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2012 and win 10,000th Game

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Yankees clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2012 when the team beats the Red Sox in the Bronx, 4-1. The win, their 10,000th regular-season victory, guarantees a wild-card berth, placing the Bombers in the playoffs for the 52nd time in franchise history. The game was played on a rain-drenched evening at New Yankee Stadium. All four runs come courtesy of the long ball, a two-run shot by Carlos Beltran, and solo drives by Greg Bird and Rob Refsnyder. CC Sabathia gets the win and the Yankees’ bullpen ties a new major league record when Josh Rutledge strikes out against Dellin Betances to end the game, their 589th victim of the season.

Jose Abreu joins Albert Pujols (2001-02) as the second player in baseball history to hit 30 homers and drive in a 100 runs in each of his first two seasons.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Jose Abreu joins Albert Pujols (2001-02) as the second player in baseball history to hit 30 homers and drive in a 100 runs in each of his first two seasons. The Chicago White Sox slugging first baseman singles with two outs In the seventh-inning, picking up his 100th and 101st RBI of the season in the team’s 6-4 loss to Kansas City at U.S. Cellular Field.

Brandon Crawford becomes the first shortstop to hit a postseason grand slam
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Brandon Crawford becomes the first shortstop to hit a postseason grand slam

ByThis Day in Baseball

Brandon Crawford becomes the first shortstop to hit a postseason grand slam when he clears the bases in the fourth inning of the winner-take-all National League Wild Card Game, an 8-0 Giants’ victory over the Pirates. Crawfords blast quiets the very enthusiastic PNC Park crowd, who has been a valuable asset to the home team during the season. Madison Bumgarner pitches a complete game, four-hit shutout while Edinson Volquez is tagged with the loss.

New rules to be tested

ByThis Day in Baseball

Major League Baseball announces that it will test some new rules to speed up the flow of the game during this coming Arizona Fall League season. Hitters will no longer be allowed to step out of the batter’s box during an at-bat; pitchers will need to begin their pitching motion within 20 seconds of receiving the ball; a batter will take his base automatically when an intentional walk is called for, without the need for the pitcher to throw four pitches outside the strike zone; teams will be limited to three mound conferences, now called time-outs, per game; and there will be a set maximum time before the first pitch is delivered following a change of innings or a pitching change. If these changes prove successful, they may well be introduced at all levels of organized baseball.

The A’s cap a historic playoff run with 4-3 win over Rangers

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Athletics crown an improbable playoff run by defeating the Rangers, 4 – 3, securing at least a wild card spot in the American League. They can still win the AL West crown if they defeat the Rangers in their last three games. The Athletics had traded away two All-Star starters during the off-season, then lost their only three experienced starting pitchers – Bartolo Colon, Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson – during the season, going with an all-rookie starting rotation during an 8-4 run that clinched the playoff slot.

Tigers clinch AL Central Title on Miguel Cabrera 44th HR

ByThis Day in Baseball

The champagne also flows in Kansas City, MO, where the Tigers defeat the Royals, 6 – 3, to clinch the AL Central title. Miguel Cabrera hits his 44th home run in the game. In deference to their star slugger, who is leading the AL in all three triple crown categories but who has had trouble with alcohol abuse in the past, the Tigers choose to celebrate with an alcohol-free bubbly.